Pine Bluff daily graphic., 1918-08-10
Is Foch's Challenge to the Enemy to Fight It
 Out Now.
GERMANS LOSING
 GAINS OF YEAR
Hindenbnrg Must Throw in All Ills Reserves or Begin a Gigantic Retreat on Whole West
 Front.

Washington, Aug. 9.--The start ling rapidity of the British-Freneh advance in Picardy, coupled with new successes in Flanders and on the Vesle produced an impression among some officers here tonight that one of the decisive moments of the war, per haps the beginning of the final bat tie is rapidly approaching.
 On the basis of such reports as were available, the Germans high command seemed to stand face to face with vital decision.
 Must Fight or Lose Gains.
 Either his reserves must be rushed in and pitched battle resumed, or all he has gained at staggering cost in his greatest offensive of the war must be abandoned and a general withdrawal toward his old lines of last March begun without delay.
 While no American troops are known to be involved in the Picardy thrust, the capture of Fismette, the suburb across the river from Fismes, on the Vesle, apparently is a part of the great general scheme of attack.
 Coupled with developments in Pic ardy and Flanders, it indicates to many officers that Marshal oFch is definitely challenging the enemy to fight it out now, or to withdraw.
 Retreat Nearly ROut.
 The French and British have gone ahead with such rapidity in Picardy that the German retreat must have reached the proportions of rout in places at least.
 The extent of enemy losses in prisoners, guns and war materials bear out this view.
 The whole bottom of the great Pic ardy salient has been flattened out in two days and the enemy position at Montdidier and north of that place to the line of the Disc appears already to have been turned.
 If he is forced to withdraw in haste from this point, where one of his strokes at Paris was directed, the last menace to the French capital will have been removed.
 Montiddier-Oise Front In Danger.
 Officers here believe such a with drawal must be started without de- lay if the German forces on the Mont didier-Oise front are to be brought off without being crushed.
 The sudden stroke on the Yys line in Flanders which General Haig cou- pied with the Picardy drive today ap- pears to make it clear that the ene- my is rushing supports from the north to block the holes in his line torn by the British French thrust.
 The Flanders front was found to be lightly held and good results were ob- tained in the sudden onslaught there.
 This was of peculiar interest to the British military mission here who have maintained that the armies of the Bavarian crown nrince were being gathered over the Flanders front in preparation for new effort there to reach the channel ports.
 Have Used Many Reserves.
 The failure of the German drive on both sides of Rheims and the crush ing defeat of the armies of eGrman crown prince which followed with his election in two weeks fighting from the whole Marne salient, dre heavily on the reserves in the north.
 It is regarded as certain no, how ever that the mass of prince Rup- precht's reserves must be rushed to the Picardy salient even if the Flan- ders bulge is surrendered as result.
 It therefore appears certain that the impending German drive in Flan- ders has been completely checkmated