Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1918-06-15
.LULL IN FIGHTING
ONLY MONETARY
Real Purpose of Germans Is to
Sunder the Allied
Armies.
EXPLAINS RECENT MOVES
Some Observers at Washington
Look for Further Efforts to
Flatten Compiegne Salient.
Try Associated Press


WASHINGTON. June l4-The pres
ent lull on the battle front in France
only prcsages n new and more violent
storm of attack on the allied lines. is
military opinion here. The impress
sion is rapidly Strengthening that the
the German main thrust at the Brit
ish army around Amiens. with the
channel coast as the objective.
Belief has never wavcred among the
majority Of officers here that the real
purpose of the German general staff
has been from the first TO cut the III.
lied armies apart by drive that would
carry them to the channel: that. arrived
at that goal. massed attacks would
be hurled against the northern sector
for the purpose of destroying the Brit
ish army while strong defense was
maintained against the French TO The
south. The thrusts at Paris have beer
looked upon as we'll planned and ex-
ecuted feints designed to weaken the
amiens front before the final cror,
should be made there.
On no other theory can thcs. ob :
servers explain the sequence of Ger
man operations in the grca; battle. and
on no other basis. they say. can IN,
campaign of defense waEed by Genera,
Foch he understood Ii Is a battla In
which the ultimate reserves Will win
the day as the Ggh. .s seen here lr
the German general staff considered
the present situation along the west
frcnt. stretching from Ypres on the
north 10 Rheims on the south D-o,,lis-
inE for the final effort. the ultimate
German reserve Is now being assembled
for the attack while hghting fronts
take breath.
ENPECT NEXT ATTACN
ON CoNIPIEGNE SALIENT
Some observers believe further cr-
forts are to be expected to natteu
out the Compiegne salient compretei;
before the main attack is resumed
II so. they argue that the next flare
OF activity will. come along the front
of the Complegne salient. where the
lighting has jus. passed momcntarily
Simultaneous assault from the north
near Autheuil. from the southeast be-
tween Chateau-Thierry and Vil!ers Cot
terets forest, and from the eastward
between Scissors and the forest, prob
ably will be launched. II is thought,
u -NiipitSHc - rs Nltdlly
necessary to future German moves
IN that case. the American force above
Chateau Thierry stands directly in the
path OF one attack.
Official announcements show that ap-
proxmately 100000 American soldiers
have landed in Franco since the Ger
man drive began. and they have aided
In stabilizing the lines as they now
stand. At 4 recent date, American
forces held in all more thar fifty miles
Of the whole western front. One cle-
ncnt OF General Pershing's mobile
forces, by direction of General Foch
guards the way at the apex of the
whole German wedge near Montdidier.
CantiBny. recently rccapturcd from the
Germans by these forces, is very close
achieved by the enemy in nearly three
month; of desperate fighting. Secretary
Bakers reaffirmation yesterday OF
American confidence in General Foch
was made with full knowledge. for Mr..
Baker was In europe, in conference
with the allied chieftains. when the
plan of campaign now being followed
was worked out. He knows why no
effort has been made to wrcst the initi-
ative from the enemy. Many officers
who do not know are frankly puzzled
and cannot understand why some of
tho obvious openings for great coun-
terthrust haze not been seized.