South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1918-06-10
MUST TAKE
Of { MSIVE
To WIN WAR
Gen. FOCh. COmmander-in-
Chief of Allied Forces,
Discusses Problems
of Warfare.

LONDON June 10--That battles
can be ,yon in the end only by the
army which takes the offensive. Is
the significant declaration made by
Gen Foch. commander I'm chief Of
the allies. lon am important article
contributed by him 10 the Weekly
journal the neld in which ne dis
.lsses the problem OF the soldier
and the way 90 victory.
Modern warfare. 10 arrive at its
end and 20 impose its Will on the
enemy" says Gen. F'Och. -'recosnizes
only one destruction of the
enemy organized forces.
War undertakes and prepares
this destruction by battle. which
brings about the overthrow of the
adversary. DISCREPANCIES his com
mand destroys his discipline and
utilities his units, as far as their
fighting power Is concerned.
Must Achieve object
our first axiom must he that
completely to achieve its object.
battle must be purely defensive.
A purely defensive battle. even well
conducted. does not result in a VIC
tory and the enemy vanquished IL
/ is simply a game that must be be
gun over asain.
Prom this it is obvious corollary
I that au offensive, whether started
/ at the beginning of an action or
I whether it follows the defensive,
/ can only give results and in conse-
/ quence must always be adopted at
+ che finish
To maintain our position is not
| synonymous with being victorious
and even prepares for a defeat II
we remain where we are, and 10
not pass 10 the offensive 10 fix the
/ direction OF attack. 20 suard against
the plans Of the enemy and prevent
: him from carrying out the same
maneuNer. we must undertake TO
I com bats. each with determined aim.
Decisive Attack Is Keystone.
But since there remains no doubt
that decisive attack is the very key
stone Of a battle, all other actions
which make up a battle must be
provided with forces i'm the measure
i'm which they will prepare facili-
tate and guarantee development of
decisive attack characterized by
its mass. it's surprise. its speed and
for which I'm consequence il is es-
senual that there shall be the maxi
mum reserve possible of troops or
maneuver. The reserve. that is to
3 say. the prepared bludgeon. is or
ganized and kept carefully instruct
/ cd to execute the single act of bat
tie from which results are expected,
namely the decisive attack
Reserves must be husbanded
with the most extreme parsimOny so
I that the bludgeon may be Strong
enough TO make the blow as -iolent
as possible Let loose at the finish,
/ without any lurking idea of saving
+ them. with a well thought out plan
/ for winnins the battle at a point
I chosen and determined. reserves are
I thrown i'm an together in an action
/ surprising i'm violence and energy
an other phases OF battle. am ac-
/ ton. with proper characteristics.
I surprise. mass and speed. All our
] forces really participate. either by
preparing II or by carrying IT. out.
-In this. our supreme arm we
I must not he deceived 10y appear
snces. Although theory fails when
applied 10y feeble hands and when
. accessories obscure the main prin-
ciple history and reason show us
/ that i'm battle. there is a single arSu-
ment which is worth while. namely
T decisive attack. which Is alone ca
. pable OF assuring the desired result
the overthrow Of the adversary"