The Washington herald., 1918-06-12
FOCH SUPREME
IN CONFIDENCE
OF U. S. STAFF
Generalissimo's Strategy,
Courage, Leadership
Wins Faith of All.
HAS AVOIDED CARNAGE
Tactics Employed Only Way
of Saving Thousands
From Slaughter.

General Ferdinand Foch, command
er-in-chief of the Entente Allies, has
won the supreme confidence of the
United States Army General Staff. The
strategy. courage and leadership with
which the successive German on
slaughts have been withstood since
March list are declared to represent
the most brilliant chapter of the war
to date.
The territory yielded and the bending
Of the line here and there, which at
times caused misgivings. is now fully
understood. The tactics employed have
saved thousands of American, Brit
ish and French soldiers from being
slaughtered. 1t is also regarded as the
only sort of defensive by which the
progress OF the giant German war ma
chine could have been held in check.
Thwart Main Purpose.
The main German purpose-to
capture Paris and leave the British
forces without support save that
which must come from England,
across the Channels believed to
have been thwarted. The French
reserves sent to support Gen. Haig
and the British armies weeks ago,
on the northern end of the line,
have not been withdrawn.
The armies with which Foch is
now defending the thrusts at Paris,
with. desperate resistance aEs-&As-
fully outnumbered by the Germans,
but are ghting valiently. 1t Is not
believed the teutons will ever reach
the French capital 1t is thought,
however, they may get sufficiently
a. t.
bardment of the city.
1t is regarded as certain that the
French morale, both civil and mill
tary. will hold like steel in any
event Only this great confidence
in the mettel of his soldiers and
the spirit of the population would
permit Foch to deplOy his forces to
such splendid advantage, accord
ingto STAFF officers.
The information that the British
who are defending the channel are
still strongly supported by French
reserves has not been printed before.
II is said to account for the abso-
lutte assurance with which the Eng
lish stan have viewed the somewhat
distressing events of the last few
weeks.
Foch is being praised here, not so
much because he has stood squarely
behind the British, as for the risk
Of inviting censure from his own
people-the French-in not employing
more troops in the defense before
Paris. 1t is admitted that in no
other way could he have demonstrate
ed the qualities of greatness essen
tial to the position of generaIissimo
There Is much more optimism IN
Washington now than ten DAYS ago,
At that time the Germans were max
ing rapid gains in the direction of
Paris. 1t was believed to be their
purpose to take the capital and in
so doing break up the French armies
and cut cut of the British from any
support except that which could be
obtained from overseas.
And to prevent prompt support
for Gen. Haig the pessimists pre-
dicted the German fleet would he
employed to make shipping in the
English Channel more difficult.
British Strongly Supported.
1t is still believed the Germans
will soon send their army, head
down like a mad bull. against the
forces defending the channel. But
there is satisfying sense of Sc
curity. officers assert, in knowing
that the British are strongly sup
ported. This attack may be made
in the vicinity of Abbeville or
where the line affords a still nearer
approach to Calais.
The last thrust by the Germans be-
tween Montdidied and Noyon, although
1t stretches over a broad front, In not
classed here as a major offensive.
There could be no objective in the
operations on this sector that would
be decisive, it Is asserted. The real
purpose is believed to be an effort to
consolidate positions by bringing to-
gether the Picardy and Aisne battle
areas and straighten the line for a
later mass attack. II the present
movement is successful a drive could
be made for Paris via Amiens or the
channel with a great forca