The Washington herald., 1918-09-09
Pershing's S Force Evidently
Distributed All Along
Front Line.
AIMING AT ST. QUENTIN
Armies Converge In Three
Directions on This
Vital Point.
FALL OF LILLE WILL FOLLOW
Breaking of Hindenburg Line Will
Render Industrial City Un-
tenabIe to Huns.
FALL OF LILLE WILL FOLLOW

The news Of keenest and most sig.
nifcant interest to the army staf
here is that which reveals that thers
is a forward movement of French
and Americans. evidently in great
force. towards the Southern end Of
the Hindsnburg line.
This offensive developed in a single
night and at a place between Condo
and Rheims. where IT was supposed
for the past ten days that the Ger
mans were already prepared to fall
back on the Hindenburg line.
It now is evident that when the
French and Americans drove the Ger
mans over the Marne near Dormans
and Possy in July. heavy German
forces remained until Saturday when
they were attacked by the French and
the Americans.
Incidentally II demonstrates that
Gen. Pershing has distributed his ag-
gregste forces all along the line.
either in the front ranks alone or
fighting shoulder to shoulder with the
French and English. instead of con-
centratlnE them, as alleged, for an
all-Amelcan drive at some new point.
Army officers pointed out yesterday
that there was only one new point
and that Pershing not only Rad a
substantial force there but rushed up
re-inforcements from near at hand
to the assistance Of the French and
Americans who began the thrust be-
tween Conde and Rheims. =
Always the Americans.
1t Is always the Americans now,
say the officers here with fashionable
pride. when a new thing is to be
done. since the beginning Of the
present counter offensive.
There Is Of course the understand
Ing that the new offensive was order
ed by Gen. Foch to link up that part
OF the Pershing and French army in
the Rheims sector with the advanc-
ing allies and Americans who are
heading of the Hindcnburg line with
the ultimate view OF concentrating
on st. Quentin.
The scheme of the general battle
now therefore is:
First-The just developed assault on
the German army holding the
Rheims section Of the Hindenburg
line:
second-The American and French
advance over the Aisne towards Laoni
Third-The French and English
whose wings are Joined, pushing
on towards La Fere;
Fourth-The British and Canadians
forging ahead against Douai anG
Cambria. having crossed the Sommt
and in part the Canal du Nord:
Fifth-The extreme northern activi'
ties Of the British and Americans ir
the old Ypres sector
Thrust Mt ST. Quentin
The main objective of the whole
movement is the breaking OF th'
strongest and vital part of the Hin
dsnburg line at st. Quentin TIT
fall Of Lille is the immediate objec'
tive Of the British operating soutf
of Canhrai and north OF that city il
the Ypres sector. The continued
advance of the British and Ameri'
cans menacing Lille may make u
unteuable by that plan alone, bu
stan officers say that its capture
will be inevitable IL the Hinden'
burg line is broken at St Quentin
Gen. Foch is using both plans; that
is. the British are being sent for
ward via Cambrai. and Douai, anc
at the same time the last account,
show that the British are moving
southeast to connect with the
French and Americans pushing or
via La Fere TO take st. Quentin ir
flank.
The immediate operation which
will hold the stage for the next ter
days is the signal masterstroke OF
Gen. Foeh in having three great ar
mics converging on St Quentin. Its
fall will paralyze the transportation
system Of the Germans and force
not only a retreat. but a rout. be-
cause IL the Germans stand at st
Quentin and fight to retain it, wher
they lose the allies will be in posi-
tion TO follow the retreat incessant,