Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1918-06-10
FOR THE FIN AL TEST
ht Can Only BE Won by Offensive
Action. Says Foch.

London, June l0.-That battles can
DC won in the end only by the army
which takes the offensive is the sig
nif;cant declaration made by General
Foch, commander-in-chie5 Of the al
lies, in an important article contribut-
cd b. him to the weekly journal The
Field in which he discusses the prob
len, OF the soldier and the way TO vic
tory.
Modern warfare, to arrive at its
cnd and to impose its will on the enc
N.Y." says General Focb, recognizes
only one means-dcstructio Of the
nnemy's organized f-orces.
"War undertakes and prepares this
destruction by battle, which brings
about the overthrow of the adversary,
idisorganzes his command destroys his
discipline and nulliiies his units as far
as their fighting power is concerned.
"Our first axiom must be that COM
pleteIy to achieve its object, battle
must not be purely defensive. 4 pure
~ defensive battle, even well conduct
ed, does not result in a victor and a
vanquishcd 1t is simply game that
must he begun over again.
From this it is an obvious corol-
larry that an offensive. whether start
ed at the beginning Of an action or
whether it follows the defensive, can
only give results and in consequence
must always be adopted at the finish.
"To maintain our position is not
synonymous with being victorious,
ard even prepares for defeat. If we
remain where we are, and do not pass
10 the offensive to fix the direction of
attack, to guard against the plans of
the enemy and prevent him from
carrying out the same maneuver, we
must undertake to carry or and sus
.ain numerous combats, each with
determined aim.
"3ut since there remains no doubt
that decisive attack is the very key
stone Of battle, all other actions
which make up battle must be en-
visagcd, considered, organized, pro-
vided with forces in the measures III
which they will prepare, facilitate
and guarantee development o. a de-
cisive attack characterized by lis
mass. its surprise. its speed and for
which. in consequence. it is essential
that there shall he the maximum re-
serve force possible of troops Of ma
ncuver. The reserve--that is TO say
the prepared bludgeon--is organized
and kept carefully instructed 70 exc:
cute the single ar- of battle from
,~hich results are expected NAMELY: !:
The decisive attack.
'In this, our supreme aim. we mus"
not be deceived by appearances. Al
though theory fails wnen applied by
feeble hands and when accessories OBJ;
scure the main principle, history and:
reason show US that IN battle there IS
a single argument which is W irJh
while. namely, decisive. attack, w!icn.
is alone canatIa rs assuring the h-'
sired rasult-thc overthrow Of the ad-
verSary
RESERVES must he husbanded with
.hc most e:.ireD ,parsimony 50 T'@t
the bludgeon may be strong enough
+, m"'.c shc l.tw as violent as, pos i
bic. Let loose at the finish. without
any lurking it'c, Of saving them, with
A wcll-thor gh.-cut plan for winring
the battle at point chosen and de-
termined. reserves are thrown IN all
together in an action surprising N
violence and energy all other pha"es
Of battle, an artion With proper char
cteristics--surpr;sc mass and speed.
All our forcas ytslly participate, eth
er by preparing it Or. by carrying 1t