Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1918-10-08
DESTROY THE BOCHE
IS GEN. F0CH'S AIM
Allied Leader Not Trying to Keep
Foe on Run, Expert War
Critic Says.

Washington, ID. c., Oct. S.-A promi-
nent military writer, in his view OF the
situation in the European war zone, says
The feaure OF yesterdays fighting
was the British advance between Lens
and Arras. For long time this section
of the battle front has not been men
| toned in the official communiques
On Sunday the British announced that
they had AIKEN Fresnoy, presaging some
activity, but for several weeks previous
this remained the only quiet sector of
the battle front from Nerdun TO the sea.
But IL was inevitable that this front
should blaze up again.
There were too many reasons why
1T could not remain quiet The British
| advance in the Cambria sector had re-
suited in pushing the line so far east
that the German positions west OF Douai
were being left far in the rear.
GERMANS AT A DISADVANTAGE.
although these positions were fairly
well guarded, on the west by the strongest
part of the Hindenburg line, which here
remained generally intact, and on the
south by the Sensee Canal, If II ever
became necessary for the Germans
To retreat because OF the allied success
mt Cambria and at st. Quentin, this
section of the line being so far west of
the general line would be at once IN serious
difficulty by virtue of the much greater
distance it would have tn travel IL can
not be said that il was being outhanked
The flank was guarded by the Canal,
which the British had once crossed when
they took Arleux. but were thrown back,
showing the strength of the protection
nun MAN POWER EXHAUSTED.
Al
sons for the belief that Germany has
reached the stage of famine of man power
whfrc she must rob every inactive sec
tion OF its reserve strength IN order 10
bolster up the fronts under attack This
section may. therefore, have been weak
cncd. and hence offered a'favorable target
for attack Again, the British reported
on Saturday that Douai was IN flames.
This meant but one thing The
German vandals finding that the evacua-
tion Of the city was u necessity, fired il,
They were going TO get out They may
indeed he IN retreat now, and the british
discovering the move, may be PRESSING
up their advantage No mention Of
this phase Of the question is contained
in the British reports From them 1t
appears to tie successful attack, an
ticipatlng possibly German retreat.
WOULD PIN FoE DOWN.
"ln general IL may bc said that il is
not altogether consonant with Foch's
policy to force q Retreat This is not
what he Is after Much more TO the
point, he is trying, as far ms We can scc,
TO pin the Germans down where they
stand and force them 70 fight m way
and on ground Of his selection lie is
trying to destroy them, not 10 permit
them 20 give up their ground and retire
unhurt. with their power of resistance
unaffected
He IS trying 20 beat the Germans
before they can get back II il were hut
question Of forcing retreat. he would
have concentrated his strength on o
front which covered some vital supply
line and struck with full force on "a limit
ed sector Instead. he has a tendency
TO widen the front of attack rather than
10 restrict il II NAV he the furtherance
Of this policy that has brought about
The British attack.
FRANCES CALL sTILL TIED TT.
FINALLY there is the consideration of
the economic condition Of France All
Of France suffered severely hast Winter
hv reason Of the shortage OF coal caused
coal fields Lens was. rs we know. va
Gated hast week But the evacuation of
Lens does not release the coal mines.
To effect this the territory TO the east
along the Lens Douai road must also be
freed That result the latest British
attack j. well calculated 10 bring about.
The British struck below Lens. between
Oppy and Pelves This blow, which
pushed their lines ahead for over two
miles st the deepest point, threatens 10
turn the German line TO the north which
guards the coal fields. while at the same
tune unooverng the German defensive
line behind the Sensee Canal.
GERNANDEFENsEs PENETRATED.
"On the front between the Argonne and |
Rheims. the fighting is developing de-
rldedlv in favor Of the French The |
Suippe River. which wss regarded as 3
haven behind which the Ger