Evening star., 1918-07-23
GREATER OBJECTIVE.
IN THE FOCH DRIVE
Obvious That French General
Plans to Clear Soissons-
Rheims Salient.

No longer II there doubt in the
minds Of military observers here that
Gen. Foch's attack, begun last week
ana still In progress, has a far greater
objective than was at first supposed.
At first 1t generally was believed
that the purpose of the counter attack
Of the Franco-American force was to
relieve the heavy pressure the Ger
mans were e1erting upon Rheims.
But 1t has become obvious that Gen.
Foch's objective is more than that,
since that purpose was accomplished
several days ago. Still the allied force
with the Americans is pressing reso-
lutely on, against increasing opposi-
ton. since reserves OF the enemy are
being thrown in heavily.
Nothing less than the driving OF
the Germans out of the entire pocket
between Soissons and Rheims, with
Chateau Thierry as the bottom, SEEM
ingly. will satisfy Gen. Foch. To do
80 would mean a victory of more con-
sequence than the mere recapture of
territory and important positions.
The speed at which Gen. Foch is
maintaining the driving power Of his
force after a week of the most ardu-
GUS and severe fighting indicates to
IHSn IndI ne Is
to destroy all the supplies and cap
ture all the ordnance he can. In addi-
ton to inuicting losses on the man
power of the enemy.
II the Germans are driven out of
the sector they penetrated in their
earlier drive to the Marne they prob
ably will take up positions along the
Vesle river. That lies almost in direct
line from scissors to Rheims. The
mere Strengthening out Of the line
will release large forces Of reserves
the allies have been compelled to
maintain to prevent further penetra-
tion. It will shorten the mileage of
the holding force by at least two-thirds.
Strategy of the Push.
The strategy of the vigorous push
also seems designed. military men
say. to effect the result which already
In indicated-that Germany will be
compelled to draw heavily upon re-
serves in far removed portions OF the
playing much the same game that
Ludendorff played earlier this sum-
mer. He is putting the mobility OF
German troops to the test much as
to the test.
The result, IL the Germans draw
from the army to the north to check
the onrush between scissors and
Rheims, will be that it may weaken
the German forces in Flanders for
a successful British drive there, or.
at least will make It difficult for the
Germans to launch their drive they
were believed to be preparing in
that region
That the Germans feel the, danger
of the loss OF valuable supplies and
guns. and also of their men is
| shown by their desperate effort to-
keep the center of the salient open
I ha
| removed. Already there is indication
| that it is with extreme difficulty
| that the troops in the southern end
| Of the salient are being provisioned.
May End In German Bout.
No exact information about the
German losses in men and guns has
been received. 1t is certain that pris-
oners and guns have been captured In
large numbers. The only estimate
from official sources dealing with the
aggregate captured by French. Amer
fcan and Italian forces during the
first d two days OF the offensive d gave
Should Gen. Foch be able to keep up
the speed at which his forces are
alicing their way back into the salient
| the result might be a German rout.
In no event 1t was believed will the
Germans be able to get out Of the
salient without heavy losses In man
and guns. The communfQue issued
| by Gen. Pershing yesterday indicated
| that the situation OF the Germans at
some points is desperate. the Ameri-
can commander pointing out that
many of the towns given up by the
Germans showed that the evacuation
had been hastily carried out
Germans Destroy Supplies.
On the eastern side of the salient
press dispatches told Of the blowing
up CT ammunition dumps and the
burning of stores which the Germans
had not time to remove.
AS practically all communication
lines within the salient have been
destroyed by allied fire or are under
attack, 1t was considered the mate
rial losses of the enemy will be great
Having shifted his reserves to the
western side of the salient to meet
the determined attacks ofsthe Franco
American forces, 1t appeared possible
today that the enemy might be COM
PEELED to send all available troops
again to the eastern side, where in
dfcations OF an attack by Gen. Gou-
raud, the French commander in the
vicinity Of Rheims. are seen. An at
| tack In the vicinity of Rheims at the
present time would weaken the west
ern flank, with the result that fresh
successes OF importance would come
| to the American and French forces
ITlVnV0 lrln tn nNfOn