Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1918-09-10

NNHE time seems appropriate to look back
L over the last eight weeks and recapitulate
the persuasive arguments by which Foch has
been convincing the Kaiser that Paris Is not
worth visiting after all
About the middle of July in spite of the
fact that Hindenburg had been soldly
checked along the Marne. at the Montdidier
spearhead and at the suburbs Of Arras, there
was reasonable ground for grave uneasiness.
Germany had loudly proclaimed "Freden-
sturm" or Storm of Peace which was to be
another terrific assault comparable to that
of March and April. This was to be the final
crushing stroke which would bring strong
German peace. The German public was
urged to believe that paper garments and a
diet o'f turnips were wholesome in hot
weather. and by the approach of frost all
would be altered. At the same time Ger
many sent out repeated rumors that Hlnden-
burg was dead. and, now that his gentle and
pacific personality kaput, the Allies
might look for a taste of real feroclty
The Germans were trying to encircle
Rheims. as the Crown Prince was said to be
short Of champagne. They were only forty
five miles from Paris,
ON JULY IS. date as memorable as
~ March 21, Foch counter.attacked with
French and American troops. South of
Rheims and between scissors and Chateau
Thierry were the first jumping-off points,
and it did not take the German command
long to realize that the psychology of the
campaign had altered. The Second Battle
cf the Marne. as history will probably call
1t. contained all the drama and color of
retributive justice that satisfies the human
conscience. Never in human history will
poets find a more deeply thrilling theme than
the turn Of the battle fortunes in the trough
of the same river where the happiness of
civilization had hung trembling nearly four
years before Philadelphia will not forget
the tolling of the bell at Independence Hall
on July 10.
BY the 4th Of August the Germans had
been driven back to the line of the Vesle.
and even Ludendorff admitted to Berlin that
certain strategical regroupings" had taken
nlace The "pocket" below Scissors and
Rheims had been wiped out
TT WAS soon evident to observers that
| Foch's plans carefully and patiently pre-
pared. were systematic. effective and pos
sessed certain psychologist aspect discon'
certing to the enemy. Instead or a brute
onslaught at one given point he delivered
quick, telling blows at varying sections all
along the line. Military critics have been
saving that Foch'S theory OF tne ART OF war
is the imposition upon the enemy OF the
will to be licked. In some curious and still
unexplained way 1t soon came to be appar-
ent that in the contest of wills the French
commander held the greater strength.
Having reached the line Of the Vesle, there
was a brief lull. Philadelphians were as
much concerned about the heat as about any
thing else. which had reached the unparal-
leled figure of 106 degrees on the afternoon
of August T. Then on the morning OF the
sth came dramatic news. The attack had
been taken up by Haig. At dawn that morn
ing, a foggy day with a white ground mist,
the British struck east of Amiens from Nor
!ancourt to Moreuil. supported by the French
farther south. After a threemnute crash
barrage" the British infantry pushed for
ward following their whippet tanks. two com
panies of which had been secretly got across
the Luce River during the night This ad-
vance was reported by Haig at 10:l5 that
morning as progressing satisfactorily"
When Haig speaks in that accent 1t means
much. The attack was of particular interest
not only on account of the extraordinary sue
| cess of the small tanks but also in the work
| of the bombing planes which, flying very
| low, dropped smokebombs in front of the
| tanks to conceal their advance. 1t was In
| this action that German general was said
| to have been closely pursued by an audaclous
| whippet with little sense Of the dignity ot
Hun commanders One correspondent q
| the front says that the secret concentratlor
| Of these whippets, unknown to tte enemy. IL
| an Interesting story that canne Set be told
! IA detail II cannot be told ". q
i. ".