The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1918-07-23
GENERAL FOCH HAS
ACCOMPLISHED HIS
OBJECT IN DRIVE
Huns Will Be Forced to
Give Up 500 Square
Miles.
OUR BOYS IN LINE
Almost One-third of the
Troops in Surprise
Attack on West
Americans.
OUR BOYS IN LINE

Washington. July 22.-AIticd hha
American military strategists agreed
today that even II no more gains are
registered in the surprise counter-oi"
fensive at the Marine, General Foch
has more than accomplished the pur-
pose he set for achievement.
British military men are inclined
TO the belief that the Germans will
be forced to give up at least 500 square
miles. They even argue strongly in
support OF the possibility that the IN
yaders may be forced back TO the old
Chernin des Danes line. French stu"
dents, led by Lieutenant Colonel l..
Reauin, are inclined to the belief that
for the present no great territorial
gains can he expected by the allies.
Colonel ReQuin. however, says. the
: victory will be fully exploited. IL
is assured that more men and guns
will be taken before the Germans re-
cover from the great confusion in
which they were thrown by the sur
prise attack OF the Franco American
forces The victory Is the first ex-
preston of what allied command
means In the conduct OF an offensive.
The past few days augur well for great
victories to come"
Up to a late hour today Secretary OF
War Baker had received no news from
American headquarters In comment
ing upon the press dispatches of this
morning he said:
The general effect OF the news of
! last night and this morning Is to show
| very substantial gains to TERRITORY both
In the Chateau-Thierry salient and
farther east. The exact location OF
the line changes from time to time,
but for two days has changed favor
ably with every change.
There has been no recent sub
stantiai addition to the number of
prisoners and no exact estimate of
war material captured: but 1t seems
quite clear that large quantities OF
war material have been taken. AS
operations are still very active we
cannot look for definite details.
The. inference drawn this morn
ing of 1900 prisoners and $50 guns
as captured by the Americans was an
erroneous inference from the Amer
lean communicate. I think General
Pershing meant that the allies rather
than the American forces had captur-
ed that number of prisoners. We
have nothing official on our losses OF
any kind.
Railroad Line Broken.
The railroad line is certainly hrok-
en- from scissors to Chatea -Thierry.
Whether broken by actual occupation
or insufferahle proximity to artillery,
do not know. The line is certainly
unavailable for use. This deprives
the Germans of their main reliance In
the matter Of supplies
Allied military officers do not an
ticipate the early occupation OF Sois-
sons. II Is pointed out that the al
lied artillery dominates the city, pre-
I t{rr nf he
from scissors to Rheims and from
scissors to the south. There is no
object in seizing Scissors at this time,
as its strongest positions are to the
west and south and are held by the
Franco American forces.
1t Is admitted that the surprise ele-
ment to the attack Is now well pass
ed and that marked slowing up in
the allied offensive is to be expected.
Chief interest rests in the amount OF
confusion and the number OF men
within the territory northeast of
lShateau-Thierry.
Strong German reserve forces have
been thrown in along the line being
attacked by the Franco Americans.
Many of these troops are from the
great base at Amifontaine. 1t Is also
disclosed in allied dispatches today
that almost one-third OF the troops
| in the surprise attack on the western
side OF the Marine salient were Amer
| lean.
In summing up the situation a
prominent British officer said:
| "A good advance was made at nrst
through the excellence OF surprise
General Foch, II Is clear, was we'll in
| formed two weeks ago of every move
which the Germans were to under
take and as long ago as that time. he
planned and prepared the great sur.
prise attack of the past week.
From a study OF the land 1t Is ,ap-
parent to all now that he knew the
Germans would drive south across the
Marine, He also saw the advantage
! he held in having heavy woods TO the
east Of LonGpont and Corey in which