Evening star., 1918-04-20
Hint of Foch's Plan Seen in
Gathering of italian and
British Reserves. ;
GREAT BLOW COMING
FOR WAR -WEARIED FOE
In Race for Advantage in Gigantic
Clash Time Is With the
Allies.

From developments of the last
twenty-four hours in France Army ON.
GERS here begin to catch a hint of the
plans of Gen. Foch for allied operations
this summer.
His purpose, they believe. entails
nothing less than a major allied offen-
sive on scale not yet attempted by
them, and comparable only with the
initial German offensive in Picardy.
Sending of Italian troops to the west.
ern front is interpreted here as evi.
dence of this and as a major factor in
Gen. Foch's plan. Refraining from
smaller winter attacks, and nghtine
purely on the defensive, in both Pfcardy
and Flanders, it is believed has been IL
line with Gen. Foch's purpose to co-ors
dinate the allied man and gun power.
From Great Britain are coming TO
serves formerly held there for hons
defense, and at points unknown is the
fresh allied army Of reserve. Now from
Italy are coming thousands OF troops
trained and ready. When the time
comes it is believed Gen. Foch viii
throw all these into one major offens
sive, which will put the battle-weary
and decimated German forces under
tremendous pressure.
Evidence that the Germans scent this
purpose is seen in the rushing or
further German troops from the already
depleted forces in Russia to the west
ern front. Some officers believe that
Germany. too. will seek to launch an
other offensive, and they foresee a
race against time for several weeks to
get ready for the supreme test OK
strength.
Italy's Aid Cheers.
fraught with hope for the allies as the
participation of Italian troops on the.
western front, 1t is s-believed here. Italy
always has insisted that her man power
was superabundant and has complained
that lack Of ammunitions alone kept her
from using it effectively.
Under separate direction she natur-
ally used it on the Austrian front.
There was the point OF danger Tor her.
and. despite her protestations. Great
go TO her aid, those nations now admit.
In time to avert disaster. Lkewiee
there formerly was disagreement among
those two allies and Italy over the
Jugo-Slav ambitions, In which Italy
saw the threat of the loss of not only
Croatia and Dalmatia. which she want
ed back. but 81 her northern provinces
as Hove %sli tbosS diplomatic differences
which worked against complete unity
on the part of the allies were adjusted
is now a chapter in diplomatic history.
in which President Wilson was lead
ing figure, and Italy. like the United
States, has strongly urged the appoints
ment of a commander-in-chiefo of the
allied forces.
In the dispatch of the Italian troops,
officers state, the effect of a single COM
mand is being realized. Italy's man
power, estimated at from 100000 to
1000, 600 reserves, is available.
As a secondary consideration to Gen.
Foch's plans, it is pointed out, will be
the fact that Germans will be kept 90
will have no troops to send to the aid
of the Austrians. Bulgarians or Turks.
Thus the operations in northern Italy,
in Palestine, at Saloniki or in Meso.
potamia may be averted, and the war
weary allies of Germany be further
pressed while the Germans are engaged
with Gen. Foch's newly mobilized forcea
on the western front.
From this point of view, it was stat
ed, the calls of the British for men
from the United States, from Canada
and from their own shores to be sent to
France are expIicable not upon the
weakness of the allied forces in France.
but upon their effort to prepare for the
coming test of strength between Foch
and Hindenburg.
Allies Have Advantage.
In the race to prepare for the CONS
ing engagement, officers here believe.
the allies have the advantage. Fresh
troops are being poured into France
from the United States as well as from
Italy. Moreover. the United States II
able to send supplies and munitions
there which she could not get to Italy.
The allies are speeding their prepara-
tions of transport. warehouses and bases
on familiar and prepared ground. The
Germans must get into shape in the ter
ritory they have just taken, which has
been devasted by shell fire and razed and
roughened by some of the fiercest fight
ing of the war.
Though secondary, the effect of such
an allied offensive upon the lesser cen.
trail powers is not a minor considera-
tfon. The Turks are being hard pressed
in the far east. With the use of her
reserves, not fully equipped in Italy for
fighting, the pressure upon
Austrian troops will not be relieved,
but the Germans will not be able to
send much aid to Austria. For many
months the Turks have ben seeking Ger.
man aid in pressing back the British In
the east.
Time works with the allies now, ana
at last the allies working as one"
was the way one officer summed up the
prospects of the allies in this summers
lighting. o.. 81