Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1918-06-12
OES CHIEF AIM
ITO PARIS
Most Furious Drive Joined
Issue, and 1t Will Be
Fought Out
AMERICANS o ROAD
'Opinion Is That Foch Can
Hold Until u. S. Forces
Are Ready
AMERICANS BLOCK ROAD
By CHARLES II. CRASTY
Cable to Epening Public Ledger

copvrioht, 1918, by NetD York Times Co.
Paris, June IL.
BIASED on the experience since
March 81, l believe Foch can hold his
y Front three or four months. BY that
time there will be a million and a
quarter American troops in France,
and the Germans will be beaten
That opinion was expressed today
~ an American of national reputation
! who has been studying the situation
In Paris for two weeks, n who mas
Walked with virtually every Allied
e loaded.
The latest German drive, while the
mos furious yet, has cleared the, at
mosphere. There is no longer mystlh-
cation. We know Hindenburg is driv'
Ing for Paris with every pound of his
strength. The issue is Joined and Will
be fought out. Unless the
rupture the line and get through this
time, they will be obliged to face a
great, trained fresh American army,
and this task is too great for their
resources, both at the front and be-
hind.
Optimism somewhat shaken for ten
DAYS, again prevails in Paris. Even IN
The darkest hours the Parisians never
lost confidence. | told my barber that
4 things looked pretty bad.
II am an optimist," he said, and
would discuss the battle no more. On
that rock he stood, n as he had two
sons in the battle. / conceded his right
to close the discussion.
I have not seen one excited person
during all this time. With the Ger
mans possibly coming down on Paris,
7 the battle guns audible as we SIT over
our coffee in the quiet night, shells
from the Berthas bursting and night
raids now and again, this town mas
maintained it's serenity. Perhaps FOUR
years have taught a certain stoiclsm.
On Positive side Again
But now we are on the positive side
Il aeafn-there is a glow in the heart. We
seee the French resistance to the Ger
Imam tide-that mixture CT lash and
Readiness characteristic of the trench.
We hear from all sources that the Ger
mans, are suffering losses impossible to
stand. ,
The territory between the battle and
Paris seems scant. but all feel that
Foch knows what he is about. Things
have settled down and the Germans no
81 longer have the advantage of debating
the time and place and moving in
diameter of a circle. while we travel
around the circumference. 1t is man
70 man, and pound to pound, and for
egery mile they come they pay through
1.-THE nose.
II - 4cdIlWnlle tHe Sillt lNdis htep nv
.Hs11ng around Chateau-Thierry. Their
numbers are not great as numbers are
now counted. but these Americans are
very active. Then there Is a potency
of fact" about their being here as the
ADVANCE guard of a big army and ac-
tualiy killing Germans and figuring to
such an extent as to affect the strategy
OF the battle.
Haig reported that a single brave
~ ,.;s n ,.,a,ltaN -,,- loo 80 90
\ vorably behind a wall changed the result
Of the battle and prevented the capture
Of Cambria. The potent fact that Amer
lean infantry, well found and well
strained, barred the way to Meaux. may
have been the turning point in the bat
Gle for Paris.
Will Never Shell Paris
The Kaiser's theatrical prancing vi
and down the Observation-Disclosures makes
one wonder whether he is rehearsins
something tremendously spectacular. A
Frenchman said today that when, and
II the Germans got within real Smelling
distance of Paris he expected the Kaiser
70 step forth and propose a meeting OF
belligerents to try to arrive at peace
SSterms. The Kaiser will point out thai
continued advance would necessitatt
the destruction of Paris for military
and that he desired to avert this
world disaster If possible. Then II the
Allies refused the overture the Kaiser
,faWould put the responsibility on them.
Opinion generally does not credit thu
Kaiser with sufficient breadth anc
oagacity to make such a move. But il
many Vase, II such a plan Is contemplated
has a fatal defect. The Kaiser viii
S{p4ver get within Smelling distance Of
z*xhriss
a<2i.~ Nearly every newcomer puts the ques
fkfiop: What will France do If Pari'
fbkaHse'
Perhaps the same question is asked
3EfhsAmerica. The answer Is that France
wfn stick. Not only does she recognize
}xthat any decent terms which German!
4{mtght propose and France might honor
Eably consider would be ruthlessly violat
by the INSCRIPTIONS victor and tina
IA Gprrender would be worse in practica
H-<eonsequences than humiliation, but TIL
s f9semsnt of the French people who ar
3 Hoked up to for light and leading ar
OF splendid faith. 7Reverses In tn
1eId and hardship at home are at hes
tE3ueidents, not the way to the goal.
~ France knows what a priceless pos
1ession she has in the goodwill of tn
*z[vorld. and she will never part with il
nd meanwhile, with characteristic fore
n beforehandness, she is adopt
X/j6ng every possible practical measure t
E&1~Gnfeguard against the of
norman advance. The French Away
ii today with an eye out for tomorrow
HA