The sun., 1918-07-20
! FOCH'S PLAN TO CUT
OFF ENTIRE SALIENT
Had Gathered Forces for This
Opportunity, Says U. s.
War Department.
HIS PREDICTION EXACT
Supreme Commander Looked
for Encircling Move
ment at Rheims.
HIS PREDICTION EXACT

Special Despatch to The srS.
WASHINGTON. July 1s.-The counter
offensive launched against the Germans
by Foch Is developing into an encirclins
movement which has for its object the
cutting of OF the entire salient made by
= the Germans in their Aisne drive In
May and reaching down TO the Marine.
To accomplish this all of the allied
reserves Foch has been holding and
steadily increasing for just such
counter stroke are being brought into
, action on the sides Of this salient.
Eight divisions OF Americans. num-
herring 2OS,OoO men. are already en-
gagged in this tremendous battle. with
more American divisions in the reserves
being brought UP. This does not In
clude American divisions on other
sectors not involved IN the present
Offensive. twelve American divisions In
all being on the battle line.
- Plans for an overwhelming stroke
against the Germans for the regainins
Of captured Belgium and French ter
ritory, by hurting an overwhelming
",
will not be changed by the present
ffghting. The attack ,of the Franco
:. Americans this week is regarded as
simply a forerunner Of the crushing
blow the Allies are planning. and when
II has been contaminated the present
operation will appear a minor one in
comparison with 1t.
Washington Is Elated.
With American troops engaged to this
extent. Official Washington held It's
breath to-day, whsle the great battle
went on and reports continued to come
in showing the offensive OF the Allies
still making gains.
Elation over the fact that the Allies
had wrested the initiative from the Ger
mans by the aid of the American forces
poured into France In the last few
; months was still the dominant topic here
The fall Of Scissors is believed to be
imminent. The development Of the al
lied offensive into an encircling move
ment was indicated to members OF the
House Military Committee In a confer
ence at the War Department. which
served to increase the interest with
which the battle IL being followed.
II was disclosed to-day IN allied dip
lomatic circles that the Foch counter
stroke had not been suddenly determined
upon. but had been quietly in prepara-
ton for week or more Foch Is cred
tied. In well informed quarters here, with
having. by remarkable provision, deter
mined that the next drive OF the Ger
mans would be directed toward the en-
circlement OF Rheims. and planned his
counter stroke accordingly.
AS seen here the drive OF the French
and Italians west of Rheims to-day and
the recapture Of towns between Rheims
nj
movement. aimed at cutting of the Ger
mans to the south.
Not only have German communica-
ton lines running from Scissors to the
u Name been brought under FIRE. and some
eOf -tfie lines actually cut, but the neck
of the salient has already been mar
rowed.
e. Grave Peril for Germans.
either side will involve huge German
forces in the gravest peril. With their
communication lines severed their re-
tirement would be a matter OF great
difficulty.
Military experts here regard the COM
bat now going on as the greatest battle
of maneuvres since the Marine, with
the advantage now plainly on the side
OF the Allies. An offensive by the Brit
ish is expected by many. though natur-
ally the plans Of the supreme allied
command with regard to other parts of
. the from are being kept a deep secret.
That the Germans, seeing their peril,
will bring up all possible reserves. is
regarded as certainty by the experts
here. and the expectation OF the British
offensive Is based largely on keeping
these reserves down to their minimum.
g g
Pershing Com man In Person,
Gen. Pershing is conducting OPERA
tons Of the Americans In person. ac-
icording to reports here. This explains
the fact that only a few messages have
come from him since the battle started.
IT is thoroughly realized by the Presi
dent and Secretary Baker that the
American commander Is too busily on
gaged to furnish them with anything
but the most meagre reports
: As stated in THE Sun this morning
the troops now engaged include the
Ra Inflow Division. which means that
New York troops of the old Sixty-ninth
are taking part In the counter offensive.
.& Draw on second Corps.
.lt-Not only are all OF the six divisions
OF the new First Army Corps, under
Major-Gen. Hunter Liggett, now en-
gagged. but some OF the divisions of the
Second Army Corps have been brought
INTO the fight
IA The divisions known to be engaged
here are the First and Second Divisions
of Regulars and Marines, the Twenty
irixth New England National Guard d.
vision under Gen. Clarence r Edwards
the Rainbow Division under Major-Gen,
Charles Manoher. the Forty first. made
up of National Guard troops from the
Pacific coast, and the Thirty second.
made up OF troops from Michigan and
Wisconsin.
/, II was disclosed to-day by Gen. March
that recently the Americans had been
.nring $4,000 shells daily.
/" AS indicating the Increase In the man
power at the disposal OF the allies for
turning the tide against the Germans
IT can be stated that the Americans
now have 100000 men either in France
or on the way and $4,000 combatants
at the front. -. Q
Expected slower Pace. e.
:" According to military sxperts here n
WAS not to be expected that to-day's
advance on The Sofssons- Chateau
Thierry side of the salient would main
tain the same pace as that Of yesterday.
This pace WAS so swift. it was pointed
out. that II would be necessary to con-
Eolidate positions and bring up reserves
and supplies and the heavier artillery
to continue the drive.
That the drive will continue unless the
Germans can bring up more reserves
than they are credited here with having