Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1918-08-10
AN, MARsHALLToWN, IOWA, AUGUST 10. 1918
Germany Doubly on Defensive No,u
weekly Editor til. Time. R,oue.,,

Germany Is doubly on the defensive,
not by. her own choosing but forced
there by the strategy OF Marshal Foch.
supreme commander Of the allied
forces. The allies again have struck
tho enemy at Il time when he was not
prepared for the blow, and Foch has
followed his success In eliminating the
'Soissons-Marae salient by an attack
on wide front in Picardy. This lat
est offensive appears to be continual
ton OF, the successful drive north
from the Ma-ae. and Is another phase
OF the plans of the high command OF
the allied armies to terminate the
war speedily. The possibilities of the
movement are great.
1t is not nov believed that Marshal
Foch intends 10 permit the Germans to
make permanent stand on the Aisns
river. or on the lower reaches of the
stream in the immediate vicinity OF
Scissors. 1t Is probable that Laon, an
important city directly north OF Sois-
sons, Is his present objective, and that
MS victorious armies, with the Amer
leans holding the center will seek To
push northward. This movement. II
successful. Will endanger the entire
German positions extending from
1pres southeastward to Mondidicr.
A menacing salient would be created
with it's center in front OF Amiens,
which was one of the detectives OF tn.
German drive III March and the fall
OF which would have opened the way
fha ri m al
sive started Thursday by British and
French armies apparently is to relieve
the pressure on the Franco American
front and at the same time assist In
forcing the retirement OF the entire
German line rom the Belgian border
to Verdun. II successful the Germans
will he compelled TO retire to the so.
called HIhdenaurg line occupied by
them before the grand offensive
launched on March 81 and to relin.
quish much French territory the
occupation Of which mas cost the kais-
er close to 100000 of his best, SOL
diers in killed, wounded and captured.
. 80
General Foeh has obliterated the
menace to Paris and has lessened and
may entirely remove ths danger Of a
Teuton drive to the channel ports. He
las dealt serious bow to the morale
ofsthe German soldiers and the people
at home. He las frustrated the cam
paiSn plans Of the Huns for the pres
emit summer and has shattered tn.
kaisers reserves to such an extent that
the allies probably excel in man-,
power. 1t is possible Hindenfburg and
Ludendorff will not essay another Of
rfensive during the present year I'M
less 1t be Undertaken as a last hope
and with the odds greatly against
them. BY falling back to the old line
east Of ST. Quentin their reserves
might be increased because OF tn.
shorter defensive line. The allies how
ever. would bcrefit equally by this
shortening process.
Germany Is not yet ready to admit
defeat or that victory even under pres-
ent adverse conditions is impossible.
The nation is being coml>ed for fight
Ing men in an effort TO, offset recent
losses and the growing American
army. One plan of bolsterins waning
Is to place crippled SOL
diers In the factories and send every
able bodied workman to the lighting
front. 1t is improbable that Ger
many Is soswar-worn that Won Hind
enburs win be unable to strike back