The state herald., 1918-08-16
DECLARES GEN. MARCH IN TALK
TO NEWSPAPER MEN AT
WASHINGTON.
keep FOE ON THE RUN
HIGH TRIBUTE TO AMERICANS
WHO WON GLORY WITH BRITISH
AND FRENCH IN PIcARDY.
Western Newspaper Union News Service.

| western Newspaper Union News Service.
Washington.-While expressing the
greatest satisfaction over the allied
successes and the part American
troops have taken in these victories,
Gen. March sounded warning against
overoptimism In his talk with news.
paper correspondents. ''lt is no time
to talk about the war being over"
Gen. Marsh exclaimed. at is the time
to hit the enemy hard" Gen. March
paid high tribute to the Rainbow divi-
sion, crediting it with decimating
three German divisions, including the
crack Prussian guards.
Marshal Fochs driving tactics
against the hard-pressed Germans was
based." General March said, "on the
perfectly sound principle that when
you get an enemy going, keep him go.
ing; never give him a chance to re.
cuperate or think it over, keep on hit.
ting him."
This is the time for the greatest
effort: keep the enemy running. That
is the, reason the United States is be.
ing called upon for increased man.
power; that is the reason we want the
age limits Of the draft both lowered
and raised to get more men. 1t is no
time now to talk about the war being
over. 1t is the time to hit him hard.
The greatest advantage of this
whole thing has been the change Of
the allies from the defensive to the
offensive. which is great military as
set. We have the enemy guessing
now instead OF guessing ourselves"
General March pointed out that the
Picardy drive follows the same gen.
eral line Of strategy as the Foch pin
Ger movement In the Aisne-Marns sec.
tor, promising the same successful ~
suit.
Later reports showing that the al.
lies have trapped the Germans in the
Montdidier pocket. at the apex Of the
salient. Just as the Germans were
trapped at Chateau Thierry and along
the Marne. give even greater promise
of closing the trap than In the July
IS drive.
Over q curving front OF more than
twenty miles the British and French
troops are continuing to sweep back
the Germans eastward across the
plains Of Picardy from the region
north OF the Somme. east OF Morlan.
court, to the eastern bank Of the Avre.
northwest Of Montdidlsr.
As on the first day Of the offensive.
material progress was made Friday
over the entire battle front. Many VII.
lagos were captured: the bag Of pris-
oners was largely increased: numer-
GUS guns and great quantities Of war
stores were taken and heavy casualties
were inflicted. The losses Of the An.
glo.French forces are relatively small.
To the north Of the Picardy theater
the Germans also have given ground
on two important sectors-on the Lys
salient. northwest Of La Bassee. and in
the region southwest Of Ypres. north
of KENNEL.
On the Lys sector territory over
front OF more than seven miles was
evacuated by the enemy. while to the
north OF KENNEL the British advanced
their line over front exceeding 1.000'
yards.
On the north the British captured
Morlancourt and pressed on eastward
while to the south. northwest OF Mont
didier. Pierrepont. Contoire and An s
villers were taken by the French. VIII
drove In their wedge to a distance o
more than eight and half miles.
The Americans have made anothe
crossing OF the vcsle and captured tn
village OF Fismette. northwest O
Fismes.