The Carlisle independent., 1918-08-01


 ~~o~o-o~~-~-~~-o a strong force of English and Scots troops down from the north. and they quietly slipped around south of the Marne toward Reins. At the ap- pointed time these seasoned fighters hit lhe German lines southwest of the cathedral city a mighty blow. In the succeeding days. acting as the east arm of the pincers. they pushed for ward into the salient from the Noun tain of Reims toward Ville-enTarde- nois and Fismes Their progress was slower than that of the Franco-Ameri- cans on the west for the country in which they were fighting was much more difficult. East of Reims the French and Italian held their own and even made some advance. though the plan did not call for a drive by them.
 When Foch's offensive was week old it appeared probable that Luden- dorff would attempt to make at least q temporary stand on the half-circle running from Soissons through the outskirts of Oplchy. below Fere-en- Tardeneis and across toward the Mountain of Reims Competent ob- servers believed his troops were too disorganized 10 hold this line for long. and that he would be forced to fall back to the Vesle river. which runs al- most due west from Reims. joining the Aisne near Soissons.
 The main efforts of General von Boehm. the immediate commander of the Germans in the salient. Were di- rected to keeping open the roads of retreat He was given the assistance not only of most of the crown princess reserves but also of nine divisions from the army of Crown Prince Ru- precht of Bavaria. Already he was having great difficulty in feeding the men he had there, and the additions did little hut stiffen his resistance and add to his commissary troubles.
 Al the time of writing. the full scope of General Foch's plans is not re- vealed. He has the initiative, and may elect to continue the offensive with all his strength in the effort to drive the Huns beyond the Aisne and as much farther as they can be forced; or he may find it prudent to hold them at the Vesle and await the arrival of more Americans. It Is a noteworthy fact that 70 per cent of the allied troops engaged in the present battle are French. A considerable portion of the remainder are British and Ital- ians. If so much can be done with so comparatively small a force of Ameri- cans taking part. ask observers. what will happen to the Huns when mil Hon Americans are in the fighting line and another million at least waiting their turn for action? And this state of affairs will be reached by October. it is predicted.
 Paris and London are loud in their praise Of the quality and behavior of the Americans in the Aisne- Marne bat tie. and the newspapers there relate many instances of their bravery. cool ness and determination. They are ad- mittedly is fine troops as ever were seen. and even the least experienced of them have no idea of anything but winning every fight they go into. Their craftsmanship. both with the rife and with larger weapons. is re- markabrp their doggedness is tenn pered with an unduenchable humor. and their stamina is such that at times bodies of them fought for many hours without food or drink. declining to halt their advance n let the commis- sary catch up with them. These splendid troops. with their gallant and competent officers. have done their full part in stopping the German offensive and converting it into an allied offen- sive. and if they are nos~ called on to stop and await the arrival of more of their countrymen. America should rest satisfied patient and proud. The American casualty lists will be longer aBd longer each day for time. but The bereaved ones may well take ex- .nnie hy ffe proud. unweeping grief with which Colonel Roosevelt received 'he news of the death of his gallant son, Quentin.
 =H-
 ha Flanders the British carried out an important operation that resulted in the capture of Mete-en. They have heen devoting themselves to preparing for the new offensive which. according tn flie logic of The situation. Luden- dorff must undertake and which. ac- cor,tins f3 military experts. probably will be dIree}ed against some part of the line held ny the British. Such an offensige vti;id i9e largely ta influence pubic cIs.-.o.. s1 Germany and direct