The Washington herald., 1918-03-30
The Turning Point.

Nothing but good news from the front came
yesterday; not only the news that the German ad-
vance had been stemmed and checked at all points
from Arras to Noyon, and that heavy spring rains
had intervened to make German artillery move
ments exceedingly difficult, but that Gen. Ferdi-
nand Foch probably would be named COM
manderin-chief of all the allied forces in the West
Perhaps the recrudescence of Foch is the most
important of these items We know of nothing
which could give a military satisfaction
than the raising of Foch to the supreme command
Political considerations have kept him in the back
ground in France. He is Royalist believing in the
restoration of the French monarchy and the Bour
bon pretenders; for that reason Republicans have
always combined to prevent him from attaining
command of the army. His ability is undoubted
Perhaps it is bit extravagant to call him the
master .strategst of Europe" until he has firmly
made fuller display of his genius. The credit of
the miracle of the Marne he must divide with many
men, notably Papa" Joffre, who will never be dis
placed the peoples hero of that great and de-
cisive struggle. However, the day of Foch after
all the stormy ebb and flow OF French politics. the
most subtle and perhaps the most treacherous in
Europe, is at hand. There is no reflection upon
either Haig Petain in the creation of Foch
generalissimo of the allied armies. Neither of
these generals will dispute the judgment that brings
Foch to the supreme command. 1t is quite possi-
bic that the British office would have agreed
long before this to unity OF command of all the
forces along the French and Flanders fronts pro-
vided it had been assured that Foch would be Sc
lected for the post. 1t not unmindful OF the
neardsaster that followed the meddling of the poll
ticisns with Nivelle's program year ago.
President Wilson's message of congratulaton TO
Foch last night is clear evidence that the American
government had hand in his selection, and, per-
haps, had recommended it at the first Versailles
conference last fall Since that time all British OBJ
Jections to the unity OF command have been with
drawn, apparently.
Yesterday it was clear that the French and Brit
sh were being thrust into the struggle and
not only holding the enemy, but were driving
him back certain points. The narrow salient
that reaches its apex at Montdider has proved
point of danger to the Germans rather than a
wedge which be driven between the British and
French armies. 1t is hinted that the German
offensive north OF Arras has been undertaken as
ieint to prevent the British from throwing the full
force Of their mobile reserves to the southwark into
the critical sector between Amiens and Noyon
There is now every prospect that Amiens is safe
from the Boche is Gibraltar, but it is pointed
that even should it fall no vital element in the
battle has been changed Until the Franco British
line is punctured and the allied armies are thrust
into disarray, the German general staff is as far
from its objective ever
But it is safe to postulate that what we have
seen is merely prelude to a greater and more
ferocious effort the part OF the enemy. Col
Repington says: The comparative quiescence OF
the battle front on Tuesday can be regarded only
pause between the first stage of the fight and
the second. 1t is not, OF course possible for the
Germans to remain where they are and claim
strategic victory, since they have not yet gained
one"
Furthermore the present struggle is known to
the German people the "Kaiser's battle" and it
would hardly do to allow the. Kaiser's name to be
associated with colossal military failure-as it
would be if the present struggle were allowed to
rest where it now stands For that reason any
hour may bring the news OF more furious out
burst of German energy. II this is really on the
Teuton program as the decisive struggle, then we
may look for continuation of the slaughter for
the German is now driven both by arrogance and
by desperation to conquer, regardless of the cost
OF course, the danger is over. The allied
armies must nerve themselves for even more bloody
combats in the future. Whatever the Ger
man purpose, it seems certain that he is deter
mined to have follow through" to his present
tactics, no matter how decisiveIy he fails in the
first stages of the struggle.
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