Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1918-07-06
Allies Now Ready
to Strike Germdns
Telling Blo,Os

Extending control Of the air have per-
mitted the adoption of a new policy by
General Ftoch, supreme commander of
! the allied armies on the western front,
! in the opinion of many observers.
! They believe the sequence of hard
local blows that, have been struck re-
Gently by the allied troops shows that
! a new phase of the great battle is de-
veloping, which might expand into a
major operation.
!! Reports of the successful strokes at
the German lines are taken here to in
dicate General Foch no longer feels un-
der. the urgent necessity of keeping
rigidly on the defensive. The fact that
the Germans have been surprised and
overwhelmed by several of the local
counter operations is believed to be
due to the work Of the allied airmen.
| In both cases American aid has
served to change the tide of the fight
ling. The arrival of American troops
! by the hundreds Of thousands has en-
abled General Foch to begin harassing
the enemy all along the line, while the
increasing number of American pilots
makes possible concentrations of air
forces that sweep enemy scouts out OF
IL
iited drives.
The American attacks around Cha
iteau Thierry, the French operations on
the scissors front Of the Compiegne
salient. and the British operations on
both sides Of the Somme and in Flan-
ders probably were prompted by the
fact that the weakness Of the enemy
at those particular points had been re-
Ivealed by airplane observations, or as
Ia result of raids at other points. Quick
advantage was taken, undoubtedly. for
sntnrise blows where German reserves
were on the move.
Take 'Jumpino OF" Places.
It is assumed that General Foch
|now plans to give the enemy no rest.
Points of vantage held by him, which
would beoof value as the starting place
for new major thrust. are being re-
captured all along the line. The effect
lis to embarrass German preparations.
and officers here believe that the fact
that Any of these local operations may
develop into more important move
ment tends to keep the German re-
series scattered along the whole line.
The activity of the allied forces is
believed by observers to put new
aspect on the problem Of meeting the
Forthcoming German effort to renew
his movement either toward the cham
mel ports sor Paris. The possibilities
|of German fsints at remote parts Of
the lfne; to cover the development OF
the real attack, are believed to be more
remote, as it is the allies who are now
!creating diversions, and not the Ger
mans.
May Make Counter Blows.
It is regarded as probable that Cen
eral Foch will be able to form accurate
estimates of the course and strength
Eof the blow before it is delivered, and
make his concentration Of reserves ac-
|cordingly If so officers have hopes
that the German assault, when it does
come. can be stopped without any con-
siderable surrender Of territory.
One advantage of the increasing man
power Of the allied armies that observ-
iers believe ts certain to be apparent in
the next German rush will be the pos
sibility of allied thrusts at other points
along the line thus compelling the
shifting Of German reserves to meet
these attacks.
It is believed General Foch now is In
la position to take this means Of slow
ing up the enemy without impairing his
own reserves.