Pine Bluff daily graphic., 1918-08-09
Foch Carries Out Plan of New Blow Before Enemy
 Recovers From Old.
OPENS THE WAY
 FOR THIRD DRIVE
Ii German Reserves Are Taken From AiSne Front |. $. Officers EX- pect to See Allies Strike
 Again.

Washington, Aug. S.-American ar my officials greeted with delight news that the Franco British forces had launched smashing blow at the enemy on wide front in the Picardy theatre
 The full extent of the thrust was not discernable in military way at a late hour tonight, but the outstand- ing fact to observers here was that Field Marshal Fceh had found him. self able to strike again on the heels of the victory at the Marne, which still is being pressed.
 The supreme commander has made it evident that he has the men and the means to keep up the aggressive battle which American officers have been desirous. The reputation of the great French strategist is that he is the advocate of attacking the ene- my without rest.
 He is living up to that reputation today as never before and indications tonight were that he had scored an- other punishing surprise blow on an enemy already staggering under the rush that swept him out of the Mar ne salient in two weeks time.
 As the situation is seen here, the enemy now faces alternative opera tions on at least two fronts.
 Still Hammering at Vesle.
 Pressure along the Vesle line is being maintained vigorously and even while the new drive was getting under way, on the Albert Montdidier line to the north, the French American and British troops were hammering away between Soissons and Rheims in a way that made it very certain that the Aisne-Vesle triangle would be cleared of the enemy shortly and the allied line here carried forward to the Aisne or possibly across it.
 Around Soissons the French are already in position to outflank the line north of the Aisne should occa- sion offer or to swing north and west and menace the Germans in the Pcardy salient in the flank and rear.
 The enemy now faces the necessity of bolstering up his lines along the botto moi the Picardy salient without delay or undertaking immediately a great withdrawal there.
 Whole Line Is Menaced.
 If he withdraws troops from the Aisne- Vesle line it is certain, he will be forced back there, and if he calls in the reserves from the north a British attack to flatten out the Flanders salient is almost certainty.
 Secretary Baker said today that the nee program of he war depart ment of 5,OOO,000 men by next spring wsa recommended by the military section of the supreme war council at Versailles.
 From this was draw the deduction that these highly trained military students of all the allied nations and the United States with all the facts before them have reashed the sonclu- sion that with such an American force the pooled resources on the wes- tern front were already satisfactory to permit General Foch to begin his effort to oust the enemy and destroy his military power.
 . U. s. To Double Efforts.
 It was undoubtedly on this showing that the plan OI uouplllg Cle All. erican effort was properly approvcc by President Wilson and every re- source of the nation in men or money or supplies pledged to the great task The decision, it was already knowr was reached here late in July after the battle to drive the Germans back from the Marne was so far progress ed that a great victory was assured
 Secretary Baker said however, thai it had been under discussion for con siderable time before at Versailles.
 This was taken to mean that the leaders at Versailles are sure of vic tory now on the cool basis of argin zed fighting power backed by limit less resources in war materials ant the drive today in Picardy brings tha victory one step nearer.