The Washington herald., 1918-07-16
PERHAPS LAST
Big OFFENSIVE
BY HUN HORDE
Foch Has Ample Reserves
to Protect Lines Now
Attacked.
DRIVE MAY BE FEINTNG
u. S. Troops Courage Suf-
fees to Check Ger
/ mans, is Belief.
DRIVE MAY BE FENTNG

Scattered and brief reports Of the
German drive received here yesterday
led army experts to hope that the
allied forces defending the Marine
would be able to infiict a defeat upon
the Germans similar to that suffered
by the Austrians in their vain effort
at the Piave.
Because of the general belief that
the offensive is the last the Germans
can undertake this year. and because
General Foch for the first time since
he assumed general command has an
adequate force under him. interest
here Is at fever heat Soon after
press reports announced the initiation
of the drive, President Wilson called
upon Secretary Baker at the War De-
partment.
Americans Ready.
At that time Secretary Baker had
received no late dispatches from the
American headQuarters. The last
news which was available was the
report Of the activities IN the Cha
teau-Thierry district for July 10 and
II. On those dates. according to Gen.
eral Pershing's repdrts. the enemy
artillery IRE was someeshat increased,
especially on the American front
lines, and there was an increased cir
culation Of men and trucks in the
German rear areas
It was pointed out that the excel
lence OF the intelligence reports Of the
American forces would indicate that
the German attack did not take the
Americans forces by surprise. and the
early report that the American forces
were so disposed that they were able
quickly to organize an effective coun-
ter attack. gave rise to the belief that
the Germans would be soon checked.
Russian Question.
Although II was reported that Pres
ident Wilson's visit to Secretary Ba-
ker had to do with the part which
the United States may play in the aid
to be sent Siberia no confirmation
was available
Officials interested in the Siberian
question stated that all matters in re-
lation to the Russian question were
proceeding favorably. An announce
ment in regard to the economic mis-
sion is not expected until members of
the mission have reached vladivos-
took.
The new German drive Is looked
upon by many close students of Ger
man strategy as a part of a new
peace offensive. 1t Is held that the
Germans hope to push their lines for
ward to a point where they can con-
centrate many high powered guns up
on Paris. 1t Is pointed out that Ger
many may have conducted their only
hope Of forcing the allies to consider
a peace move at this time would be
to place Paris in danger of being re-
duced to ashes. From propaganda sent
out from German quarters, II Is evi-
dent that in the coming month great
efforts will be made to weaken the
will to win among the allies. For
that reason an attack against the
French and Americans is resigned to
demonstrate that the new forces on
the French battlefelds can never be
depended upon to hurl the Germans
across the Rhine.
Courage of Yanks.
From the few reports available, II
would appear that this effort of the
Germans is likely to prove a boom
erang, since the courage of the Amer
ican forces, II is believed. will for all
time give to the allies full and am
pie proof of the valor and abilities
of their new allies from across the
sea.
Because the German tactics call for
crossing a river at one Of its great
bends, 1t is known that the Amer
ican artillery was well placed in the
region of Jaulgonne. and that the
fire of the American artillerists
against the pontoon bridges must have
been deadly. The Americans have
been on the sector OF the Germans
center in the present drive long
enough to be fully acquainted with
the terrain.
American soldier enters upon a battle
which involves attack and counter
attack and open-field fighting gives
reason to believe that the German
general staff have made a fatal blum
der in, their selection of the proper
point for the driving of new wedge
against Paris.
As in past offensives, the possibility
that the present assault Is a feint
has been advanced IN some quar-
ters. However, there is slight peason
at this stage of the fighting to be-
lieve that the Germans would be able
to organize the power necessary to
the Inauguration of a second drive
at another point Up to the present
time the German army has not used
feinting tactics.
Perhaps Last Drive.
In view of the strength Of the allies
on the Italian and Balkan fronts and
the fact that the British sectors have
shown In the past few weeks that
Flanders Is well guarded. 1t Is the gem
eral opinion. here that the present
drive Is the last great EFFORT OF the
Kaiser's declining power.
Officials frankly predict that from
ooszHup on rAss .n1