The Washington herald., 1918-04-17
The Hour for Foch.

Hindenburg now has gained position where, if
he possesses the sheer bulk of reserves necessary
to smother the resistance of the numerically in
ferior forces facing him in Flanders, he can so
gravely imperil the allied line that he can force
Foch to disclose the strategic program he has been
formulating
For two weeks or the world has been
awaiting reply from Foch. The day before yes
terday was his first day actual generalissimo
OF the Franco British armies in France. Is 1t too
much to hope that he is ready to strike now-that
his rapier thrust will soon flash down upon some
vital spot on the Germanic line and change the
complexion of the battle:
The loss OF Bailleul forces the issue. Doubtless
it means the evacuation OF Messines Ridge, the
thanking OF the Ypres salient, and with "a wide
spread Withdrawal of the British forces. 1t does
not mean that Hazebrouck will be reached, that
the network OF railroads directly in the OF
Balcul will fall to the enemy. British tenacity
is assurance that these roads will be defended ito
the last man" From this point forward every
inch OF ground must be contested 1t may prove
that the primary energy OF the German drive has
spent itself in the hcrculean efforts already re-
veaed; that reserve forces are now in alignment
to check any further advance The Boche was
within ten miles OF AnIicns before he downed
in his tracks and his thrust brought to absolute
halt The same condition may be revealed in Elan
ders-that British defensive power will harden with
every inch that it yields, and that the drive will
be unable to reach the main objectives before it.
Bailleul is nothing moro than a toe hold" the
starting point for a new spring pounce upon
the British lines lust how much energy-is LETT for
that spring: That is the great immediate question
confronting Foch and Haig.
Within DAYS time We should know whether
Hindcnburg has the striking power to place the
British army in such dangerous position that
it must fight ior its life There is no need OF
minimizing the great opportunity before the enemy.
He is now fighting to roll the British back to the
Channel and his progress toward that objective has
not been stopped contrary to the surface indica-
tions OF twenty-four hours ago.
Ii the capture OF Bailleul means the evacuation
OF Acssncs ridge and OF Wytschaete, then the Ger
man can widen his uncomfortably narrow salient,
can broaden his front and increase his pressure im-
measurably. Ii this is done, the future OF the bat
tie and the future OF the rests with Foch and
the army OF maneuvrc that he is able to bring to
the rescue. That is why We believe that this hour
IS arriving The time TO strike is at hand The
most dangerous blow OF the whole German thrust
is being launched. 1t must be met. parried and
thrown back
Some experts believe that the German reserve is
not vet fully deployed: that its striking force has
not been sufficiently down, and that, there
fore severe though the pressure may be at certain
points, the time for defHitiye intervention by Foch
has not arrived.
Nevertheless, il it be true that the reserve force
of the allied armies is now fully modified and only
waiting its hour and its opportunity to strike, we
believe that the psychological moment is here.
The German is slowly but surely putting his rock
erusher in motion towards the channel ports, with
the British forces pinned between him and the sea
Relief should come at once.