Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1918-09-27
FOCH BLOW AIMED
At HUNS VITAL SPOT
Seeking to Split German Amy
and Sweep it Out Of France
and Belgium.

Washington, Sept. 27.-The key
eAone of the Great German defensive
arch in France is under assault In the
Franco-Amcrican offensive launched yes
terday morning in the Champagne over n
front of more than forty miles. Because
of the place of attack selected by Marshal
Foch military officials here regarded
the new blow as one of wide strategic
possibilities.
II was not until General PershIng's
official statement arrived late last night
that definite idea was gwen OF the
extent and SUCCESS OF the initial rush.
The Americans advanced on front OF
twenty miles TO an average depth oil
seven miles. taking more than five thou
ssnd prisoners and twelve towns. The
French War Office previously had re-
ported that the French troops further
west had advanced nearly four miles ut
certain points.
ATTACK NO sURPRrsK.
The point of attack selected by Mar
thal Foch caused no great surprise here.
As far back As 1915 the French strate
gists saw TINT the Champagne front
offered the greatest possibilities in re-
pelling the invaders with the least ex-
penditure of men. There was fierce
lighting that year on this sector, but
the French lacked the reserve power TO
prs.ss forward in accordance with their
strstepic designs. and were forced TO
setale back TO tactical operations and
defensive measures.
Since then the line between Rheims
and Verdun has been relatively un-
changed, the last offensive effort OF the
enemy against Rheims in July having
failed to break IT. On that occasion
American troops aided in repclling the
eastern Jaw OF the enemy plncer attack
on the cathedral city, the AID tRaInbow)
Division having been brigadcd with
French troops on this front, where 1t
WIN high commentator from the French
lenders.
souoNY no SILT GERMAN ARMY.
As the French plan of 1915 has been
discussed, il contemplated driving a
great wedge through 10 the lne of the
NIeuse where il skirts the Forest of Ar
den es, near the Belgian border. Rest
ing on wide base and supported by
she Fortress OF Ner,lun on the east,
such a wedge would in effect divide the
German Army, and IN addition would
menace the whole communication svs-
tenn of the enemy forces IN Northern
France and Belgium II would have
threatened iit lSikltiA FnAtNAS Af'N
France. and IT seems certain that p hasty
retirement by the enemy TO the Meuse
lines must have resulted.
The battle lines today arr relatively
as thew were in 1915 and the same strategic
factors hold good. For this reason
alone many officers have believed that
Marshal Foch. sooner or later would
strike st the enemy from the Champagne
front and when word Of the new attack
today was received their first impress
sion was that the hour for the great
allied effort had come.
STRUCK WEST OF RHEIMS.
Later advices, however. indicated that
the new battle zone was cast Of tho more
level region around Rheims, where It
had been anticipated that the road 10
the Belgian border would more probably
be sought. Apparently Marshal foch
has struck first in The region rmmedi-
ately west of Nerdun, and until the scope
and direction Of his attack develops
of1icisls withhold Judgment as to the
grand obiectives at which the new drive
may be aimed,