Evening star., 1918-06-01
Why Foch Held Back.

German advance gives a depressing out
| look to the civilian. who is apt to con-
clude that il the Germans can advance
twenty-six miles in few days at one
point they can do it at othera But
therein lies the hope of the allied posi-
tion, 1t Is asserted. for Gen. Foch seems
to have been unwilling to seek to check
the French and British positions at
northern points of the line.
II the Germans took a like amount of
territory anywhere to the north the re-
suits would be considerably more dis
AS it is they have interfered with
transportation lines of the French,
they have captured prisoners, guns
and materials. but they have gained
no territory of decisive advantage,
and the net result may be that the
Prussfan has expended a considerable
amount Of force without coming q
whit nearer the real objective of his
present operations-a decisive blow
to end the war.
Interest is growing in Washington
in the possibilities of operations on
the Italian front. 1t is believed that
the Italians have represented to the
allied war council, If not to Gen. Foch.
that a drive northward into Austria at
this tuncture would have the effect of
stirring revolution in Austria, divert
ing German forces to aid Austria, and
releasing Italian troops in even larger
numbers thereafter for service on the
western front.
Plan Indorsed Here,
Six months ago few military men
here were enthusiastic about the
italian plan of campaign; now many
Of them openly indorse 1t as a means
OF delaying German aggressions until
further refnforcements arrived from
the United States. If not as a means
of striking a conclusive blow.
Omcers Of both this country and Of
disaster of the German drive lies not
in gains Of territory here and there,
but In drive toward Amiens, which
would end at the channel. and cut a
wide-enough swath to effect the sep.
aration Of the British and French
armies. 1t is to that end that Ger
many is working. and the recent op-
erations have not put the Germans
any nearer its attainment.
There is unanimous agreement that
the summers fighting will depend to
large extent on the relative man
power of Germany and her opponents,
Just now Germany is inside a semi-cir-
Gle. and from the center she may dis
patch easily and quickly forces to at
tack any of the points about this
semi ml-c1rcumIerence. To meet her the
allies must dispatch troops in cir
cuitous fashion about the outer edge
of this semi-circle.
Marine Possibilities.
Assuming that Gen. Foch could have
summoned enough troops to points in
front Of the Marne to hold the Ger
mans back, little would have been
gained, but the German strategy them
would have been to drive straight and
surely toward the places left vulner-
able when the reinforcements were
taken-places which matter much
more to the allied safety teIan the
ground just overrun by the enemy.
The Germans now will seek to con-
solidate their positions on the
Marine river, which will keep them
busy. some military men believe.
They will try to,pinch the French
out of the wedge Of which Soissons
is the apex. but there already is in
dication that the French intend TAX
Ing the iniative in that region.
In holding the Gerpans at the
Marne.the allies have the advantage,
for they can defend ths river sucA
eessfully with . comparatively small
force.