The Sentinel=record., 1918-09-15
HOPE TO DISRUPT THE
 MORALE ON THE ENEMY
General March Hints At a Continued Offensive By General Pershina en the St. Mihicl Front As the Elimina- ton of the Salient Furnishes a Bet. ter Base for Future Offensive Oper- ations.

Washington, Sept. l4.-Behind the brief announcement that the French had attacked south of the Aisne and on the Disc Ailette sector, military observers heer believe, lies a definite hint as to the basic strategy govern ing the allied operations. The purpose of General Foch is now thought to be to strike at various points of the long western front in such rapid suU- cession that the German general staff will not find an opportunity to with draw any battered units for rest and recuperation
 Results of these tactics, officials here hold. soon would be reflected in the accelerated disruption of the enemy morale, which official and unofficial reports from abroad declare has been palpably damaged by the events of tue last two months.
 If strategists here have correctly guessed Marshal Foch's plan each phase of the offensive will Del designed tc reach some limited tac-l tical position, while collectively tnel seires of blows would serve to keepl the entire army defensive line in al state of perpetual unrest.
 Many officers believe this purpOsel will be shown more clearly as the win ter sets in by continued pressurel against the German line all along tnel front, to keep the enemy from stabil-l izing his position and to keep his menl from getting any rest and restoration of morale in that way There is no question in the minds of these officers that the supreme commander is aim ing at the morale of the German arnyl by these harrassing tactics as much as he is at advancement of his own battleI front.
 Destruction of the enemy army af- ter all they say, is the only certnln' way to military victory.
 General March, chief of staff hinte1 today at a continued offensive by Ger, eral Persning on the St. Mihiel front |
 At his weekly conference with new a-,' paper correspondents he said elimina-' tion of the salient furnished betterl base flor future offensive operations
 No official reports had come, howl ever, to show the course General Pershing is following since the twol wings of his attacks formed a iunc-l tion and closed the mouth of the St Mihiel trap on the enemy.
 Berlin reported officially that Per shing's men were feeling their way to-i ward "our new lines" east of Com bres and northwest of Thiacourt Justl what line this referred to was not clear It appeared probable tonigu,, however. that the line of defense up on which the Germans have fixed would run to the north and east os the positions held by Pershing's out posts at last authentic reports. It is not believed here, however, that the enemy will yield control of the Briey iron fields without stubborn fight land Pershing is advancing directly towards that important region.
 Discussing the American operations of the last two days, General March said:
 The old St Mihiel salient was the first one that was established along the western front in September 191I, and is the last one to go: the mar rowest and having important military bearing because 1t is across the rail- way of the Mouse valley cutting off Verdun from Commercy and Toui ana leaving only one supply line, the one that goes ont tO the west toward Rheims. This salient was cut off by the American army in less than two