Evening star., 1918-08-04
FOCH'S VICTORY "STRATEGIC."
NOT A "ROUT" OF GERMAN ARMY
OF Great Value Allies But Public Was Msed by Absurd
Reports, Mr.. Siimonds Says-Huns Retreat Orderly.
Road to Paris Closed for 1918

along the Aisne being inclosed by the
German front. 1t was some thirty.odd
miles from the base of this salient to
the German positions newly taken
south of the Marine. and II was ap-
proximately the same distance from
the French positions west of Scissors
to the other French trenches inside
the Rheims salient. The most impor-
tant railroad and highway lines ran
south from Scissors to the Marne at
Chateau Thierry. less than six miles
from the Franco-American front, be-
tween the Aisne and tho Marne on
either side Of the little ourcq. but were
concentration Of allied heavy artil-
lsry, which had not yet been disclosed.
Eastward Of these lines was q similar
double route Of rail and highway COM
Ing down from Ftsmes on the Vesle to
Fere-en-Tardenois, which was in the
heart Of the salient and the main dis
tributing point.
Lines and Roads Cut.
But the first rapid advance of the
French and Americans north of the
Ourcq put the railway and highway
frS.. So.-sons to Chateau Thierry out
of commission. while the capture of
the heights above Scissors enabled
the French to cut the line along the
Aisne, which had to be employed to
reach the Fere-en-Tardenois branch
line In addition. by narrowing the
it enabled the French heavy guns to
search and sweep all the north and
south roads in the salient More
over. ths further advance Of the
Americana south Of the ourea on Sat:
made Its speedy fail Inevitable.
LudendorH was, then. on the 6xf-
urday after the American and French
blows had fallen, no longer able to
think Of holding all Of the Marne
ssii,a salient: indeed; Il is doubtful f 4 he he
holding permanently anything south
Of the Ourcq. But he was already free
from any real fear of disaster, be-
cause he had summoned reserves ana
held and even beaten back the attack
near Soissons-that is. at the neck
smallest allied progress was made
at this vital point. AS long as this
sector held, too. Ludendorn had moth
ing to fear in the way of battlefield
disaster
His offensive was wrecked: he had
blundered n the younger Moltke had
In the same way and for the same rea-
son. Like his unlucky predecessor he
had not counted upon French strateg-
ic reserve, Franco-Amerfcan army.
as 1t turned out; he had left his flank
open. as Moltke. had exposed Kluck's
flank toward Paris in September, 1914.
and he had received another lightning
blow. . blow which had to be met and
to meet which he had to drop his own
plans. But II he had blundAred he had
not been mad. and he had kept in hand
sufiicient reserves to throw at any inn
periled point. These reserves at once
took root east and south Of Soissons
and insured the freedom of the Ger
man forces within the salient to retire.
Hurried by Americans.
The first stages Of the German re-
tirement were necessarily hurried. not
because of the allied success north Of
the Ourcq toward Scissors. but by rea-
son OF American achievement south ana
above Chateau Thierry. Accordingly.
Ludendorf drew his forces out Of the
country south Of the Marine Saturday
and was also clear Of Chateau Thierry
by the same Sunday, July q. But after
good order. none the less, he was free
to conduct an orderly rear guard action
covering the withdrawal of all his muni-
tions and material out Of the salient
He could not hold all Of the salient, be-
cause Chateau Thierry was lost. There
was still in his hands, because the
whole pocket had been 90 narrowed by
the allied advance on the western flank
that It could not again be used as a
starting place for further drive to-
ward Paris To hold much Of it would
still be possible. but It would mean
holding at high cost long line without
real future value. Its importance was
solely in its relation to his larger plan;
It had nothing of importance in itself,
neither railways, cities nor mines. And
his larger plans had gone awry.
Orderly Retirement.
Between Sunday. July 81, and Mon
day, July 20, therefore, we witnessed
the very deliberate and orderly retire.
ment Of the German army. The allied
line moved slowly and regularly
nofthward; there was little or no
change on either the east or west
sides of the salient. The Germans
clung successfully to Oulchy-le-Cha-
teau, on the west, and the high ground
on the Marne north Of Dormans until
all their heavy artillery and supplies
had been carried out and far north of
Fere-en.TArdenois. The fighting which
tosk place was between the advance
guards of the Americans and French
and the rear guards of the Germans.
When he found his foes coming on
too fast the Germans deliberately
stopped. turned around and counter
attacked, retaking villages momen-