Durant weekly news. (Durant, Choctaw Nation, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 190?-1944, 1918-06-14
ONLY OFFENSIVE
WAR CAN WIN
SO SAYS GENERAL FOtW. COM
MANDlNG THE ALLIED FOR
CES IN EUROPE
MUST Be A MASTER STROKE
Reserves Must Ik Held in Maximum,
Strength Until Time for Dccis.
i've Blow With the Utmost
Power IL at Hand,

That battles can be won in the end
only by the army which takes the Of
fensive is the significant declaration
made by General Foch. commander in
chief of the allies. in an important
article contributed by him to the
Weekly journal, of London, in which
he discusses the problem Of the SOL
dier and the way to victory.
Modern warfare to arrive at its
end and to impose its will on the en-
emy." says General FOch. "recogniz-
es only one means--destruction OF
the enemy's organized forces.
War undertakes and prepares the
destruction by battle, which brings
about the overthrow Of the adver-
sary. disOrganizes his command. de-
stroys his discipline. and nullifies
his units SO far as their fighting pow
er is concerned.
Our first axiom must be that
completely to achieve its object. a
battle must not be purely defensive
A purely defensive battle. even well
conducted, does not result in a VIC
tor and a vanquished. II is simply a
game that must be begun over again
Must Re Offensive at Finish.
From this It is an obvious corrol-
ary that an offensive. whether start
ed at the beginning OF an action or
whether II follows the defensive. can
only give results and in consequence
must always be adopted at the fin
ish.
ITO maintain our positions is not
synonymous with being victorious
and even prepares for defeat. II
we remain where we are and do not
pass to the offensive to fix the di-
rectiOn of attack. to guard against
the plans of the enemy and prevent
him from carrying out the same ma
| neuver we must undertake to carry
on and sustain numerous cOmbats
each with determined aim.
But since there remains no doubt
| that decisive attack is the very key
stone of battle. all other actions
which make up battle must be en-
ViSaped. considered. organized, pro
vided with force in the measure in
| which they will prepare. facilitate.
| and guarantee development of Il de
| "isivc attack characterized by it.
mass. its surprise. its speed. and fo,
| that there shall be the maximum re
serve force possible of troops maneu-
yercd. The reserve that Is to say.
he prepared bludgeon--is is To be or
ganized and kept carefully instruct,
I'd to execute the single act of battl,
from which results are expected
namely. the decisive attack.
Reserves Must he HuSlun,iui.
| Preserves must be husbandcd will,
he most extreme parsim0ny SO tha'
the bludgeon may be strong enough
20 make the blow as violent as posi-
| Die. Let loose AT the finish withou;
any lurking idea OF saving them, with
well though ont plan for winning
he battle at point chosen and Il"
.ermined. reserves are thrown in al
together in an action surpassing il.
violence and energy and all Other
| phases of battle. an action with pro
per characteristics - surprise. mass
and speed. All our forces reall!
participate. either by preparing it or
by carrying out.
| In this. our supreme aim. W,
must not be deceived by appearance
Although theory fails when applied
by feeble hands and when accessor
les obscure the main principle. his
tory and reason show US that in bat
tie there is single argument which
is worth while, namely, decisive at
tack. which IL alone capable of as
suring the desired results the over
throw of the adversary"