Evening star., 1918-06-10
Merely a Local Operation on
Large Scale, Officials
Here Believe.
AIM is TO RESTORE
"SEMI-CIRCLE" POSITION
No Decision Possible in Present Ell
fort-Interest in Gen. Foch's
Article on Reserves.

Germany's thrust between Montdi-
didier and Noyon was regarded by OH
cials here today as local operation
on large scale.
sive, such as Germany is expected to
make from time to time this summer
in the hope Of registering a decisive
victory. There could be no objective in
the operations on this sector, it was
stated, that would be decisive.
An attack between Montdidier and the
point where the line crosses the Marine.
south of Chateau Thierry. was fore
gone conclusion. it was said. There has
been great stress laid on the fact that
the western front taken as whole per-
mits the Germans to occupy semi
circle, from the center OF which they
may strike easily at many points OF the
allied line, whereas the allies must send
cumferance of the seIni-circle to with
stand such attack. -
Purpose of Drive.
But so far as the allied position within
the region described is concerned they
are in exactly the same advantageous
position, and It Is to overcome this ad-
vantage that the Germans are directing
their effort.
Putting it another way. the German
purpose was described by officers here
as an effort to consolidate the Picardy
and Aisne battle areas and straighten
the line for later mass attacks either
toward Paris or Amiens or the cham
mel ports.
The same object was sought in the
pressure toward Compeigne and Sois-
sons and from Chateau Thierry. The
villers Cotterets wood blocked the
success Of the movement and the Ger
mans now are trying to take the de-
tenders of the wood in the rear. II
they are successful 1t is regarded that
the line they are seeking to establish
would give them q straight front from
the region Of Montdidier to some point
in the vicinity Of Chateau Thierry.
Little Doubt Of Heavy Reserve.
There is little doubt that heavy
reserve Is maintained by Gen. Foch
within the triangle formed by, the new
sector Of attack, scissors and Chateau
Thierry.N Compeigne is in this triangle
and is the distributing center, prob
ably for the allied and American
forces holding the bulge in the battle
line that still separates the Picardy
and Aisne theaters Of action.
The new thrust apparently is aimed
at Champagne. II it is brought under
heavy gunfire the security of the de-
Tending lines to the north and east of
that place might be menaced.
The German success in their new ef-
fort was limited. dispatches indicated.
The ground won thus far is on too
narrow front. it is thought, to AFFECT
the situation seriously.
Gen. Foch's reserves apparently are
within easy reach. II needed, and the
tanks of the new front are holding
hard, hampering the Germans in real
izing any strategic value from the
ground won.
Considerable interest was manifested
by officers here today in the state
ments made by Gen. Foch in an article
by him to the Field, a
weekly paper, in which he asserted
that the army which takes the ofAc-
sive must, in the end, be the wiiN..
in such offensive warfare.
Some officers believed that the ar
ticle may have been compiled from ex-
tracts from the many papers and lee
lures which Gen. Foch has written
and delivered, and to have been more
or less academic. Others saw in 1T a
further emphasis of the need for
troops to amplify this reserve.
Gen. Maurice, retired from active
service in the British army following
his controversy with Lloyd George.
has in subsequent writings urged that
England send to France all the men
that could be spared for this summers
critical fighting.