Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1918-07-20
FOCH IS ON THE JOR

HNHE material gains credited to the first
- day Of the Franco-American drive on
the German front between scissors and
Chateau.Thierry included 200 square miles
of territory. more than 100 guns and fully
10000 prisoners. These gains were in
creased on the second day, for the armies
were pushing eastward.
The spiritual gains, however are greater
than the material. For more than a year
the Entente Allies have been on the defen.
sive, waiting for the Germans to attack
and resisting with all their might. They
gave ground in the two big spring drives,
the one for the Channel ports and the one
for Paris. The third drive, which was
made on the salient between Scissors and
Rheims, where the line was bent south.
westward several weeks ago. was checked
early this week and the attempt to
straighten the line from Rheims eastward
failed That attempt is still making by the
Germans
But suddenly and without warning Gen.
eral Foch launched an attack on the west
ern side of the salient with American and
French troops. That is he took the often.
sive. We know what he thinks is essen
tal to victory. for he stated his views in
an interview in a London newspaper in the
spring that no army could win which con.
fined itself to defensive operations. This
was notice to the Entente Allies whose
armies he commands that when the oppor.
tunity presented itself he would take the
initiative into his own hands and put the
Germans on the defensive. 1t has been
| well known that he needed re-enforcements
before he could put his plans in operation.
He has received re-enforCements In the
shape of several hundred thousand Ameri-
cap soldiers. They were tested in the early
actions around ChateauThierry and proved
their metal. SO it was with confidence
that he launched his attack. It's early sue
cess has been so brilliant that it has heart
ened the whole fighting force. The spirit
of victory is inspiring it., Confidence in
the reality of the assistance which the
Americans are giving is stiffening the
fiber of every man. It is encouraging the
people in France and England and America.
Although the operations on this twenty
five-mie front must be regarded as minor
in comparison with the great movements
| that must be made before the war is won,
| they are of the first importance because
| Of their effect on the morale of the men
| and because they mark the beginning OF
| new phase in the war. Their success
| does not mean that Germany Is defeated
now, but it does mean that defeat Is
| merely question of time. Germany will
| doubtless make another attempt to take
| the Channel ports and she will be checked
| there as she has been checked on this new
drive to Paris. The forces that she must
meet are growing stronger each week as
| the American transports land our men In
| Europe, and the confidence of the men in
| ultimate victory is increasing their fight
ing value tenfold. This success will also
strengthen the belief in the military genius
| OF General Foch, which has been firm
since he was put in supreme command in
the spring.
Thus with confident armies in command
| of a general in whom We have faith the
rest of us may be assured of ultimate vic
| tory,