Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1918-07-18
Military Authorities at Wash
ington Are Of Opinion That
Enemy's Military Plans Have
Been Overturned,
OFFENSIVE TURNS INTO
PURELY LOCAL ACTION
Great Drive has Degenerated
Until it is Confined to a
Front of Twenty Miles;
Huns Lack Former Dash,

tnv MORNING JOURNAL SPECIAL LsAssb wlsel
Washington, July 17.--While off
cial reports from General Pershing
and Bliss were too belated to permit
formal conclusions to be drawn as to
the situation on the western front. 1t
was clear that military authorities be-
lieved the crisis was past and the en-
emy's plans frustrated.
Neither Secretary Baker nor GEN
eral March. chief OF staff, would ex-
press an opinion as to the situation.
but other officers generally regarded
the battle as more than half won
As press accounts and the brief
official oommuniques from Paris and
Berlin have so far disclosed the situa-
ton. the great thrust has been mar
rowed down In three days of fighting
to one active sector where the enemy
still was moving sluggishly at last
accounts.
Offensive Has Dwindlcd., i
In effect. officers said, the great Of
fcnsive already has degenerated into
"a purely local action on front OF
less than twenty miles between the
point just east of the original Amer
lean positions on the Marne In the
Jaulgonne sector. TO the wooded re-
gion west of Rheims. 1t is poesilsle
that the activity on the German left.
In these woods. will result In a flank
ing operation at Rheims itself, but
officers here were not inclined to
think so. To most observers the center
of interest was the twele mile stretch
on the south bank Of the Marne which
the enemy holds and his thrust down
the river valley toward Epernay where
the Germans have been able to force
their way some four miles beyond the
river. Their crossings, upon which
the maintenance OF the forward lines
and the continuance of the push dowrl
the valley depends, were reported To
be under direct artillery fire. ~
May Trap Germans.
. Officers looked with particular at.
Of a counter stroke by the allies which
they believed might have important
results. 1t was indicated by todly's
reports that the Germans stand with
both flanks exposed and with therr
communication lines seriously men
aced. 1t was believed that unless the
Germans can widen out their positions
they VIII be compelled to fall back
to the river or face the possibility OF
being trapped as the Austrians were
on the Piave.
The extent OF any counter move-
ment would depend wholly upon Gen
eral Foch's available reserves and
upon his own campaign plans. 1t 10
regarded as certain. however, that He
would not overlook an opportunity
TO annihilate an enemy division or
two possibly the bulk Of General Won
Boehm's army
French Airmcn Active.
Accounts of the activities of French
airmen during the first day Of the
battle are reaching Washington, giv-
Ing vivid picture of the constantly
growing part the air forces are play
ing In modern war. rons of bombs
were dropped on the Germans as they
surged forward TO cross the Marne.
Concentration points far to the rear.
where troops and supply trains wait.
ed orders were hunted out and de-
luged with bombs, while moving col
umns were harrassed with machine
gun fire from above. These operations
increased the enemys difficulties and
are still adding to them.
Information has reached allied cir.
cles here which creates an impression
that the present German stroke was
prompted more by internal economic
considerations and by the state OF
political unrest in Austria and to a
lesser extent In Germany than by
merely military reasons. II was ar1
gued today that the selection OF tho
front of attack might be due to the
necessity cf getting forward at a time
when the military authorities did not
feel justified in pressing against
known allied reserve concentration In
front of Paris and behind Amiens. II
Auairian Ffasc0 in Italy.
1t Is regarded as certain that the
Austrian fiasco in Italy played some
part in the present movement. That
disaster had to be offset and at the
same time. with the army budget In
difficulties in Germany. the effect oe
a successful blow in the west might
have been very great at home. Exten-
sion Of the battle line to the east 0f
Rheims probably was made in thin
view. because. Of the anticipation that
this region would be found to be lsss
firmly held than the roads to Paris %
the channel ports and the cost 81 sucs