GENERAL MAURICE.

Hokitika Guardian, 22 July 1918, Page 4

GENERAL MAURICE.

[>F.l« rRESS ASSOCIATION.—COPYRIGHT.] GENERAL MAURICE. GREAT THINGS ACHIEVED. LONDON, July 20. , General Maurice opines that- General' ( Draught's attack upset 'the Crown Princes’ plans. He is in great difficulties, and evidently the Germans have men to throw into the battle, and they are fighting hard. The Allies already achieved great things, hut we must avoid premature predictions. The enemy's disaster and vital'point is Soissons and the retention of Montague do Paris seems .certain. The Germans will have to discontinue attacks at this point . Also they may draw in tin* remainder of the ■Crown Prince’s reserves .while the ■enemy, in order to readjust his lines, may have to retire a considerable distance, unless they are able to deprive the French of their gains. There is a chance that this may prove a definite German defeat. The initiative has pass ed to the French. The whole German positions between Soissons and Rhoims are endangered. Wo have neutralised the Crown Prince's Army, and he will have Ins woVlc .cut. out to extricate himselt from the present position. On the other hand, •I'riiiee Ruppreclips group between Mont Didier and the Channel, possesses formidable reserves. It is probable that- these will be used against the British front It- is unlikely that the Germans will throw good money after bad, therefore, probably, he will only use sufficient troops to prevent the situation becoming a defeat, and throw their forces in elsewhere.

The enemy’s failure in the Champagne is likely to accelerate, the blow between Mont Didier and the sea, as there is little room to maneouviy on the British front. It cannot be said that the anxiety lias altogether ended.

THE ATTACK REVIEWED. LONDON, July 19. General Maurice, commenting on the counter-attack, says that General i< always preached that a defensive atti-, tude, is no defence, so we may be sure that the. reason he did not attack before is, that he. had not the necessary means to counter-attack,.

Between the Aisne and the Marne, there is an indication that the; painlul period, during which we had sat still, is brought to an end. All who followed the 1918 campaign, must realise and believe that a defence is necessarily a more economical kilt, than an offensive is an ■ .illusion. A successful! attack is almost always much less costly Hum ah unsuccessful defence.

In the. nresent battle the Germans have lost" more heavily, because their attacks tailed. Genera! Loch's attack, thus far, has not been expensive, for he achieved a siirnrise' which was made' in the directum where every yard of ground, must directly influence the course of the battle, and it was almost certain that thceneniy was preparing to advance upon Paris, along the trout attacked.

The enemy now will have to begin preparations afresh. ? General Fbeh .hits not only driven the enemy - back farther Trom Paris, 'but has struck at -the main artery feeding the Germans in u great salient. General Maurice adds that at -Montague do Paris, which is now in I lie 'French hands, completely dominates Soissons, and makes the railways passing through it useless to tlk> Germans as the French artillery dominates the lines.

The chances, of recapturing Soissons ai\> rosy. In any case it is impossible for .the Germans to bring up the vast amount of material required for an attack on j’aiis, and it is difficult to keep the troops <>n the Marne supplied with food and ammunition. Unlike the Crown Prince’s efforts. General Foeli in a few hours, seer decisive strategical results, and was able to claim a considerable capture of guns, while General Ludendorff was unable to boast ol one, after four da vs’ battle.

Counter-attacks south of the Marne, were General Foeh’s local e-flort in regaining high ground, trom whence he was able to shell the enemy bridges, were obvious.

The 'Americans have taken part in the battle, u very high trial, for new ■troops to take part in a surprise attack, which was hnstile prepared, as this must have been, and looked as if General von Hindenburg had waited over long, and underestimated the British.

General Foeh’s attack was not an effort to break the German front, as Pooh has not had .time to collect troops for a far-reaching offensive, so we must not expect- the Franco-Ameri-can advance to be carried much turther.