FOCH'S STRATEGIC PLAN.

Taihape Daily Times, 29 August 1918, Page 3

FOCH'S STRATEGIC PLAN.

GRADUAL DEVELOPMENT ALLIES' GtfEAT EEAT OF ARMS. LONDON, August 9. The heavy delivered by Sir Doug-la? Haig yesterday is regarded not as an attempt to break through, but as part of a great strategic plan which Marshal Foeh is carrying out, now that lie has the initiative, for the purpose of further relieving Amiens and recovering perfect freedom of manoeuvre.

•Marshal Foch, by maintaining the offensive pressure on the Germans, not merely embarrasses them in the desperate, delaying battle they are fighting on the Vesle in order to secure their retreat across the Aisne, but is threatening their general position.

It is estimated that the British and French participating total 250,000 infantry, or 500,000 of all arms. In a message to the King, M. Poincare, President of France, says:—"l am at one with your Your Majesty in the conviction that the hour of decisive success will shortly arrive for the Allies."

Mr Beach Thomas, correspondent of the Daily Mail, says that the Somme advance is one of the greatest single feats of arms in the annals of the British Army. It began under tense uncertainty. Everyone was asking: "Do the Germans know?" Tuesday's Morlancourt incident might have revealed signs full of meaning. The attackers momentarily expected mined and gassed roads, and concealed batteries, but the Germans did not know and they did not give the smallest sign until the protracted clap of our thunderous barrage broke the deep silence. '

Splinters absolutely effaced the wires and tlie trenches. Every soldier refers to the splendid barrage almost as though it were a lover. Accompanying the long lines of tanks were clouds of low-flying airmen, whose audacity was unequalled. Their overwhelming numbers seemed equal to the hurtling shells. The first prisoners taken were ludicrously spic and span, like fresh relief troops. They confessed that they had not fired a shot. Apparently they surrendered to the barrage in sheer admiration.

Later batches of prisoners said that the tanks were too quick for them. An entire motionless battery was captured. Somtel officers and ,men were 'Still asleep, despite the barrage. The increasing rapidity of toe advance sploit the range of a majority of the enemy guns. It was amazing and magnificent All observers realised that a great success had been won.

General Mangin has issued an army order to the Third American Army Corps in which he said that they went to battle as to a feast. He eulogised the magnificent dash and inadmitable tenacity of the Americans, who, he said, won the admiration of their comrades in arms, capturing 91 guns, over 7000 prisoners, and immense booty, and reconquered over eight miles of territory. They gained complete confidence in their superiority over tho enemy and he was proud to have commanded them.