MASTER HAND OF FOCH.

Taihape Daily Times, 14 September 1918, Page 2

MASTER HAND OF FOCH.

RAPID SERIES OF BLOWS* THE ELEMENT OF SURPRISE* ' LONDON, 'August 9. Th series of blows now being dealt the Germans on the whole front from the Belgian frontier to Eheims is remarkable, not merely for the KtpMity with which they have succeeded eacn other, but for the fact that they : are not isolated enterprises, but intejgjgi parts of a great strategic rected by a master. As a Paris expert expressively phrases it Ludendorff is like a bully being manoeuvred and mastered by a jiu jitsu expert. It is conceded that the Germans planned to retreat, but they have been forced to carry cut the retreat according to the will of the Allies. The fresh heavy losses he has again sustained proves that ,his retreat was in no way the voluntary operation he pretends. AjJart from material losses the enemy is suffering heavily in morale from the paralysing uncertainty imposed on him by the variety in tactics and strategy of the Allied operations. The attacks of Mangin and Byng, the two outstanding operations of the moment, were successful because both effected a complete surprise. Byng avoided a frontal attack along the Somme, alfu by strikng further north prepared the way for a converging attack on the Somme positions from the north and the south

Reuter’s correspondent at French headquarters, commenting on General Byng’s attack, says that the inference is that the Germans will Ibe given no respite. Blow will follow blow, until the enemy is forced to make a bigger step backward than he has yet contemplated. Mr. Perry Robinson, correspondent of the “Times,” on the West front, says:—The whole battle area is strangely familiar ground. The positions are approximately’those of 1916. Since the German retreat we have actually been able to bury their, dead alongside their comrades in the cemeteries made in the winter of 1916. The whole battlefield is undulating. The summits of from 300 to 450 feet are strongly fortified, and should have been easily defended, But we prospered everywhere. The enemy freely surrendered. Wounded told me that we got Lewis guns on to the road and halloed to the fleeing Germans. They came running back with their hands up, and seemed delighted to be Captured. Some fairly bubbled over with laughter. They brought their packs and rations. One carried a whole leg of bacon. Other wounded men complained that they had seen no Germans except those who were runningto surrender. Our casualties were incredibly light. It seems inconceivable. The German infantry everywhere behaved like rabbits. Everywhere I hear tales of easiest victories. To say that we have recovered 20 square miles of territory without resistance signifies little. The essential thing is that the Germans are throwing into the gutter all that cost them so much to win. Additional documents that have been captured forbid the Germans to write home pessimistic letters. “Better colour it a rosy hue than paint it black.” one document says. ‘Another called the attention of the men to the increasing reluctance to attack. “Officers must compel cowards to go, and shoot them if necessary.”