SOISSONS ATTACK

Evening Post, Volume XCVI, Issue 18, 20 July 1918, Page 8

SOISSONS ATTACK

WELCOME CHANGE IN METHOD "DEFENSIVE ATTITUDE IS NO DEFENCE" THE ENEMY'S COMMUNICATIONS, UHITID PUSS ASSOCIATION.—COMMOHT.). (ADSTRALIAN-NBW ZEALAND CABLE ASSOCIATION.) (Received July 20, 1 p.m.) LONDON, 19th July. General Maurice, commenting on the counter-attack, says: "General Foch hat always preached that a defensive "attitude is- ho defence; so we may be sure that the reason he has not attacked before is that he had not the necessary means. The counter-attack between the Aisne and the Marrie is an indication that the painful period during .which we have had to sit still ifi brought to an end. All who have followed the 1918 campaign must realise that the deep-rooted belief that the defence is necessarily more economical of life than the offensive is an illusion. A successful attack is almost always much less costly than :an unsuccessful defence. In the present battle Germany has lost more heavily because her attacks have failed. General Foch's attack thus far has not been expensive, for it achieved a surprise, and was made in a direction where every yard of ground must directly influence the course of the battle. "It is almost certain that the enemy was preparing for an advance upon Paris along the front attacked. He will now-have to begin his preparations afresh. General Foch has not only driven the enemy back further from Paris, but has struck at the main artery feeding the Germans in the great salient: "The Mont de, Paris, which is now in French hands, completely dominates Soissons,, and makes the railways passing through the town useless to, the Germans, as the French artillery dominate the lines. The , chances of recapturing Soissons are rosy. In any case it will be impossible for the Germans to bring up the vast amount of material required for the attack on Paris, and it will be difficult to keep the troops on the Marne supplied with food and ammunition. : "Uhliko the Crown Prince's effort, General: Foch in a few hours secured decisive strategic results. He- is able to claimiconsiderable captures c guns, while Yon Ludendorff is unable to boast one after|four -days of battle: The coun-ter-attack's'south of the Marne were a local'effort; by General Foch to regain high ground, from which he is able to shell the enemy's bridges: "It is: obvious that the Americans ■have taken part -in the -battle; It is a very high trial for new troops to take part in a surprise attack, hastily, prepared as this must have been. It .looks as if Yon Hindenburg waited too long, and underestimated the .Americans as his predecessor, in the first Battle of the Marne. underestimated the British.'. "General Foch's attack is not an effort to break the German front. He has not had time to collect trodps for a far-reach-ing offensive, so, we nrnst not expect;the Franco-American .advance to be carried much further." • -