WHAT FOCH SAYS.

Northern Advocate, 14 October 1918, Page 3

WHAT FOCH SAYS.

HIS BATTLE STILL TO COME.

CAN HUNS ESCAPE DEBACLE?

(Received 5.5 p.m.)

LONDON, Oct. 11

Mr Murdoch, in a special article says: j "'I have not fought my battle yet.' "So said Marshal Foch when informed of Germany's petition for an armistice. "The question of whether the Germans can avoid an immediate military debacle dominates the situation. Marshal Foch's strategy overshadows diplomatic events, because it is certain that the Allies will not pause until the present military phase is completed. Marshal Foch's great strokes are far from finished. His plans include other heavy blows which will work in with his progressing enveloping scheme. The sublime grandeur of the whole of Marshal Foch's gigantic strategy, with its minor enveloping movements within major movements and small pincers within great pincers, like a multiple printing press. It is impressing even the German military authorities, who belatedly admit Marshal Foch's genius, despite the thickening and apparently organised rearguard actions. The pace of the German retreat almost hourly increases, especially on the British front, and the position is now such that great events are possible. There is no wonder that rumours flood Switzerland that General Ludendorff has been dismissed." The importance of the Cambrai victory is extolled in Paris, where the British are the heroes of the hour. "Le Matin" says: The result is that General yon Boehme's army is completely beaten and is extensively retreating, sometimes degenerating into a rout. Scattered units are abandoning their arms like the Bulgarians did. The Crown Prince's army is cornered between the Oise and the Aisne, and Prince Rupprecht's army is half encircled in the Lille region. Thus Germany's forces are being driven into masses unable to assist each other. One is retreating on the Ardennes and the other on the Mezieries Line. Hopes for an immense triumph grow." Mr Murdoch comments: "It is unwise to speculate on the results, for mere distance absorbs the momentum of the advance, but the next few days' fighting promises to reveal whether the Germans are able to retain their organisation whilst retreating.- It was thought that the trench line which existed at Le Cateau was incomplete, but strong. The absence of news indicates this, as, poor earthworks are easily penetrated. It is a startling fact that no further solid trench system exists between us and the German frontier. The Germans planned lines on the Meuse in 1914, but it is believed they must have long since have fallen into disrepair or, like the vaunted Beaurevoir Line, are a thing of patches, half-built trenches, and acres of sticks for wires upon which wires were never put up. The probabilities are that the German commanders will make the utmost endeavour to persuade their depressed and exhausted troops to stand upon the first water-fronted line, promising that the water will protect them against the tanks. It is interesting to note that prisoners agree that the company strength now varies from 10 to 40. Even if the average is sixty they have only 300,000 rifles left in France and Belgium." —United Service.