FOCH'S PLANS PROMPT GERMAN PEACE EFFORT.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LV, Issue 16980, 14 October 1918, Page 5

FOCH'S PLANS PROMPT GERMAN PEACE EFFORT.

ENVELOPING OPERATIONS GROWING ON SUBLIME SCALE

NO PAUSE POSSIBLE UNTIL PRESENT PHASE IS COMPLETE,

ENEMY FORCES DRIVEN INTO TWO DISCONNECTED MASSES

United Service. (Received 5.5 p.m.) LONDON. Oct. 11. Mr. Keith Murdoch, in a special article says: " I have not fought ray battle yet." So said Marshal Foch when informed of Germany's petition for an armistice. The question whether the Germans can avoid an immediate military debacle dominates the situation. Marshal Foch's strategy overshadows diplomatic events, because it is certain the Allies will not pause until the present military phase is completed. 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 tho whole of Foch's gigantic strategy, with its minor enveloping movements within major movements, small pincers within groat pinchers, like a multiple printing press, is impressing even the German military authorities, who belatedly admit Foch's genius. Despite thickening and apparently organised rearguard actions, the pace of tho German Tetreat is almost hourly increasing, especially on the British front, and the position is now such that great events- are possible. No wonder rumours flood Switzerland that Ludendorff has been dismissed.

The importance of tho Cambrai victory is extolled in Paris, where the British are the heroes of tho hour. The Matin says that the result is that von Boehm's array is completely beaten, and that its extensive retreat is sometimes degenerating into a rout. Scattered units are abandoning their arms like the Bulgarians. The Crown Prince's army is cornered between the Oise and tho Aisne, and that of Prince Bupprecht is half encircled in the Lille region. Thus Germany's forces are being driven in two masses, which are unable to assist each other. One is rotreating on the Ardennes, and the other on Mezieres. Tho hopes for an immense triumph grow.

The correspondent comments: It is unwise to speculate on results, for mere distance absorbs tho momentum of tho advance, but the next few days' fighting promises to reveal whether the Germans are able to retain their organisation while retreating. It was thought the trenchline which existed at Lo Gateau was incomplete but strong. The absence of news indicates that these poor earthworks were easily penetrated. It is stated that a further solid trench system exists between us and the German frontier. Tho Germans planned lines on the Mouse in 1914, but it is believed they must long since have fallen into disrepair, or, like tho vaunlcd Bcaurevoir line, bo ft thing of patches, half built trenches, and acres of sticks for wire upon which the wire was never placed. The probabilities are that tho German . commanders will make tho utmost endeavour to persuado 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 German company strength now varies from 10 to 40. If the average is 60 they havo only 300,000 rifles left in France and Belgium.