GENERAL FOCH’S SURPRISE.

Rangitikei Advocate and Manawatu Argus, Volume XLII, Issue 11616, 15 August 1918, Page 6

GENERAL FOCH’S SURPRISE.

GERMAN FAILURE ADMITTED,

Lodndon, July T 3

Dr. Wegener, in the ‘‘Cologne Gazette, in the longest message yet nrinted regarding General Foch's attack, acnnits .that the_ German offensive failed because it lacked the element of surprise. The Getman.comniacd stoppedjthe advance to avoid the sacrifice of lives. At that vital fmoment, Foch’s offensive commer;

iced at another point The news created a very uneasy feeling, es the sjattack was in the rear of the German The woods helped the French to mass artillery and hide their storm troops. Foch was also helped by the fact that he possessed greater supplies of labour. Foch carried out movements which looked Hike the withdrawing of troops, but this proved to be camouflage. Every' wood and gully was full of troops uud material at the time when the Germans hoped that their offensive would have forced Foch to renounce his schemes, 2 Dr. Wegener is of opinion that the novelty of the French attack was the number of tanks. The French built these secretly. They are of a "surprisingly small type, and hence nave greater mobility, and are easily manoeuvred. The tanks led the way, and morally strengthened the infantry. The low visibility of the early morning, the broken nature of the gronud, and the high assisted to hide the tanks and storm troops. The German artillery could not be effective. It was thus that toch’s counter-offensive was launched. The Berliner Tegeblatfc says that it would be self do ception to deny that Foch’s offensive has brought remarkable results, and adds that the German High Command must beware of the strategy of the French Generals. A decision must ho readied between Soissous and Chateau Thierry.