THE CORRESPONDENTS' DESPATCHES.

Colonist, Volume LX, Issue 14891, 14 October 1918, Page 5

THE CORRESPONDENTS' DESPATCHES.

FOCH AND THE PEACE FEELER.

GREAT BATTLE NOT FOUGHT YET.

GERMAN DEBACLE IMMINENT.

GENERALISSIMO'S GRAND

STRATEGY.

Service.)

(Received Oct. 13, 5.5 p.m.) London, Oct. 11

J£f Keith Murdoch, in a special article, says: "I have not fought my battle yet." So said Marshal Foch -when informed of Germany's petition for an armistice. The question whether the Germane can avoid an immediate military debacle dominates the situation. Marshal Foch's strategy >r ovea'shadows diplomatic events, ■>because it is certain that the Allies -will not pause until the present military phase is complete. Marshal Foch's great strokes are far from finished. His plans include other heavy blows which work in with the progressing enveloping scheme. The sublime grandeur of the whole of Foch's gigantic strategy, with minor enveloping movements within the major movement, and small pincers within the great pincers like a multiple printing press, is impressing even the German military authorities, wh<> belatedly admit 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. No wonder rumours flood Switzerland that Ludendorff has been dismissed.

The importance of, the Cambrai victory is extolled in Paris, where the British are the heroes of the hour.

The "Matin" says the result is that Yon Boehm's army is completely beaten and is extensively retreating, 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 the Aisne, and Prince Rupprecht's 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 retreating on the Ardennes and the other on Mez;eries. Hopes for an immense triumph grow.

Mr Murdoch comments that it is unwise to speculate on the 'results, for mere distance absorbs tfe; 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 Gateau was incomplete but strong. The absence of news indicates that this poor) earthwork was 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 that they must long since have fallen mto disrepair, or like the vaunted Beaurevoir line are a thing of patches, half-built trenches and acres of sticks for wire, upon which the wire was 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.