OCR Text |
Show FOCH'S PURPOSE. There has been much speculation as to what particular objective General Foch has in mind in deciding to continue con-tinue the present battle. Tho ultimate object of a battle is the destruction of ihe enemy's army. A good general will go as far as he cau in any single actiou toward the attainment, attain-ment, of that objective. If he stops short it is because his own army is suffering so heavily that it cannot reach its goal by any immediate action. ac-tion. When General Foch began his counter-offensive, his object was to do all in his power to destroy the enemy's, army, and yet he doubtless realized that he would be unable to accomplish this result in a single battle. There could be no reason for his discontinuing dis-continuing the battle until such time as his gains did not compensate for his losses. Up to date his gains have been such as to justify a, continued offensive of-fensive with all the resources at his command. As the engagement proceeds, pro-ceeds, the enemy may be able to stabilize sta-bilize the fighting to such an extent that the allies will be subjected to losses that will warrant a cessation of the drive. The arrival of American troops in France at the rate of 75,000 a week should replace all the allied losses. General Foch could keep up the battle bat-tle week after week, and yet have as many men at his command as he had when ho started. The United States is replacing all of the allied losses. Ou the other hand, Germany can make up its losses only from the 1920 class of recruits, and, at the rate of casualties sustained in the present battle, the replacement re-placement will fall far short. |