FRENCH CAVALRY AND TANKS ENGAGED

FOCH’S SURPRISE THRUST

From G.H. Perris. With The French Armies, Friday Morning. The splendid Franco-american advance yesterday between the Aisne and the Marne was above all a victory of surprise. This part of von Boehn’s army had recovered from the series of local reverses which I have recently reported, but it supposed that the opening of a new offensive further east on Monday relieved it of all immediate anxiety. The armies of Generals Mangin and Degoutte would, it was thought, have enough to do to help to meet the Crown Prince’s onset without conceiving operations of their own. “Did you not fear a flank attack?” a German officer taken prisoner was asked. “Attack with what?” was the reply. “We thought Foch’s reserves were exhausted.” The old infatuation of the German soldier is not yet cured, but the only possible treatment is having its effect. The secret of the attack, which was very rapidly prepared, was perfectly kept. The violent storm helped our Allies. Amid the continuous roll of thunder the noisy approach of large numbers of French tanks to their starting-places was unnoticed. At 4.25 a.m. the French and American infantry dashed forward behind a moving curtain of fire from hundreds of batteries, great and small, over a front thirty miles long, and enjoyed an advantage the thought of which must throw von Hutier himself into a rage of envy. So hard was the attack pressed that in some parts of the field this element of surprise was preserved for several hours. Enemy officers were caught in bed. A body of soldiers was captured reaping a rye field. But the best proof of the exceptional character of this success lies in the fact that for the first time for many a long day the French cavalry came into action, not as infantry, but mounted, and that they performed at least one raid of a most daring and effective kind behind the enemy’s lines.