ositions
of assembly, close to their front-line trenches, caused heavy
casualties. The Germans succeeded in penetrating the French and
American positions in parts of the 50-mile front to a maximum depth of
4 miles south-west of Reims, but on the Plains of Champagne little
progress was made and the attack lost its momentum. During the attack
of March 21, 1918, the advance was not held up until it was within
striking distance of its ultimate objective, and the offensive on the
Aisne in May, 1918, secured an advance of 12 miles. Captured documents
showed that the attack of July east of Reims was intended to reach the
Marne at Eperney and Chalons, an advance of 21 miles. A feature of the
earlier days of the battle was a spirited counter-attack near Fossoy
(on the extreme left of the German forces) by a division of the
American Army which thrust the Germans behind their first line and
captured upwards of 1,000 prisoners, the ground regained in the river
bend being consolidated and held by the American division. The battle
continued for three days before the German {50} attack was brought to a
standstill, and at 4.80 a.m. on July 18 a counter-attack by the French,
American, and Italian forces changed the whole aspect of the campaign,
and led to the final triumph of the Allies and to the downfall of the
Central Powers.

{51}

THE ATTACK

"Surprise is at all times the assailant's strongest weapon."--"Field
Service Regulations," vol. ii. (1920).

The aim of every commander who possesses the power of manoeuvre is to
seek out the enemy and destroy his organised forces. The Attack is the
culminating point of all manoeuvres to this end, and every commander
will endeavour to achieve his aim by a sudden and unexpected assault on
a part of the enemy's defences.

The achievement of this aim is only possible when a commander has
assembled a sufficient force for his purpose, and has obtained, by
reconnaissance and by fighting, information as to the vulnerability of
the hostile position. The commander will then endeavour to break the
enemy's formation so suddenly as to disconcert all his plans; to retain
a compact force with which to follow up the blow without giving the
enemy a moment's breathing space; to drive a wedge into the heart of
his disordered masses, forcing his wings asunder; and to pursue and
annihilate the scattered forces of the enemy.

"Unless a decision is quickly obtained in the opening weeks of a m