_Strategically, we did not attain what the events of March 23, 24 and 25 justified our hoping for._ _That we failed to take Amiens, which would have rendered the communications of the enemy forces astride the Somme extremely difficult, was especially disappointing._ _Long distance bombardment of the railways could not be considered an equivalent._ [Illustration: FRENCH 6IN. BATTERY IN ACTION AT ROCQUENCOURT. (_7 miles to the west of Montdidier_).] [Illustration: GERMAN HEAVY GUN AT FAVEROLLES (_2 miles east of Montdidier_). _Captured on August 9, 1918, during the offensive of General Debeney's Army. (See p. 42)._] [Illustration: CLEMENCEAU AT THE G.H.Q. OF A BRITISH DIVISION IN 1918. (_Photo Imperial War Museum_).] [Illustration: A GERMAN TANK TRAP. _Australian and American soldiers examine the charges of explosive with which this trap was fitted. One of them is looking through a German periscope. (July 11, 1918)._] THE ALLIES' OFFENSIVES IN PICARDY. August-September 1918. After the German Offensive of March. After the check of their offensive in Picardy, the Germans attempted, by means of secondary offensives, to attain those results which they had failed to obtain in the first instance. On April 9, they attacked in Flanders, from Béthune to the north of Ypres, in the direction of the Channel Ports, but failed to take Ypres, or to reach Hazebrouck. (_See the Guide_: =Ypres=.) On May 27, the front of the Chemin des Dames was attacked by surprise, the enemy reaching the banks of the Marne. (_See the Guide_: =The Second Battle of the Marne=). From June 9 to 18, their efforts were turned against the salients of the Aisne and Rheims. On June 11, they captured the _massif_ of Thiescourt, but were held before Compiègne. In front of Rheims the road was barred by the French Colonial troops. (_See the Guide_: =Rheims=.) Lastly, seeking a prompt decision at all cost, and hypnotised by Paris, the Germans planned a still more formidable offensive: the "Friedensturm" or Peace Battle. However, the French High Command were not taken unawares. The scope and time of the offensive were known, and the Germans failed. The Strategy and Tactics of the Allies. The hour of the counter-offensive was about to strike. The Allies had overcome the crisis due to the shortage of men. The British Army had been reorganized. The American forces had greatly increased in numbers. The fighting spirit of the French was higher than ever. The material strength of the Allies was satisfactory, and included large numbers of the new offensive arm: the tank, destined to relieve and support the infantry, and combat the German shock troops. Lastly, the Allies were now grouped under a single chief: Foch, who knew where and when to strike.