Trench and camp. [volume] (Augusta, Ga.) 1917-1919, 1918-07-03
j. 6. ARMY
CORPS IS READY
Secretary Baker Says That
Million Americans Will be in
France by July 4th. Great
Actions Are Coming

Washington Resumption Of the Ger
man offensive On the West front Is eN~
peetea moment army ~ army officials
French aua ifritish adYiees have shown
Increasing aHe7sE activity dny by day, In
dteatinE that the Germans are preparing
for another assault
Meanwhile American troops stiil are
being rushed overseas and there is every
reason to believe that By the Fourth OF
July more than a million troops viii have
sailed. An official announcement to that
effect as part Of the Fourth Of July
celebration Is to be expected
There is great stir and movement
among the Germans before the American
lines around Chauteau- ThierTy. Part OF
the drive may be directed there is a re-
newal of the thrust at Paris. II so an
army corps Of American troops stands
again to block the road.
Secretary Baker Talks.
Secretary Baker disclosed Monday that
organization Of the first army corps, IN
der Major Cen. Hunter Liggett prob
ably had been completed, although he
made no announcement.
II suspect" the Secretary said, in re-
ply to a question, that several Of our
divisions are operating together as an
army corp under command Of General
lhRgett. Whether any other divisions
have been created into an army corps
and tentative army corps commander
chosen, ! have not heard"
Il was learned, also. thta the first sec
ond and third divisions (regular) com
mauded. respectively by Major Generals
Robert l.. Billiard. Omar Bundy and Jo-
seph T. DiclrHan, are included in the
first corps, and all are either at Chateau
Thierry or Cantigny, The corps organ
isatiOu plan, however, calls for six di-
visions, four combatant and two replace
ment, and with the necessary artillery
units and other additional troops the
total strength Of corps would be near
iy 100000 men.
Undoubtedly General Liggett has all the
elements necessary for his corps II his
organization is complete,
With his army corps in the theater
where great events are believed to be
impending. the expected German thrust
assumes new significance her The opH-
ion Is general among officers that the
blow is to be the heaviest yet struck.
Unless they mistake the signs, the Ger
mans are getting ready for the crucial
moment in their great effort to wrench
victory by force before fun American
lighting power can be brought to bear
The belief Of General March. chief Of
staff, that the allied situation is Eek
tremely favorable" as expressed in a
carefully weighed statement last Satur-
day. is ebheved to be shared by the all
lied leadeTs. The speed with which Amer
lean troops have been rushed to France
probably has played a large part in the
n he allied
countries.
THE new German thrust viii fan as
fl4NE Allg istsh kHU. lie tdEh A1ldk u NIL
lion American soldiers will probably have
sahed by July 9Th and that five American
divisions have completed training with the
British and been restored to General Per
Fhing since last March is another sign Of
the speed with which General Foeh Is be-
ing supplied with fighting nan-power.
The recent s,aohlng thrusts Of the
French and British In Flanders and
southwest Of Compslgne are regarded as
showing the entire confidence Of the allied
leaders in the outcome. although weeks or
months Of bitter fighting may be in store.
General Lieaett.
Secretary Baker had no adyices today
to show that formation Of the first field
army corps. under General Lfggett had
been entirely completed. The rank of
lieutenant general probably II go to the
command.
Presumablyq General Liggett's corps is
regarded here as a part Of General Per-
shiag's mobile forces, and as distinct
from troops IN the army organization
which Is being built up to take over q
definite American sector. The appear
ance Of American troops at five points
along the line between St Mihiel and the
Swias border indicates this whole stretch
Of 1s9 10 200 miles OF the front is being
rapidly Americanized. The definitely
placed American sector from the vicinity
OF 81. Nihiel to the Moselle river Is In
eluded and at present is the left flank
Of the whole section which the Americans
appesr to be destined to hold when they
come fully into position on the right Of the
Fine.
Il these Indications are correct, tire