Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1918-06-27
j. s. FORCE BARS
ROAD TO PARIS
Germany Must Def e a t
Americans in Great Mum.
bers to Reach Goal
READY FOR BIGGER ROLE
Yankees Have Cast Off Swad.
ding Clothes-Officers to
Get Higher Commands
By EDWIN L. JAMES

SPeCaot J0Ofe 10 Evening fuOUC EeugeT
COPYRIGHT, 1918. BIZ Ne,o York Times Co.
With the American Army in France.
June 27.
In a lull between storms, the Amer.
lean army is preparing to play much
larger and much more important part
IN military operations against future
! German drives toward Paris. The
longer the Germans postpone the next
hight the larger our part in it will be.
Up to this time American soldiers
have appeared on the front in one or
two divisions. With the large growth
OF the United States man-power in
France, 1t is but natural for the time
to come when our facilities will en-
able us to place larger units in the
front lines. As time passes more and
more American soldiers complete
training with the French and British
and reach a stage where they can hold
positions unaided. This increase In
man.power and in the number of
trained soldiers is making it possible
for us to work toward stage where
General Pershing can place an i'm.
portant force before the Germans in
actual combats.
In the present situation we have
reached but a milestone toward ulti-
mate accomplishments by the Ameri-
can military machine. but nevertheless
II is fair to say that our strength has
reached the stage toward which our
military leaders have been working
for The last year. American soldiers
did noble work in stopping the Ger
mans at two important strategic posi-.
tions in the last drive-namely, at
Chateau.Thierry and northwest of
Chateau-Thierry. both places guarding
approaches to the French capital.
VIII Have to Defeat Yankees
For obvious reasons I cannot state
where the larger American force will
be located, but suffice it now to say
that the Germans cannot get much closer
to Paris without defeating a consider
able American army. Developments of
momentous import to the American
people are taking place in France these
days. Because of the limitations of
sons, they cannot be revealed until the
Germans have cognizancs of them, which
they will have before they complete
many more drives at Paris.
I can say that, as a military factor
we have cast off our swaddling clothes
and that we have passed the stage where
the small American force needed wet
nurse. The American force that will
soon be in active military operation will
a ~ fn ITO oil IA,
lean show if the boche runs into their
positions.
1t is understood. of course, that Cen
eral Foch commands the Allied armies.
Under him are army group commanders.
under them are army commanders. under
army commanders are corps commanders
and under corps commanders are divi-
sion commanders. If a single American
division is serving in French corps it
fs under the command of the French
corps commander. If an American corps
IL serving in the French army it is
under command of the French army
commander. If an American army is
serving in a French army group it is
under the French army group COM
mander An American unit. If company
or regiment, or brigade or division or
army. is under its own commander for
that unit. who in turn Is under the
technical unit.
VIII Get Higher Commando
The reader may thus understand that
the larger the force of Americans fight
ing together. Of course. the higher up
the American command goes and the
more credit or discredit rebounds to
America for the record that force makes.
In line with this exposition it may be
stated that before long America may
hear Of the naming of American offi-
GERS to command larger units than have
heretofore functioned in France.
America has plans Of her own for
ultimate participation in the war. These
plans are perfectly well known to the
other Allies. 1t never was supposed
that American smaller units were to he
used always TO fill gaps. But the pres
ent policy Of the Germans to force the
issue in the war This summer has made
It necessary for the full available
strength of the Allies to be used to
block the enemy where he makes his
J drives. He will be held, and Americans
will help hold him.
After the enemy has worn himself OUT
with this summers drives, and his
frenzy is stayed, then will come a
greater opportunity for the fruition of
Americas destined role in the world
war. That role is not to hold the Ger
mans on their line in France. 1t is
something far different.
But while our aid is needed to hold
the Germans. France and England will
get that aid.