The Brattleboro daily reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1913-1955, 1918-07-29
General March Says Allies
Cannot Fail to Carry Big
Salient in France
OUR FIGHTERS ARE
ARRIVING IN ITALY
They Are Part of the Small Force of
Trained Men Sent by Gen. Pershing
and for Present Identity and Loca-
ton Will Not Be Revealed.


WASHINGTON, July 29.-There has
been no abatement of the American and
allied drive against the enemy in the
Aisne- Marine pocket, so far as official
reports show, although the attacking
forces apparently have resorted to con-
centrated artillery fire now to force
their way ahead. With so German di-
visions, or fourth of the enemy s
entire fighting strength, on the western
front, massed in the narrow battle area,
the guns have been called upon to blast
way through for the infantry.
Reports indicate that the enemy has
decided to stop his withdrawal and fight
it out. The reasons that influence him
are not clear, for his situation is re-
garded as decidedly unfavorable,
penned up as he is within narrow
salient, where eonverging gunfre is
playing havoc with his troops, as well
as with his communication lines.
One suggestion advanced here is that
the internal situation in Germany and
Austria has forced the general staff to
accept battle where military wisdom
would have indicated further withdraw.
al.
There are those among the best in.
formed officials here who believe that
if the enemy does elect to fight it out
in his present position, he will receive
the most serious defeat of the war
| They are convinced that he will come
through a stand within the Aisne- Marine
pocket with losses in men and mate
rial so serious that his whole fighting
MACHINE may be impaired.
Secretary Baker said today that there
was no indication that the vigor of tn,
allied attack around the salient ha6
lessened. On the contrary, he said
there was every sign that the enemy
was being pressed and harassed by in
creasing forces without respite.
General March in his talk with the
newspaper correspondents drew atten
tion to the inner pocket of the salient
where the recent British advances south
west of Rheims threatens a new pin
Ger movement. Enemy troops soutl
of this advance, between the British
and the Marine, are in jeopardy, and the
French, today's official report show
have already made progress in ham
mering at the southern TANKS of .thi,
inner pocket by their advance just be
| low Chatillon.
] No additional American forces hay,
been thrown into the Aisne- Marine bat
tie as yet, General March said, al
] though he announced the formation o
i two additional army corps. the fourtl
and fifth. The fourth is commanded
i by Major- General Grover w. Reed !; tn
fifth by Major General Omar Bundy
The chief of staff explained, however
that the assignment of the 80 division
which compose the five corps now OF
ganized to their higher respective unit
did not mean that the corps had bee
actually drawn together for operations
Many of the divisions are still wit
, French or British forces for final traiI
ing.
Il Members of the senate military con
! mittee learned from General March tina
the July movement of troops to Franc
, probably would reach total of 100000
. making new record. Incidentally tn
! movement last week was put at 5000
men, or about one-half of what has bee
the rule for some weeks past.
With the shipment of men last weel
the total number of American troop
| cmbarking for France was 100000
In the course of his remarks to tn
,. correspondents, General March said th
first American fighting troops had b.
/ gun to arrive in Italy. They are PAL
| of the small force of trained men ser
: by General Pershing, and for the pre-
ent their identity and location will nc
!. be disclosed.
In summarizing what has alread
!. been accomplished in the hard-drive
=: counter attack on the Aisne- Marine 81
lient, General March pointed out ths
!, the German lines are IL miles fartht
!. away from Paris than they were whe
the assault was launched. America
:, troops have advanced from Chatea
Thierry that distance and the chief {
:. staff said they were still advancin
The general also brought out the fa'