The Chattanooga news. [volume] (Chattanooga, Tenn.) 1891-1939, 1918-07-19
Forty States and District Of
Columbia Represented by
Fighting Men.
MARCH ISSUES STATEMENT
Believes With Reinforcements
Allies Can Capture Many
Prisoners.
(nternational News servicc.)

| washington, July 19.-Tnere ar
twelve divisions Of American troops
approximately $4,000 fighting men-a
different points along the battle from
in France. During the last three ol
four days parts of eight divisions have
been engaged in the great battle now
in progress.
The New England division, made uT
,, OF seasoned guardsmen from the New
England states. and the Rainbow divi-
sion. In which some forty states and
the District OF Columbia are repre-
sented. have been completely engaged
This was the information which
Gen. Peyton c. March. chief of staff
OF the army. gave TO the house COM
mittee on military affairs today. He
declared that the situation was "emi-
nently satisfactory" although the Of
licial dispatches which have been re-
ceived are very fragmentary. For the
first time in the war American manu- :
factured 75-millimeter guns are being
utilized by the American troops. The
Americans. he stated, have been mr.
ing on an average OF $4,000 shells
daily.
To date there have been furnished
to the army 1888 De Haviland AS aero
planes, OF which i25 already have been
shipped to Europe. There also have
been delivered to the army 537 Liberty
motors. which have been shipped
abroad.
The movement of troops continues
0NnrWHnQ n tho m nf xxaaLlx,
The transport system has been speeded
up, the general said. 50 that the trans
pqts now are making an average OF
a round trip every thirty days.
Gen. March told the committee that
tho present operation OF the allies was
OF a major character. and he expressed
the opinion that, II enough reinforce
ments were available, IL would be pos
sible for the allied commanders to
make an encircling movement which
would result In the capture of thou
sands of Germans. The general, how
ever. In the absence of exact informa-
tion. was not inclined to believe that
there were sufficient forces available
Tor this work.
The character of the terrain over
which the present advance is being
made is unusually favorable for the
Gen. March told the COM
mittee. He explained that the hills in
that vicinity run about east and west,
proceeding through valleys which run
cast and west. at the same time hold
ing the crests of the hills.
In the opinion of Gen. March the
present counter offensive of the Amer
leans and the French probably will
come to an end when the Germans
reach their prepared trenches. So long
as the Americans and the French are
able to push them back in the open
they will retain the offensive. |
However. when the Germans get back |
into their trenches, which II Is known |
already have been prepared for them, |
hen 1t will be necessary for the cav
airy and infantry to halt while the
artillery is being brought up to blast |
hem out and destroy the trenches.
Gen. March emphasized to the COM
nittee the fact that the German attack
his time had been in every way robbed
If the surprise character which had
made earlier movements a success.
)ne substantial proof of this was the
act that the American divisions had
,cen brought into position to meet
he oncoming German hordes.
Up to the present no division Of the
rafted men has been engaged. There
re many draft men in the regular
rmy divisions and the national guard
which are in action, they having been
rawn from the depot battalions to
ring these units up to war strength.
SUIT the select divisions still are being
eld behind the lines.
Gen. March told the committee that
he present offensive was not the big
ffcnsive which has been planned by
he Americans and which was designed
0 drive the Germans out of France
nd Belgium. This may take place
his year or may be deferred until
ext spring. That is military ques-
on which will he decided on its mer-
IS when the time comes. However,
he present drive was designed to re-
eve Paris Of n serious danger of cap
IRE. The Germans had planned to
lcking as they have, the Americans
nd the French have driven back the
Germans and will rob them of all OF
le advantages which they had Sc
ured in the earlier fighting.
While Gen. March made no such
tatement, members of the committee
altered from his assertions that the
resent drive has been even more sue
essful than had been hoped for, so
lr as blocking the way to Paris was
)ncerned. Committee members fatty
eclared they now were convinced that
OF only was Paris safe. but that the
ronch and Americans had so manipu-
ted the present attack that It will
, impossible for the Germans again
get as near Paris as they were the
'st of this week.
The splendid effect which the sue
'ssful assault must have on the allied
my morale and the corresponding
pressing effect which II will have on
mt OF the Ceruau army and German
,ople was emphasized by Gen. March.