Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1918-04-20
OCH BUILDING
GREAT RESERVE
ARMY FOR CRISIS
rounterattack May Be Long
s. Delayed Because of
Waiting Policy

Washington. April e0.-The policy
of Foeh to-day seems to be like the
zpoiiCy of General Thomas at Nash
=snle in the Civil War. He is waiting
before striking back until he can
build up an army with which 10
STRIKE a winning blow. To the great
reserve he is accommodating will so
#4he men drawn from Italy. the men
# y no are being shipped from this
#country. about twice as fast as they
ever were shipped before. and the
S men rushed from England from the
forces in training there, whose places
win be taken by the men whom the
Extension. of the draft in England
Just about to become law, makes
available.
May BE Delayed
The blow which foch will strike
may be long delayed. 1t will be re-
called that Petain did not strike BACK
st Nerdun until the German offensive
had lasted months. When he did
strike back he recovered in rev
days all the ground that the Ger
mans had taken months TO capture
The present German positions IN sl-
cardy and Flanders are of that SORT
They may be retaken quickly once
Foch has his army ready.
Information has Just come mere
which explains the situation with re-
gard to Flanders. The delay OF
French reinforcements in reaching
the northernfront and some unlor-
tunate remarks of General Maurice
who talks to the press for the Brit-
ish army in London, have led 10
doubts about the allied reserves.
Man Power Problem
IL, IN, ~ MI
/ up because the main allied railroad
hack of the front is under fire srom
German shells south of Amiens. The
French had to be brought up DN
some other route further from the
front. and this route appears 10 have
been inadequate for the rapid move
ment of reserves. The Germans, in
effect. cut the British of from the
French by their southern drive. Their
northern effort was probably dictated
by the knowledge that French ala
would be slow in reaching the Brit
ish in Flanders, and, perhaps could
not be sent there in large mum oers
without laying the southern oatue
area open to a sudden attack.
on the question of man power
now uppermoSt military men here
have attempted 10 analyze recent
Statements about the armies OF Great
Britain. This goes TO show that the
empire has 100000 men in her
forces. OF these il is estimated tnat
1900. 600 would be in England in
training and acting as 2 reservoir to
make up for wastage al the front
Shipping considera tions compel he
Keeping Of this reservoir al home
rather than in France. OF the other
600. 900 probably at least 100000
are nonfiEhting men, engineers,
mechs nicians, etc.
Need Many Workers
In our forces thus far sent over The
percentage of nonnghting men runs
rs high as 40. OF the remaining s..
Geo 600 British probably at least l.
cot. GOO are in garrison, or in SALON.
lea or fighting against the Turk in
the Orient. So that il is doubtful II
England has 100000 in fighting
units in France. and of these con-
siderable portion must be kept in re-
serve.
The figures illustrate how large
an army we must maintain II We Sre
To have 100000 lighting men in
France. Congress is now awaiting
the figures from the War Depart
ment indicating how many il Is pro-
posed to call this year. General
Wood said we should have $500, coo
men in France and an equal NUM-
her here. an army OF 5 .000, 600 in all.
aud Washington is slowly coming TO
that view. But even an army OF
5000 600 would give US less ghan
2.00e. 600 fighting men in France. Cor
in an army OF that size there would
be more than 100000 nonfightins
men.