Evening star., 1918-03-31
may Be DIGGING N
/ To GET READY FOR
COUNTER OFFENSIVE
Germans Probably Trying to
Entrench Themselves, Mill
tary Experts Believe.
WHY COUNTER ATTACK
is DELAYED NOT KNOWN
Gen. Pershing Cables Situation on
Picardy Front as Improved
Senate Committee Studies War.

Indication that Germans are seeking
to intrench themselves in preparation
for the expected allied counter often
sive was the Interpretation Of military
experts of last nights reports Of ac-
tivity In the Montdidier region stimuli
taneously with an attempted drive
southwark between Noyon and Las
signy.
The latter operation was regarded as
an effort to widen the wedge. with it's
apex at Mondidier. and thus to mitigate
the force Of the counter attack which
was indicated from the southern
French positions, in the vicinity Of the
Disc.
Why Delay in Counter Attack
oflcers here are without knowledge
of the reasons for the delay in the
counter attack. unless the allied
strategy calls for q continued resis-
tance which will wear out the Germans
at a cost to them in losses much
greater than are being sustained by
the defenders. The allies also may be
waiting for reinforcements understood
England. in order to add strength to
the counter blow they will strike.
The present German attacks are re-
garded by some officers as "feeler4"
in q Prussian effort to determine tho
''softest' spots in the allied lines. Re-
pulsion Of the Offensive at Arras al
ready has indicated that there il lit
tie to be hoped for by pitting German
troops against the stanch defenses
there.
Senate Committee Studeis Map.
Members Of the Senate military COM
mittee. during the regular meeting
ek~ M a.
cials, were shown on the map in the
war council rooms the status Of the
great battle as reported by Gen. Per-
shing.
Consideration Of reports Of progress
delayed until the battle. situation had
been gone over. Senators were not
inclined to discuss the progress re-
ports. It was known, however, that
Brig. Gen. Wheeler, acting chief OF
length as to the possibility Of expand
ing the already great artillery pro-
gram on which the War Department
is engaged.
Omcers here have been watching re-
ports from the British front closely for
shal Haig has found it necessary to call
upon his reserves to stop the German
advance.
1UW AU0uL 10x4I4SA xSS60IVS6g
There has been nothing i'm dispatches,
ft wRs said. to show that the British
strategic reserves have been brought
into action at all Omcers believe that
tactical reserves undoubtedly have been
used freely. but II Haig has called upon
his general reserves they have not made
their presence felt at any point 30 far
as the operations reported serve to dis
close. From this 1t Is argued that a
large British force, composed Of fresh
troops, is being held to cooperate with
the French when the counter assault Is
delivered.
In a cablegram dated Friday night
and received at the War Department
last night, Gen. Pershing described the
situation on the Picardy front as '1m-
proved" His dispatch described the
position Of the battle lines over the
fty-fve-mile front, the locations be-
Ing similar to those outlined In the
French and British war office state
ments.
Although still without Official infor-
nation that Gen. Foch had been select
ed to command the allied troops on tho
western front. Maj. Gen. March, acting
chief Of stan, said last night that the
placing of the armies in control of
single commander sis an extremely
valuable military asset, one the Ger
mans have enjoyed from the start"