Arizona republican., 1918-07-24
STRIKES BLOW THAT CHANGES ENTIRE TREND
 IF GREAT WAR
Practically Certain Two Million Americans Will
 Be At Front Before Close
 Present Fighting Season
Republican A. p. Leased Wirel


 WASHINGTON. July 2S. - With probably not much more than a quar- ter of a million American troops en- Gaged in the present battle, but with virtually a million others either in France or hastening across the ocean to join in the fight, General Foch has been able to turn the tables on the enemy and strike a blow that has changed the whole trend of the war.
 Officials here. while fully recogniz- ing the fact that the Americans are to- day only comparatively small part of the vast forces, realize that the Amer ican army, in going forward in a con- stantly increasing stream, is the gov erning factor in restoring the initiative 10 the allies. Plans are taking shape to accelerate the American military program.
 To Have Two Million Americans
 It is practically certain General Foch will have at least 200O,000 American troops before the present fighting. sea- son closes. Secretary Baker announced the war departments new program em- braces larger army appropriation, notifications of the draft ages and plans for large mobilization would soon be ready for congress.
 He would give no details, but the plans probably aim at getting under arms without delay total force not far short of the five million figure dis cussed in congress.
 Victory Only to End Advance.
 The fighting in the Aisne salient has opened new possibilities. There is in- creased need for haste, in the opinion of officials, in getting full American man power to supplement the efforts that appear now to be taking shape toward hurling the enemy back all along the front and beginning the ad- vance that will end only when victory has been achieved.
 Reports indicated fully one-half of all ground won by the Germans in the Asne salient already has been recov- cred.
 MT. Baker said the reports from General Pershing were satisfactory. It was clear officials are engrossed in preparations for offensive battles on an even large scale.
 Pincer Movement German Object.
 The German offensive arch in France has rested on two great pillars, one in the Picardy front and the other on the Marne. It has been repeatedly stated that the pressing home of this mighty pincer movement, threatening both Paris and the channel ports as it pro- gressed. has been the German object from the first day the battle of 1918 was opened last March.
 The southern pillar of that arch has now been gravely weakened By des- perate efforts the Germans are seeking to prevent it from collapsing. Even if the allied advance is checked now, there appears little likelihood the en- emy would recreate his tactical posi- tion on a basis that would permit him 10 continue his old plan of campaign before the coming of winter.
 Allied Reserves Have Advantage
 The allied reserves on the Aisne- Marne line now have the advantage of interior lines. They occupy a salient buttressed on forests and other strong positions which the enemy was unable to break through when in the full strength of his great drive. It ap- peared possible to some officers that the next few days might see an allied assault on both sides of the Picardy front. delivered with the purpose of forcing German reserves to push back around the point of the Compeigne sal tent from the Aisne theater. If resis- tance to the allied advance from the Marne becomes too great to be over- come. they expect some such operation as General Foch frequently has proved his full knowledge of the value of hold ing the initiative and can be relied up- on 10 hold it by surprise assaults which will wear out the German reserves in hurrying from front to front to meet them. So far as future American par ticipation goes. General March has al- ready disclosed to congress that offen-
 (COntinued on mage TWOl