Evening star., 1918-07-24

q million Of American troops are en-
gagged in the present battle. q nillion
more either are in France or on their
way there. ana Secretary Baker yes
terday afternoon disclosed plans
which will accelerate and enlarge the
Army program.
Even those Americans now avail
able. with the help Of British ana
Italian reinforcements. have enabled
Gen. Foch to strike a blow which now
is admitted to have changed the
whole trend of the war.
Before the end Of the present light
ing season Gen. Foch will have at
least 100000 American troops to
supplement his armies. Secretary
Baker announced yesterday that the
new War Department program in
cludes larger Army appropriations,
modification of draft ages to increase
the reservoir of fighting men, and
plans for q larger mobilization Of the
plans soon will be ready for presenta-
tion to Congress.
Gives No Details.
Though the Secretary would give
no details, 1t is understood that the
plan aims at getting under arms
without delay a total force not Tar
short Of 100000 men, a figure dis
cussed in Congress when the subject
was under consideration.
Purpose Of Germans. /.
, The German offensive arch in
France has rested on two great pill
lars. one in the Picardy front and the
other on the Marne. 1t has been re-
peatedly stated that the pressing
! homo OF this mighty pincher move
! the channel ports as It progressed.
! 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. Its
! offensive value IN gone. By desperate
| efforts the Germans are seeking to
prevent 1t from collapsing altogether,
crushing whole divisions of their
best troops in its fall. Even II the
appears little likelihood that the
enemy could re-create his tactical po-
sition on a basis that would permit
him to continue his old plan of cam
Meanwhile British troops are still
nibbling away at the enemy in Flan-
ders and elsewhere to the north with
unvarying success. Just north OF
:Montdidier the French have struck
a new blow. the full significance Of
,, which is not yet. clear. Its success.
however. was startling, even from
the meager accounts so far received.
Allied Reserves Advantage.
The allied reserves on the Aisne-
Marne line now have the advantage
Of interior lines. They occupy sa-
lient buttressed on forests and other
strong positions which the enemy was
unable to break through when in the
full strength Of his great drive. 1t
appeared possible to some officers here
that the next few days might see an
Picardy front, delivered with the pur-
pose Of forcing German reserves to
rush back around the point of the
Compeigne salient from the Aisne
theater.
II resistance to the allied advance
from the Marine becomes too great to
be overcome, they confidently expect
some such operation, as Gen. Foch
frequently has proved his full knowl-
edge of the value of holding the tni-
tfattve and can be relied upon to hold
1t by surprise assaults which will
wear out the German reserves In hur-
rying from front to- front to meet
them.
So far as future American particle
patton goes, Gen. March has already
disclosed to members Of Congress the
fact that offensive operations against
the enemy on large scale had been
expected to be undertaken later in
the year. That general scheme. it is
thought, accounts for the new plans
iof the War Department, since what Is
being devised now is in preparation
for the spring campaign of next year.
in all probability.
More Than Can Be Shipped.
There are already available more
troops than can be shipped to the
front before winter brings the fight
ing to halt, although the last five
weeks have seen a half million Amer
lean troops sent to France. 4
In making his statement yesterday
Mr.. Baker would not say what
changes In draft ages were contem-
plated. The matter was still under
study, he said.
Incidentally, he disclosed the fact
that . definite figure for American
forces to be employed in France
within some fixed period Of time is
, being held in mind. Tho study Of the
draft ago question, he said. was based
, upon finding the necessary number
Of men with the least possible dis
turbance Of economic conditions In the
country"
Question Of Maximum Age.