The Lancaster news. [volume] (Lancaster, S.C.) 1905-current, 1918-08-16
Definite Portion of Front in
q. France Has Now Been
AmericaniZed.
,LIGGETT MAY COMMAND 1T
American Army Has Been Plac-
ed on. Same Footing With
France and England--LOgical
Road to Berlin.

sfraE-I
Washington, Aug. 15.--Secretary
Baker was formally advised by Gen
: Pershing that the first american
field army had been created, General
'Pershing retaining command of the
army as well as of the entire Ameri-
can expeditionary force for the
present. The dispatch added moth
ing to details OF the army organiza-
ton already made known from
Paris, however, Mr.. Baker said.
The announcements Is regarded as
having deep significance at the war
. department, mainly because 1t places
tho American army in France on the
same footing as the French or Brit
ish forces there. Formation of the
army is taken here to mean that the
Americanization of definite portion
of the front has been completed
z Supply lines, railways. bases, stor-
ago facilities, debarkation ports and
the like, created and operated by
Americans, stand behind the first
army slThe only statement OF the
location of this American front is
that it is "south of t'e Marne"
Presume by this means a part at
least'of the long line from st. Mihiel
!. to the Swiss border, where American
sftroops have been put in at intervals
= Fduring the last few months.
~s Army of 1,25O.OO Men. sE
!, The extent of that front has not
been disclosed nor has the dennite
strength of the army been given.
The advices indicate that lit COM
, prisess, however. five full corps
which means approximately 1885,
000 men. .
The effect of the taking over of
the line is to make definite begin
ming at apportioning the long front.
The British hold the left flank. aided
by the Belgians, from the North Sea
to the juncture of the British fourth
army and the French first army in
Picardy. where an offensive is being
ton the British are not only holding
their share of the line, but stand be-
tween the enemy and the charnel
ports, which would be his only road
to England while the British fleet
exists.
The French armies presumably
are being concentrated wholly be-
tween the Picardy juncture with the
British and the american left, be-
yond Verdun. They block the roads
to Paris. ~
Liggett Likely to Command.
ITO the Americans has fallen the
! remainder of the front to the Swiss
border when the other American ar
mics shall have been formed. The
first army undoubtedly now holds
the bulk Of that line, with such
French help as is necessary. Tho
whole line probably is under Gener-
al Pershing's direct command, even
the French corps or divisions that
are necessary until additional
American troops arrive. The Amer
lean commander will hereafter d.
rect all operations on his front. He
has as much freedom OF action on rrs
own lines as has Sir Douglas Haig
on the British front or General Pc
tain on the French, for he stands on
an equality with them. All three are
under Marshal Foch for the major
campaigns.
AS direct commander OF the army
I'm the field, General Pershing will
be well situated to weigh the quail
ties of the men he has assigned tenn
porarily as corps commanders. From
these five officers he probably will
< select the commander OF the first ar
my later and opinion here leans to-
ward Major General Hunter Liggett,
ncw commanding the first corps on
M vesle front. as his choice 1t is
Ypected also that General Pershng
: III soon name his permanent corps
tmmanders, the appointment car
(gng with IL the rank of lieutenant
4 &nersI
II Biggett's Corps Mobile Reserve.
rGeneral Liggett's corps probably
sreearded as the mobile reserve OF
army and assmuch is, being
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