The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1918-06-23
Announcement by Chief of Staff
Shows America Five Months
Ahead of It's Program.
UNIFIED COMMAND
SUPREME MOVE
Americans, Gen. March Tells
Reporters, Have Done Well
Wherever They Fought.

WASHINGTON, June 22-Nine hun
dred thousand men have been shipped
across the seas, General March told
newspaper correspondents at the week
ly conference today. These include the
troops shipped from all American
ports OF embarkation
The United States is today five
months ahead of its program for plac-
ing an army in France. General March
said.
The figures on American troop ship
ments are significant since General
March at his first conference last week
fixed the number shipped at more than
100000. the addition of 100000 during
the week showing the rate of trans
porting that is being made.
While the general battle situation
looks good today, General March said,
the present luu on the western front
means only that German combat divi-
sions are being reformed for another
drive. Viewing the whole situation,
including the Italian front, the chief OF
staff said that the central powers were
again held on all fronts.
American troops have done well
wherever the test Of battle has come
thus far. General March said, regard
less OF the character of the troops,
whether regulars, national guard, ma
tional army or marines.
The fight at Cantigny, the most i'm
portant engagement in which Ameri-
can troops have participated because
OF the opportunity IL gave to Judge OF
ths full measure of their training, he
said, has been fought by the First Di-
yrf2 Inn rl~1 ~
Robert L. Billiard. This division is
now, he said, a thoroughly trained.
high grade unit, and it was the first
American division to reach France
At Cantigny, General March said,
infantry and artillery operated in close
cooperation to achieve the victory.
showing the successful work Of the
stan officers upon whom that coopera-
ton depended. The fight clearly
showed. he said. that the training of
the American general staff officers had
reached the point where the system
would work under battle strain
One OF the most striking things on
the western front, the chief of stafr
declared. was the supreme Importance
of unified command. This was first
advocated, he said, by President will
son, and carried through under the
presidents constant pressure until
unity OF command was realized in the
appointment of General Foch. General
March regarded that as one of the
greatest single military achievements
of the Allies, which was already show
ing it's effect in the fighting
During the last week General March
said, the fighting in France has been
OF minor character. Interest for the
Allies has conferred on the Italian front
where the Austrian drive at two points
on the Piave line penetrated deeply
enough to cause concern. That often
sive has now been checked he added
and the swollen waters Of the Piave
aided in repelling the attack. The en-
tire Austrian bridge system on the
lower Piave was washed away.
Austrian engineers had constructed
seven bridges over which their ad-t
vance forces could be withdrawn ,f
they were compelled to give up their
footing on the south bansSof the river.
At one point. however, IN the Monticello
sector, the Austrians had been unable
TO replace the bridges up 10 last night
and their advance forces are IN grave
danger Of capture or humiliation.
General March deprecated discus
sion OF the participation OF American
combat forces on the italian front for
the present.
Some American ambulance sections
are in Italy, but the chief OF star
thought It unwise 10 disclose any other
movements in prospect for that front
at this time
The fighting around Chateau Thierrv
where American marines distinguished
themselves was confined originally to
a small force OF machine gun units.
General March said. under command of
a major whose name had not been re-
ported. The IA 900 marines comprising
the marine brigade from which the
units were taken is commanded. he
said by Brigadier General James G.
Harboard. who went to France as
General Pershing's chief Of staff
CLAIM 10000