The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1918-04-06
100000 MEN TO
. De CALLED OUT
FOR THE ARMY
War Departments S April Plans
Changed AS Consequence
of Great Battle.

WASHINGTON, April 5-Devclop-
ment Of the second phase OF the Ger.
man drive in Picardy was watched
closely here today. ARMY officers appar-
. emily feeling that the critical point or
the great struggle Is rapidly approach
ing. Meager official reports gave little
information on which TO base definite
opinions as to the trend Of the fighting.
though 1t seemed evident that the Ger
mans were trying to force a foothold
in strategic positions before AIniens.
and at the same time to increase pres
sure against the junction point between
the French and British armies.
Under the new policy laid down by
Secretary Baker. the war department
again had nothing to add to official re-
ports from London and Paris on the
battle, Strict silence on ell matters re-
lating to the progress Of the battle "r
the participation Of American troops IN
the hghtins was maintained
Wm IA DpsSdsd Up.
The department 10 forging ahead with
It's efforts to speed additional American
forces across the water to back up tn.
heleaguered lines One element Of the
speeding up plans was learned authori-
tatively. The flrst increment Of the Sec
ond draft, to b summoned this month.
will be $4,000 men. instead Of $4,000. as
previously planned. They will be the
first considerable force mobiiized OF ihe
900, 900 drafted men to be called TO the
colors this year. The remaining $4,000
viii be called out In monthly increments
the size Of which will depend to SOM:
extent upon availability Of shipping to
trAnsport men already in training to the
front
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MORE MottE
Troops Are Moving.
L-~~~..lere are indications that troop
-aovements toward the seaboard Of un-
usual proportions are already In prog
ress Railway passenger and freight
schedules In some sections OF the coun-
try have been set aside temporarily In
order to give the fighting men right Of
way to embarkation points. The call
for American man power Is being an
swered promptly and to the fullest ex-
tent Of shipping facilities that can be
spared from the equally vital traffic In
supplies and war materials Tor the
armies already engaged.
With the increased menace against
Amiens developing through the German
pressure in the Albert region. officers re-
called hopefully the calm confidence
mander. has asserted that the town will
not fall into German hands.
Wearing Down thS Reserves.
The endurance Of the Germans in this
second stage Of the battle Is being
, watched closely. The French have noted
that seven out of fifteen divisions hurled
against their lines last night and to-day
were newcomers to the fighting. That
means that the lull which preceded this
second storm was occupied by the Ger
mans in replacing worn out units and
rushing up from far in tho rear men who
had been held there for just this ener-
Kency. Successful defense Of the allied
lines will gradually wear away this
rnassed reserve and the use Of every
new division Is welcomed by observers
here as indicating the terrific cost OF tho
enterprise to Germans.
Under the unprecedented use of re-
serves the Germans arc making they can
endure the struggle just so long and no
longer Their resources in men are
limited. Already there have been signs
all along the rest of the front that the
lines were being thinned out 10 supply
additional reserves for the effort in
Picardy.