The sun., 1918-08-01
ARMIES LOCKED
IN DEATH GRIP
SAYSGEN.MARCH.
Seven American Divisions
Now in the Greatest Bat
tie of the War.
DESTRUCTION SOLE ISSUE
Six New Divisions Are Being
Formed at Home, Making II
Now Under Way.
DESTRUCTION SOLE ISSUE
specid, Despuich TO TIE suS.

Specidf DesputCH 10 lhh oeH'
WASHINGTON, July 3l.-The surging
struggle in the Soissons-Marne salient
has now developed into a pitched battle
for mastery with prearranged strategic
plans thrown aside and destruction OF
the enemy field forces the vital issue.
1.-THE objective of each army Is the
other army" Gen. March, CHIEF OF staH'
explained in his talk to-day with the
newspaper correspondents. His concep-
ton of the battle, rejecting the view OF
the General STAFF puts 1t now on dif-
ferent plane from the great offensives In
the past and reveals It as being on
par with the battles OF history in which
a challenge has been accepted and both
sides meet for the mastery.
American troops actively engaged in
this death graphic have been reinforced
by the Forty-second tRainbow) Division
commanded by Major-Gen. Charles T.
Mancher. which was operating east OF
Rheims when the German attack began.
but since has been shifted to the vicinity
Of Fere-en-Tardenois where It Is add
ing its strength to the present hammer
ing of the German lines in the Marine
salient
seven Divisions Engaged.
This makes seven divisions OF Ameri-
cans now in the great battle, bringing
the total number OF Americans engaged
in the Marine salient up to $4,000 and
the number Of actual combatant troops
up to $4,000.
The Rainbow Division. which includes
the 165th Infantry tSixty-ninth New
thA Ty.,ap cd Tno
land division: the 4s5th. Sunset divi-
sion from the Pacific coast, and the
Thirty-second Division. composed of
Michigan and Wisconsin troops. have
been taking part in the severe fighting
near Fere-en-Tardenois and Seragy.
Gen. March disclosed to-day.
Presumably it was either the Rain
bow Division or Gen. Dickmans Third
Division of regulars, operating in the
vicinity of Cierges and Roncheres,
which met and decisively defeated the
crack Prusslan Guards. News des-
patches indicated the presence Of the
Rainbows there.
This pitched battle for mastery be-
tween the kaiser's famed Prussian
Guards and the Americans appears now
TO typify the general character OF the
fighting all along the line in the Marine
salient. The idea of the Guards was to
destroy the Americans and the idea OF
rershing's men was to annihlate the
Guards. Reports so far indicate that
the fighting usefulness of the Guard
regiments which went forward In the
attack at Seragy has been effectively
snuffed out for all future occasions.
Enemy Is Making stand.
The explanation given by Gen. March
to-day indicates that the Germans no
longer are pursuing their plans of re-
treat and fighting rear guard actions to
enable them to safely reach stronger
lines of defence. The enemy on the
contrary appears to have decided to
throw in the full weight of large bodies
of troops in an attempt to mix matters
on a stand and fight basis. Probably
this plan will be pursued by the enemy
unless or until the Allies and Americans
break down some other vitality impor-
tant point Of resistance compelling
general retreat
The Germans could not afford to en-
gage in a pitched battle just north of
the Marine after it became evident to
the German high command that the
vitality important railroad from Chateau
TEierry to Scissors was destined to fall
into the enemy's hands.
But now the danger OF German troops
Icing cut off or entrapped has prac-
Iically disappeared because of the fact
'ndN the jaws OF tne allleO nut cracker
which were being applied to the salient
At scissors and Rheims have been held
open by the Germans
But One Objective Now.
THE holding back of the jaws by the
Germans at Scissors and near Rheims"
Gen. March said. has made 1t prac-
'cally impossible for US to expect a
Rag. They have had two weeks now to
withdraw from the dangerous points
down near the Marine and the objective
Of each army is the other army"
A maximum retreat of fourteen miles
vas effected by the Germans according
10 Gen. March before the Germans
turned and the battle entered its present
stage.
Whatever the enemy's objective was
ut the start of the drive" said Gen.
March, land whatever our hope was in
The counter offensive on the flank OF
this salient, It Is now perfectly evident
that those aims have been set aside
During the last few days the American
forces on that salient tMarne) have
been increased by the arrival OF the
Forty second Division. which Is taking
part in the fighting near Fere-en-Tarde-
lois and Sergy The American division
In the vicinity OF Roncheres and Cierges
IS our Third Division.
six New Divisions Formed.
'T have ordered the forma ton OF six
new American divisions in the United
States. They will be numbered from
fifteen to twenty and will be organized
at Camps Logan. Kearny, Beauregard,
Travis. Dodge and SEWER These d.
Visions will have as a nucleus, as the six
divisions organized last month did. two
regular infantry regiments, following
he nli a. ne, art, ant To