The Chattanooga news. [volume] (Chattanooga, Tenn.) 1891-1939, 1918-05-29
OVER 100000 US.
MEN AT FRONT
Americans Will Play Vital Part
Against New German
Drive.
LOSSES MUST BE GREATER
Enemy Still Numerically the
Superior of the Allied
Forces.
LOSSES MUST BE GREATER
(By David Lawrence.)
.NTVPJ ffbFf" HVfV " VIZ
Evening Post Company. Special
to The NeWS)

Evening Post Company. Special
to The News)
Washington, May 29.-America will
play a vital part in defending the allied
line against the renewed German drive.
and the public must be prepared for
heavier losses than we have hitherto
sustained, for the United States has
more than 100000 fighting men at the
front. This includes not only the divi-
sions which are commanded by our
own officers, but those brigaded with
| the British army. And back OF the
front lines we have at least 100000
| fighting men in reserve.
| Secretary Baker recently announced
| that the United States had sent more
than 500, 900 men to France. and it was
| requested that no speculation be in
dulged as to the number beyond that
! being transported to Europe. But sufii-
! cent men have already arrived ap-
parently, so that 100000 men are avail
able to resist the present offensive.
This is heartening news, for it never
had been supposed that so many fight
ing men had reached France. People
here generally presumed that OF the
100000 men referred to by Secretary
Baker at least third We're auxiliary
troops for communications and supply
organizations back of the line.
| am permitted to state. however.
that our 100000 fighting men is greatly
in excess of what Great Britain sent
across the channel into the lighting
line in her first year of lighting. Con-
sidering that America is 5000 miles
away. the performance is unquestion-
ably the most remarkable case of over
seas transportation in history. We
have become the third vital factor in
the war. We have much more troops
than Belgium and unless casualties are
heavy, we should take over great
part of the battle line by next autumn
Tonnage continues available In large
quantities for transportation of troops.
As for the stage of training which our
men have reached, ] am Informed that
some of the divisions have been given
advanced instruction while in America
so that they are as far along as those
that have been in France four and
five months. In other words, should
the emergency require It, and indtca-
tions begin to tend that way. the
American forces will be relied upon to
mold the line at many vital places.
Numerical superiority unfortunately
is still with the Germans, for II is not
thought here that the British have
been able to use the interval since the
llSl drive TO bllHE fIpHtH Il'l iii''
the fighting line TO make up for the
heavy losses sustained.
II would be spreading false optimism
to say that the same confidence pre-
walls today in the ability of the allies
to hold as was manifested when the
first big drive began. The disruption
of the Firth British army still remains
an aching memory. But on the other
hand. Il is true that few army men
driving power for an assault~on any
thing like the scale attempted in !
March. Then there is disposition 10 /.
place much faith in the added military !
advantages Of unified commando
When tho first German drive began. |
everybody here was supremely conf |
dent Stories Of preparation were 30 !
positive that no one believed ground .
would be yielded. Today. with the eN- I
pcrience Of the past vlvidly in mind. /
no one Is making confident predictions 4
or positive statements. There Is an
of feeling. however that
the allies will he able TO resist the
enemy and pull through though with
what loss of territory or men. few ex-
pcrts care 20 say They are hopeful
but u iS not difficult TO observe q
trace Of disappointment that the inter
val elapsing since the first drive was
not better used.
on tho other hand. an Impression
prevails that the Germans have not -
been able TO use the time 70 any bet