Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1918-03-01
THE OLD ALLIES
MUST HANG ON
UNTIL 1919 SPRING
Because Real Strength
of United States Can
not Be Expected Be-
fore Then, Is Opinion
Of French Divisional
General.

Paris, Jan. 81 - Correspondence -
France. Great Britain and Italy must
grit their teeth and hang on until the
string of 1919 because it is not until then
that America can be expected to throw
real strength into the field, strength
great enough to undertake offensives and
b& tier independently at the Germans with
armies the size of those which the allies
have been using. in the opinion OF 2
French divisional general as given to the
Associated Press. Having begun the on
slaught, fully prepared, more than year
herce. the Americans will prove. he be-
lieves. the deciding factor, and they will
Lring the war TO its close about the f.,ll
OF 1919 The general holds high hopes Of
tho American troops already in France,
whom he has seen repeatedly and at close
quarters, as. the saviors of the Allied
cause.
The general who wears service stripes
TO show his participation in the war since
the beginning, and three wound stripes
to denote six injur es sustained while in
tho front trenches visiting and getting
acquainted with his men, sketched the
situation and his impression of the Amer
leans. Though he did not say so cate
gorically he gave the impression that his
opinion Is In general the opinion of the
French military authorities.
The American troops he said in
sver to a question are entitled to the
highest praise for the ability they have
shown and are showing, for the speed
with which they are learning. To me it
~
things about them is the fact that. while
they have supreme confidence in their own
value and ability. they are nevertheless
not over-contident. Their leaders espec-
tally have shown ana are showing a will
insness to learn.
This spirit should not be under estimat-
ed. Both the French and the English
lave had to take bitter lessons since the
beginning of the war. and at huge costs
have learned things that they now can
pass along to the Americans. 1t is a
Profit by the experience
II haven't any Illusions that the Amer,-
cans are going to be able to get into full!
acton this spring, as was so heralded
last YEAR ! know and appreciate all the
difficulties that stand in the way of put
ting big army into the field quickly,
ana | don't look to see them in position
to undertake offensives and similar tell
lng operation before the spring of 1919.
Until that time France England and
ltaly must grit their teeth and hang on.
hen the time does come. however. |
feel sure the Americans will be strong
enough to strike decisive,y, and for that
reason | hope and expect that the war
VIII be over in the fall of next year
lie laughed the correspondent ex
pressed surprise that the commander of =
diVislon should be constantly exnosinp
hihseil 10 the dangers of the front lines
Every French general" he said with
smile goes TO the front lines as often
as ne can. Every general insists that his
c"ionels and other staff officers visit
thr front for both they and he have The
ou'3 OF becoming acquainted with their
l'e" as much as possible. and of letting
t'r men become acquainted with then,
1ou see, its like this If tho so,d;a
secs his general at the front and rao,;.o.
'ha' me general is quite willing to take
'hr same chances as he must take ,bor,
~ absolutely nothing that that co11;or
VIII not DO at the command Of tbo xou
e'a'' several generals have been wo1,n5
ei IN their visits to the front one ,,,o,,t
~ was killed.