The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1918-08-14
PERSHING CONTROLS
FIRST FIELD ARMY
He Is Now on Same Footing
as Marshal Haig and
Gen. Petain.
HOLDS "ROAD TO BERLIN"
American Portion of Front Is
South Of Marne-1,25O,000
Men to Hold 1t.
HOLDS "ROAD TO BERLIN"

WASHINGTON, Aug. 13.--Secretary
Baker was formally advised to-day by
Gen.. Pershing that the first American
Field Army has been created, Gen.
Pershing retaining command Of the
army as we'll as of the entire expedi-
tionary force for tho present. The des-
patch added nothing to details of the
army organization already made known
from Paris. however, Mr.. Baker said.
The announcement Is regarded AZ
having deep significance at the War
Department mainly because It places
the American Army in France on the
same footing as the French or British
forces there.
Formation of the army is taken here
to mean that the Americanization of a
definite portion OF the front has been
completed. Supply lines. railway bases,
storage facilities, debarkation ports and
the like. created and operated by Ameri-
CA ms, stand behind the First Army. The
only statement Of the location OF this
American front given 10 that It is south
Of the Marine" Presumably this means
part at least OF the long line from st.
Mihiel to the Swiss border. where Ameri-
can troops have been pue In at intervals
during the last few months.
Extent of Front Undisclosed.
The extent Of that front has not been
disclosed, nor has the definite streAgth
of the army been given. The advices
indicate that It comprises however,
nve full corps. which means approx
imatcly 100000 men.
The effect Of the taking over Of tho
line Is to make a definite beginning
at apporttionins the long front The
British hold the LIT fiank. aided by the
Belgians. from the sea to the juncture
of the British Fourth Army and the
French First Army In Picardy. where
an offensive Is being carried out at
present.
In that position the British are not
| only holding their share of the line
but stand between the enemy and the
| Channel, which would be his only road
to England while the British fleet exists
The French armies presumably are
| being concentrated wholly between the
Picardy juncture with the British and
the American left. beyond Verdun. They
block the roads to Paris
Holds Bulk Of Line.
|
OF the front to the Swiss border. when
the other American armies shall have
seen formed. The First Army undoubt
eddy now holds the bulk OF that line
with such French help as Is necessary
The whole line probably Is under Gen
| Pershings direct command. including
the French corps or divisions that are
necessary until additional American
| troops arrive.
| The American commander will here
after direct all operations on his front
He has as much freedom Of action or
his own lines as has Sir Douglas HAS
on the British front or Gen. Petain or
the French. for he stands on an equality
with them. All three are under Marsha
Foch for the major campaigns
As commander OF the army In the
field Gen. Pershing will be well situated
to weigh the qualities OF the men h,
has assigned temporarily as corps com
mande@s. From those Ave officers h,
probably will select the commander o.
the First Army later. and opinion her
leans toward Mator-Gen. Hunter Lig
gett. now commanding the First Corp
oil the Vesle front, as his choice. /
Is expected also that Gen. Pershing will
soon name his permanent corps com
manders. the appointment carrying witt
Il the rank of Northumberland.
GEN. LiRgett's Corps.
Gen. Liggett's corps probably is re
garded as the mobile reserve OF tn
First Army and as such is being EN-
ployed on the French front. Should ag
gre.sive operations be undertaken on tn
American front. however, this corp
probably would be used there. supple
mented by French and possibly BIRTHS
mobile reserves sent by Gen. Foch. l
that case. while Gen. Foch would ma