Norwich bulletin., 1918-07-24

enlarge the American military pro- gramme.
 To Have 100000 Americans.
 It is now virtually certain that Gen. eral Foch will have at least 100000 American troops to supplement his allied armies before the present fight ing season closes. Secretary Baker an- nounced today the war departments new programme embracing enlarged army appropriations, notifications of the draft ages to increase the reSer- voir of fighting men ana plans for a larger mobilization of the army than any yet undertaken, would soon be ready for congress.
 He would give no details, but the plans probably aim at getting under arms without delay a total force not far short of the 5000, 600 figure widely | discussed in congress when the sub ject was last under consideration there.
 German Plan Upset. The fighting in the Aisne salient, where the whole German offensive scheme has been upset, if not definite | ly defeated, by the bold strategy of General Foch, has opened new possi- bilities. There is increased need for haste in the opinion of officials, in the getting of full American man pow CT ready to supplement the efforts that appear now to be taking shape to- ward hurting the enemy back all along the front and beginning the advance that will end only when victory has been achieved.
 Offensive on Larger Scale.
 Reports today indicated that fully | one-half of all ground won by the | Germans in the Aisne salient already | has been torn from the eneny's grasr and the French, British and American | troops were still pressing on at last | accounts. MT. Baker scaid today tha+ the last reports from General Persh- | ing were satisfactory. It was clear | however, that the minds of officials here are engrossed in preparation fol offensive battles on an even larger 1 scale.
 The German offensive arch i! France has rested on two great pillars l one in the Picardy front and the othel on the Marne. It his been repeatedl! stated that the pressing home of thi
 mighty pincer movement, threatening | both Paris and the Channel ports a!
 it progressed has been the German
 object from the first day the battl
 of 1918 which opend last March.
 The southern pillar of that arch ha
 now been gravely weakened. Its of
 fensive value is gone. By desperate eff
 forts the Germans are seeking to pre-
 vent it from collapsing altogether
 crushing whole divisions of their bes
 troops in it's fall. British Troops NibbIing.
 Meanwhile, British troops are nib
 bling at the enemy in Flanders an elsewhere to the north with unvaryin
 success. Just north of Montdidier, tn
 French have struck new blow, tn
 full significance of which is not ye clear. Its success, however, was st1rt , ling, even from the meager account ! so far received.
 Some observers believed the ne
 attack was a minor operation, design , ed to pin German reserves to ths . | front, just as the British nibbling ha
 pinned enemy forces there when the | were badly needed in the south. Other r saw deeper strategy behind both tf British efforts in Flanders and tf
 French and British local thrusts
 Picardy. r So far as future American partic h patton goes. General March has a V ready disclosed to members of COT = gress the fact that offensive opera Q tions against the enemy on Iarg f scale had been expected to be unde1 V taken later in the year. That gene, :. al scheme. it is thought, accounts f, Q the new plans of the war departmer
 since what is being devised now is q preparation for the spring campais r of next year, in all probability.