New-York tribune., 1918-03-17
M.,v Command Placed in
Hands of General
Gallwitz
New Section Is
Opposite Americans
British Drop Twelve Tons
of Bombs Back of
Enemy Lines

LONDON, March 16.-To-day's Ber-
lin official statement shows that the
German forces on the West front have
been reorganized into four parts, in
stead of three. The new part, un-
doubtedly consisting of several groups
S Of armies, is commanded by General
Won Gallwitz. His front appears to in
clude the Toul and perhaps also the
Luneville sectors Of French Lorraine,
held by American troops.
The new arrangement is attributed
to the great reinforcements received by
the enemy in the West as a result of
the collapse of Russia. This has made
necessary, it is believed here, a further
division of command.
Won Gallwitz will hold rank with
three princely commanders-Crown
Prince Rupprecht of Bavaria, whose
front before the new arrangement ran
from the North Sea to the vicinity of
st. Quentin; the German Crown Prince.
whose line was from St. Quentin past
verdun to near st. Mihiel. and Grand
Duke Albrecht of Wuertemburg, who
headed the troops between St. Mihiel
and the Swiss border.
Gallwitz Sector Opposite Americans
From the order in which the official
statement mentions the fronts, the new
von Gallwitz sector would seem to have
been interposed between the sections
os the German Grown Prince and the
Grand Duke Albrecht. The American
lorraine sectors lie just to the east of
the place where these two sections
until now have joined.
1t is probable that all three former
sections of the front have been changed
and contracted to make room for the
new section.
On the other hand, it is possible that
von Gallwltz has taken over a portion
of the front under the German Crown
Prince for the purpose of an offensive
or some other special activity, or per
haps to permit the Crown Prince to de-
vote himself to drive in the Cham
pagne, which military observers in
many cases have selected as the mos.
likely spot for a German assault on
q magnificent scale.
General Max c. w. Won Gallwitz
1.-THE "von' having been added by the
Kaiser since the war began) is one
Of the most eminent German army
leaders, He was prominent early in
the war on the Eastern front Hc
took part in the German drive through
Poland and later in the overwhelming
of Serbia. Next it was learned he had
been transferred to the West This
was late last year. He was put in
direct charge of the Verdun front. be-
ing one of the subordinates of the Ger
man Grown Prince.
No New Sign of Offensive
There is a possibility that the new
German dispositions may have some
connection with the presence of Amer
lcan troops in the line east Of ST.
Aihlel. although these are not yet
numerous. News dispatches recently
have mentioned several times that
There seemed special activity going
on behind the Germans front where
they face Pershing's men.
British, French and German war Offices
snow that the Western front continues
asetlye. but without any sure signs of
ae long awaited great offensive devel-
splng. The Paris statement said
herman raid in the sector of Flirey
vas repulsed. Flrey is in the Woevre,
Just east Of the Xivray -Seicheprey
'renches, held by the Americans.
Field Marshal Haig reported that
welsh troops had captured fifteen pris-
oners ard two machine guns in raid
near Arrnentieres last night, while an
osner successful incursion into the Teu-
ION lines was made northeast of La
yacquerle this morning. British ar
ulery set sn ammunition dump on fire
east OF Qucant, a few miles west of
Cambria.