Evening journal., 1918-08-14
PERSHING CONTROLS
FIRST FIELD ARMY
He is Now on Same Footing
as Marshal Haig and
Gen. Petain
YANKS HOLD THE
"ROAD TO BERLIN"

WASHINGTON, Aug. i4.-seoreiar,
Baker has been formally advised b.
General Pershing that the first Amer
lean Field Army has been created
General Pershing retaining in command
OF the army as well as Of the entir
expeditionary force for the present. Tn,
dispatch added nothing to details o
the army organization already madl
known from Paris. however, Mr. Bake
said.
The announcement is regarded as hav
ing deep significance at the War De
partment mainly because il places the
American Army In France on the same
footing as the French or British force:
there.
Formation Of the army is taken here
to mean that the Americanlzation Of a
definite portion Of the front has been
completed. Supply lines, railway bases
storage facilities, debarkation ports and
the Ike, created and operated by
Americans, stand behind the FIRST army
The only statement OF the location Of
this American front given Is that IL
south Of the Marne" Presumably this
means a part at least Of the long line
from ST. Mlhiel 20 the Swiss border.
where American troops have been put
In at intervals during the last few
months.
The extent Of that front has not been
disclosed, nor has the definite strength
Of the army been given. The advices
indicate that IL comprises, however,
i've full corps. which means approx
imately $4,000 men.
The effect OF the taking over Of the
line is TO make a definite beginning
st apportionlng the long front. The
British hold the left bank, aided by the
Belgisns from the sea to the iuncture
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 feet
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.
To the Americans has fallen the rest
Of the front 10 the Swiss border. when
the other American armies shall have
been formed. The flrst army undoubt,
edly now holds the bulk Of that line,
with such French help as Is necessary.
The whole line probably is under Gen.
eral Pershings direct command, in
cluding the French corps or divisions
that are necessary until additional
American troops arrive.
The American commander VIII here
after direct all operations on his front
-le has as much freedom OF action on
( MS avn lines as has Sir Douglas Halg
on the British front or General Petaln
on the French, for he stands on an
equality with them. All three are un-
Ger Marshal Foch for the major cam
palgns
As commander Of the army IN ths
field General Pershing viii be well sit
uated to weigh the qualities Of the men
he has assigned temporarily as corps
commanders. From those 1--WE officers
he probably Will select the command
er Of the first army later and opinion
here leans toward Major General Hun
ter Liggett, now commanding the first
corps on the Vesle front, as his choice. |
1t is expected also that General PERISH !
Ing will soon name his permanent corps |
commanders, the appointment carrying |
with II the rank OF lieutenant general |
General Liggetts corps probably Is |
regarded as the mobile reserve Of tho |
first army and as such Is being EN-
ployed on the French front. Should ag-
gressiYe operations be undertaken on |
the American front, however, this corps |
probably would be used there, supple
mented by French and possibly British. /
mobile reserves sent by General Foch /
In that case, while General Foch would |
map out the objects Of the action IN
broad way, General Pershlng would /
command the Joint forces.
This recalls the fact that the Ameri-
can sector includes what always has
been considered the logical road to Ber-
lin for French advances It was across
lines now held by Americans that The
French struck In 1914 before the
plunge Of the German army through
Belgium localized the war In northern
France
While the enemy is sim In northern
France, it may be that no major attack
Fan be attempted through these gate
ways. The campaigns in Picardy and
At the Marne. however, are aimed al
lorclng him back until the opportunity
ZONES to drive back at him, and Il Is
regarded by officers here that 10 will be
over TIE American lines that the real
thrust at Germany will be driven home. II