Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1918-04-02
Under Able Leadership Of
Great Military Genius Allies
Present Unified Front to
PruSSian Armies

WASHINGTON, March 30-Appoint-
ment of the brilliant French general,
Foch, to supreme allied command was
hailed here today as one of the most vi
tally important steps taken in the war.
Complying as il does with the Ameri-
can desire for unification of command
and action, the choice of Foch was
doubly welcome.
In his new post, General Foch can dis
pose of troops as he sees fit. There
will be no clashing of commands. no
working at cross purposes. and no iso-
lated expenditure of man power which
could be better used in a unified effort
President Wilson and American mill
tary men have long urged that unified
control was absolutely essential if the
allied American forces were to be used
to the maximum advantage against the
German autocratic, unified control
The terrible struggle along the west
front drove home that idea and forced
the appointment, according to military
men today.
General Pershing's offer of American
men and resources is without reserva-
ton. In full accord with President Will
sons views, General Pershing will CO.
operate to the last degree with the new
leader. And, it is likely that Foch has
already taken partial advantage of the
offer, and will quickly make use of it
more fully.
Though the strategically important
city, Amiens, is still menaced by Ger
man maneuvers, American military men
felt that the situation today is more
promising than for several days. They
banked heavily on the French counter
moves in the Mont Didier region, and re-
lied on the new unified control to dis
pose of the vast allied reserve advanta-
geously.
While American estimates have placed
the British reserve at 100000, other es-
Inmates today went as high as 100000
men.
New proof that the drive was forced
by internal economic and political pres
sure in the central empires came today
in a dispatch to an embassy saying:
Intervention had been attempted on
the part of the Social Democratic dep
uties of Austria, who declared that it
was impossible for the workmen to en-
dure another diminution of the potato
and fat ration. They added that no
measure would be efficacious and that
the proletariat saw but the one way of
remedying things, in other words, an i'm
mediate and general peace. The proter,
von Seidler, could only promise some
vague and partial ameliorations and af-
firm that the Austro-Hungarian gov
eminent would make every effort to ar
rive at peace as quickly as possible"
Commenting on this information, the
dispatch continues:
These facts throw curious light on
the internal situation of the central en-
pires. They help explain why Germany,
without regard for risks and losses,
wanted at all costs to reach a decision.
When the allies stop the offensive. as
they will, the central empires, who have
killed off hundreds of thousands of
men, will face accrued difficulties"
With an Austro-German offensive
against Italy still possible, the Italians
are hurrying preparations to meet it.
said Rome diplomatic advices today.
Italy is confident as to the west front
and as to any new drive against her,
said the messages, which added that She
"Fronte Inferno" writes:
1.-The offensive against Italy has been
postponed but not abandoned. 1t is
necessary to prepare the spirit of our
nation for the great trial which is inn
pending. The Austrian offensive will
find both army and country equally pre-
pared