The Washington times., 1918-06-02
!. S. IS VITAL
FACTOR, SAYS
BRITISH WAR
MISSION HEAD

American troops are now a vital
factor" on the bloody fields of France
ana "may hold the balance between
defeat and victory"
With clear franknest, General W.
A. Bridges, at the headquarters Of
Ghe British Military Mission here, de-
elares the battle is likely to continue
for weeks "and will become a long
drawn out struggle OF manpower."
To get the greatest and quickest
results from Americas strength, the
bFiKadinE of Sammies with the
French. and British forces Is going
f0FWaTded rapidly now, he said.
'1t Is doubtful IL more than half Of
the eighty divisions which we esti-
mate the enemy had in general re-
serve have yet been absorbed in the
present battle. This means that half
The ebert is spent. Il 10 to be hoped
that divisions engaged have been
duly punished, as they certainly have
been around Rheims ard Soissons."
Morale Is Unahaken.
The morale Of the people in both
Paris and London is unshGken, Cen
eFal Bridges concluded. and "a united
frent and determination to come out
en- top" auEurs victory.
The general was emphatic in stating
that he could make no reliable sppreeia-
ton OF the situation until news was re-
oeived as to the distribution Of the Ger
nan reserve. and as to whether identifi-
eaten had been obtained Of any division
being withdrawn from other sectors of
the front TO take part in the drive. His
statement follows:
'The objectives now before the Ger
raant appear 70 be threefold. % Paris
90 the division Of the main allied
armies by an advance through Amiens.
and (s) the capture Of the channel
PortE.
The present attack appears to
have come as a surprise. One of
the reasons for this was no doubt
that it was not considered by the al
lies as q decisive direction for a
major operation because OF the pos
sihility on this sector OF giving an
amount OF ground that would be
fatal iether at Anliens or Ypres. The
GSrmans have ALSO concealed their
Preparations, extremely well aided
probably by four factors % their
preponderating number OF divisions,
(2l the fact that they are working
with q good railway system on inter
ior lines, t3) that there are woods
round Lson in close proximity TO
their .hrst obiectiYes. where large
numbers OF troops could be brought
up by night and concealed, and (4l-
that this front has long been=organ-
iEed for attack.
sUrBriEiREIy sueeessfuI.
~As the Germans commenced the at
tAek with only sixteen divisions. it would
appear that it has been more successfu'
than they anticipated. It is probable
that it was at first intended either in the
nature Of a secondary operation in or
der to draw allied reserves from the well
protected Amiens salient or TO strike a
heavy blow for the Marne-in order to
cut the main communics tons between
Paris and Chalons-and to widen the TOO
narrow AmienE salient by a fresh opera
don The German higher command
probably considered in this case that the
presence OF large forces in front Of such
vital points as Ypres and Amiens had
pinned the bulk OF the allied reserves TO
these positions. While they arc at pres
ent Ia q narrow and dangerous salient.
the Germans, should they be successful
in pushing out OF the Vrst leg Of it -
join;nE Il up to theAmiens salient. which
appears to be their intention. viii be in
4 favorable position for an advance on
PaFia. The allied command, however.
has not been idle, and 50 far the tanks