The Daily Missoulian. [volume] (Missoula, Mont.) 1904-1961, 1918-03-24
]. 5. MILITAR 7
LEADERS SURE
hun WILL FAIL
War Department Asks Full
Report From Pershing
on Drive.
GERMANS RECKLESS
OF COST IN LIVES
Washington Says Casualties
Of Enemy Must Have
Been Heavy.


partment cabled General 'Pershing to-
night to forward Immediately definite
information OF the exact situation on
the battle front where the British
troops are under the German on
slaught. The only official word at
hand was contained In the official
statements issued from London and
Berlin.
American army officers would hax-
ard no opinion lacking definite and
comprehensive advices. Privately.
however. their confidence In the evcn-
tnal repulse Of The German thrust re-
manned unshaken In the face Of nil
reports received.
Roth American officers and those at
tached to the British and French mil
itnry missions looked with condolences
on the story unfolded from hour tn
| hour as the German effort progressed.
a ,rayicw ofeth~eA eAay'e events as told In
Associated Press dispatches. they
said, gave no ground for assuming
that allied resisting power would
prove unequal to Its task.
Germans Reckless With Livss.
| All reports were taken to prove that
| the Germans had staked lives by the
hundred thousands upon a quick blow.
designed to be overpowering both be =
cause OF the MASSES of men used and
also because OF the absolute disregard
| of losses which marked Its delivery,
There was evidence that seemed to
bear out predictions that Germany
was prepared to sacrifice 100000 men
In the effort. II was with man. power
In great masses and not gun-power
that the first lines OF the British de-
fenses were penetrated.
| British Meet Attack skHifully.
The greatest shock ever hurled Mt an
army appeared to observers here 10
have been met by the British with
great skill II appeared that the Brit
ish had stopped the rush where they
eeud: Withdrawn slowly before L.
where they cot,ld not. Their orderly
retirement. American officers believe.
means defeat for tho Germans In tho
end There has been no loss OF Britiss.
crga nization, II was pointed out, and
every foot Of ground surrendered has
been bought with blood.
Military sxpsrts say such IN 81
fort az tho Germans are maisino
cannot be continued long. Every
foot gained means added difficult
ties Of transportation and the een.
sequsnt slowing up of the forward
movement. A day or two more oF
bitter resistance, even including
further eritish retirement, IL Wss
| u A.
the German thrust lest and its
power diminished. Then would
come opportunities for counter
blows on q major scsls.
In seeking the strategic purpose OF
tn, German drive, officials here noted
that the British press had already
suggested possible solution. A rup-
ture of the British lines In the vicinity
Of st. Quentin. IT has been said. might
leave the French left on the Aisna
front up in the air. Retirement there
J would bring the battle lines closer ia
Paris.
captives Not improbable.
. German reports that $4,000 prisoners
had been taken were regarded as moi
at all improbable. The capture OF
4 certain points on the first defensive
e system probably was what made the
0 sector of the line abandoned by ths
/ British untenable and started the
q withdrawal. Presumably the $4,000
r men said by the Germans to have
o fallen into their hands yesterday arr
t included in their new figure OF s5.00t
= prisoners. The first captures I'M,
6"Ibtediy were made when the from
: lines were preached. The remaindNI
:, probably Is composed OF rear Guars
units left In position TO hold or III
enemy until the British withdraw
| under fire had been accomplished, the
to surrender.
II Germans Lost 5000 u oegMsno.
The Germans themselves Lost to.o(
Or more prisoners TO the French a
British in the withdrawal on q
Somme alone, and a great nunlhl
also were taken In the retlrGAal
from the Marine during the firsts -
= of the war. -