The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1918-08-14
AMERICAN FRONT
United States Now On Same
49, Basis as Britain.
Each Ally Holds Definite Sector
of Long Battle Line.
AMERICANS ARE ON THE EAST?
Front Believed to Be
st. MihieI to Switzerland.
Some Believe That Sector Is
Road to Berlin.

Washington, Aug. 14.-The an
nouncement that the First American
field army has been created is regard
ed at the war department as having
deep significance, mainly because it
places the American army in France
on the same footing as French or
British forces there.
Formation of the army is taken here
to mean that the Americanization of
a definite portion of the front has
ways. bases. storage -aciiities, de-
barkation ports am the like, created
and operated by Americans, stand be-
hind the First +; my.
Between st. Nfihiel and Switzerland.
The only statement of the location
Of this American front given is that 1t
is south of the Marne." Presumably
this means part of the long line from
st. Mihiel to the Swiss border. where
American troops have been put in at
intervals in the last few months.
Probably 1880. 600 Men.
The extent of that front has not
been disclosed, nor has the definite
strength of the army been given. The
advices indicate that it comprises,
however, five full corps, approximate
ly 4 million men.
The effect of the taking over of the
line is to make a definite beginning
at apportioning the long front.
The British hold the left flank, aid
ed by the Belgians, from the North
sea to the juncture of the British
Fourth army and the French First
army in Picardy, and stand between
the enemy and the channel ports.
French Hold .cardy to Verdun.
The French armies presumably are
being concentrated wholly between the
Picardy juncture with the British ana
the American left beyond Verdun.
They block the roads to Paris ~
To the Americans will fall the re-
roainder of the front to the Swiss bor-
der when the other American armies
shall have been formed. The FIRST
Army undoubtedly now holds the bulk
of that line. with such French help as
is necessary. The whole line prop
ABLY is under General Pershing's gem
era1 command.
Mggett May Command.
As direct commander the army In
the field, General Pershing will be well
situated to weigh the qualities OF the
men he has assigned temporarily as
corps commanders. From those live OF
ficers he probably will select the COM
tnander of the First Army later, and
opiIifon here leans towards Mai. Gen
Hunter Liggett. now commanding the
First Corps on the Vesle front, as his
choice. 1t is expected that General Per-
shing will soon name his permanent
corps commanders. the appointment
carrying with it the rank of lieutenant
general.
General Liggett's corps probably is
regarded as the mobile reserve of the
First Army and as such is being en-
ployed on the French front. Should
aggressive operations be undertaken
on the American front, however. this
corps probarly would be used there.
supplemented by French and possibly
British mobile reserves sent by Cen
eral Foch. In that case. while Gener-
al Foch would map out the objects of
the action in broad way, General
Pershing would command the joint
forces.
Yanks On Road to Berlin.
This recalls the fact that the Ameri-
can sector includes what always has
been considered the logical road to
Berlin for French advances. at 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