The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1918-06-16

that the figure had increased ap-
proximately 100000 in less than sew
EN- days drew quick question as to
when definite superiority in man
power might be attained.
Is Vital Problem.
"The matter of the number of
troops on the western front" Gen
eral March replied, is a question
that must be considered with rel
erence not only to the enemy di-
visions which have been known to
be there all along, but with the po-
tential increase which might be at
taincd by bringing divisions from
the eastern front.
at is impossible to predict a day
say month ahead, or any other
definite time when mastering su-
periority will be in the hands of
the allies; but the number of troops
we are sending across now is limit
ed only by the capacity of the ships
to carry them, and we intend to
keep that up"
General March made it clear that
there is no doubt in his mind or
in that of the allied military lead
ers that the channel ports are the
main objective OF the whole Ger
man effort. In terse sentences and
with quick motions toward the map
as he followed out the strategy of
the one great battle. he outlined
the situation that General Foch is
facing.
The -Four Drives.
"The four drives" he said, zone
beginning March 2l, the next April
9, the third May %, and the pres
ent one beginning June 9, are all
part of the common scheme OF Of
fensive. Looking at this map we
see this red dotted line running
down to the Swiss frontier. which
represents the allied line when the
Germans began their advance
March q. Considering as a whole
the succession of attacks, the first
penetrated this line some SO miles
into Picardy, the second some Is
miles into Flanders and the third a
distance of 80 miles farther along
the Marine. Under the present drive
the line has been penetrated an av-
erage distanc of from five and one
half to six miles.
"One every striking feature in
connection with this whole advance
is the extension OF front which the
allies have had to cover as re-
suit. The total stretching of the
line from Rheims to the sea was
GO miles.
an order to hold that extra line,
the allies have had to have more
troops than they had at the start.
obviously the objective OF the
German advance is, first, the chan
mel ports, which would make it
necessary for England in shipping |
troops to France to go farther out
TO sea and longer distance. max
ing the turn-around longer and
slowing up the movement and max
ing it more dangerous; second,
Paris, which, of course, is great
strategic objective. because OF its
sentimentally and prac-
ically to the people of France.
"All of these drives have been
stopped. The last advance, the
advance which we are now
considering in the daily press,
S more to straighten out the Ger
nan line than it is an advance con-
;idered as a military movement
With definite and important OBJ
ective.
Channel Ports Huns Desire.
THE activities of the Germans
Ire now toward Paris. but as for
he importance of the objective
rom a military standpoint the cap
ure of the channel ports would
lave a more immediate effect upon
he prosecution of the war than a
on Paris"
In connection with the advance
oward Paris, however, General
March pointed out that the farth-