The Sentinel=record., 1918-09-08
STATEMENT IS GIVEN
 OUT BY GENERAL MARCH
Custom of Brigading New Divisions With the French or British Force to Hasten the Preparation for Fron; Had Not Been Abandoned.

Washington Sept. 7.-Concentra- ican sectors in France is proceeding rapidly and General Pershing now has under his direct command more than 90 per cent of the troops who have reached the other side. This was re- vealed today by General March, chief oi staff. who said that more than nine ty per cent of the Americans now are in the American sectors General March made no comment as to the purpose of this concentration. He did say, however, that the custom of bri sading new divisions with the French or British forces to hasten the prepa- ration for front line duty had not been abandoned.
 But as our men go over there now pretty well instructed he added, the time they stay in the trainii.s camps over there is very much less"
 General March announced also that the 27th division, previously training behind the British lines, is now on the line in Flanders. This was inter- preted to mean that the division soon would be withdrawn to join Pershing's army.
 In his review of the battle situa- tion, General March pointed out that the Germans are retreating along n 100 mile front from Arras-Cambrai sector to Rheims with French, British and Americans in close pursuit. OF- ficial reports show that the enemy now is sixty miles from Paris at lis closest approach to that city, General March added, while the old Hindon- burg line, from which the greatest German effort of the war was launch ed last March, stands at the point oi maximum distance only ten miles be- yond the present active front.
 "The pressure which forced this re- treat" General March said, "came at two points-the British front between Arras and Peronne. and the Franco American sector on the plateau of SOissons.
 Reviewing the progress in each sec tor. General March said the British tuIilSI lONhIu A0li iidu pdhpCG along the line of the Sensee marshes and the Canal-du-Nord with Cambrai only seven miles away and no natural obstacles impending the road to that objective. In the meanwhile the Brit | ish crossed the canal furhter south and
 swept forward yesterday and today toward the Hindenburg line north of list. Quentin.
 Of the thrust by the American and , French force General March said "T'ne | Franco-Amer.can drive across the plateau of Soissons directed against
 the flank of the Chemin-des Danes after week of severe fighting forced the enemy to fali back without further resistance from the Vesle. Our allied
 forces crossed the Vesle-Aisne ridst
 and had reached the Aisne river on ;
 ten mile front last night.
 | Further evidence of the drain upoi |, German man-power during the fight ' ing of the last few months reachei .i Washington today in official dispatch \ es Numerous German battalions nov are composed of three companies in ! stead of four it was said as reserve
 were not available to keep the com , pany unit up to necessary strength In this process of consolidation fort , German regiments are said to hay been wiped out entirely.
 s It is also stated that the men of tn German class of 1919 arc rapidly dis ianpaaring ana those of the 1920 clas 5 must be drawn on to fill gaps. The dispatches note that the mili 2 tary efficiency of the class of 1920 very low as the boys are exhausted b under feeding American troops ar