davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Evening star., 1918-08-04
+en. March's Further Statement.
GEN. PERSH|Ne IS GWEN
LEGION Of HONOR CROSS
By the Associated Press.

By the Associated Press.
PARIS, August 3.-Gen John J.
Pershing, comnander-in-chief> Of the
American expeditionary forces in France,
was today awarded the grand cross of
the Legion of Honor by the French
government.
Premier Ciemenceau sent the follow
ing telegram to Gen. Pershing:
II take great pleasure In informing
you, my dear general. that the govern
ment Of the French republic has decided
to confer upon you the dignity Of the
grand cross Of the Legion Of Honor.
The government desires to recognize by
this distinction the eminent qualities
that you have displayed and the remark
able service rendered by you in organiz-
ing SO promptly and efficiently the Amer
lean forces in France
France shall never forget that It was
at moment when the struggle was most
bitter that your splendid troops came
to add their efforts to ours. This cross
shall be the symbol Of our gratitude
Evening star., 1918-08-04
SPANISH WAR DEBT PAID
$s4,ooo,ooo Worth Of Bonds
Wiped Out Without a Ripple
in Present Wars Outgo.


fhe last Of tho Spanish war debt
was paid of yesterday by the redemp-
tion of $64,oo0.00 worth Of bonds,
part of a block Of .$1ss. 900. 900 issued
June 13, 1898, seven weeks after war
was declared. So great are the ma
tion's expenditures in these days of
high-scale warfare that the payment
created hardly a noticeable reduction
in the Treasury's $1.5oo. 600. 900 work.
ing balance.
Before the war the payment would
have been one OF the big financial
events Of the year; now 1t amounts to
only little more than any single
days war expenses. The entire
Spanish war cost was about 81, $780,
600. 600, spread over two years. The
present war costs the government
81, 500. 100000 a month.
Evening star., 1918-08-04

Decisive Blow Of Battle.
The decisive blow Of the battle be-
tween the Marne and the Aisne seems
to have been delivered Thursday. when
the allied troops broke the enemy lines
at Martennes, northwest Of Fere-en-
Tardenois. The whole German line had
been pivoting on this point, and the al
lied success there put the entire Teuton
force into what seems to have been dis
order.
! As the result of the allies sensational
advance since Thursday they now hold
the line Of the vesle river from Rheims
at least as far as Braine. Beyond this
town the situation is somewhat OBJ
scure. but it is known that the allies
are ON the hills overlooking the Vesle
valley to the west and the northwest
At yenizel the allies hold the south
hank of the Aisne and their lines extend
westward through scissors to Pom
miers.
There is no certainty that the Ger
mans will find the Aisne bulwark
and be able to reform their shattered
columns behind it Advices from
Paris indicate that the Germans lines
north of the river are in q dangerous
situation and they may not be able
to hold them. If this is the case. the
retirement will go on until the enemy
is back again to the lines north OF
the Chemin des Danes.
! Strong Position in Hills
So far as the reports from the bat
tie front show the situation about
Soissons it is apparent that the Ger
mans are strongly posted on the hills
to the north Of the Aisne. There may.
Evening star., 1918-08-04
HUN GENERALS ADMIT
failure OF STRATEGY

COPENHAGEN, August 3.-Field
Marshal Won Hindenburg and Cen
Ludendorff received the German
correspondents. according to ad-
vices reaching here. and openly ad-
mitted that this time their strate-s
gic plans had failed. They assert
ed, however, that the Germans were
still masters of the situation and
that the territories given to the
enemy were thus disposed Of ac-
cording to plans.
II the battles were on German
territory, they explained, 1t would
be painful to give up villages, but
the progress Of the enemy. they
declared, was without Importance
and would not affect the result Of
the world war.
Won Hindenburg said that the
German soldiers would become just
as easily accustomed to the Amer
leans as they did to the black lsol-
diers.
Evening star., 1918-08-04
|HUN PRESS WHINING,
| Won REvENT[OW SAYS
By the Associated Press.

By the Associated Press.
AMSTERDAM, August 3-Count Won
Reventlow, writing in the Tages Zeitung
Of Berlin on the anniversary Of the four
years Of the war, says:
'The beginning OF the nth year Of the
war is marked in large part Of the
German press by reflections which are
overhowing with resignation. melancholy
and whining"
The writer. continues: +The fearful
defeatism which runs through the Ger
man public life these days has q per-
niciously laming effect, and more SO be-
cause with some people the underlying
view may be perceived or IL expressly
stated by them that. IL one would end
the war It would after all be an easy
thing to do, as one need only Join Grey
and Wilson in the league Of nations"
Evening star., 1918-08-04

Not only did Gen. March hotly deny
that he had made any such statement.
but the senators who conferred with
him. as we'll, also declared he had not
done SO. Secretary Baker In talk to
newspaper correspondents and the
committee on public Information In a
formal statement denounced the re-
ports.
When tho senators at their weekly
conference asked the chief Of stan II
he had any estimate of the Amert-
can casualties In the Marne fighting
Gen March replied that he had not.
Statement at Conference.
Later at his semi-weekly conference
with the Washington correspondents
the chief Of stan was asked
Have you any estimate as to the
number Of casualties?"
Gen. March's reply was:
None whatever"
Gen. March and the senators who
conferred with him explained that he
had been asked what the total of cas-
ualties already reported was and that
the general had replied between 1000
and $4,000. This number is the sum
total of the War Departments Off
cial daily lists and Is published In
many newspapers throughout the
Evening star., 1918-08-04
ALLIES CONTINUE PROGRESS
ALONG A THIRTY mile FRONT
Experts Now Believe Enemy May Be Forced to Continue
Retreat Until He Reaches Heights Of
Chemin des Danes.

BY Asodat
The great salient Scissors and Rheims the Aisne
'front.' which terrific fighting has been going for two
weeks, been virtually by the allied forces
French cavalry patrols operating along the railroad
running Cities constituting the pivotal
points previous German advance American troops hold
outskirts of Fses the great supply base of the German
army which the enemy with utmost strength and de-
allied advance guards have reached the
Asn and the force of the combined ust
French British and Americans great enough to
back beyond the Aisne to the heights Of
the Chemn Daes where powerful defences then be
faced.
INCREASE SPEED OF PURSUIT.
and the allies yesterday increased the speed
of advance distance of than miles forward being
gained certain points The line has been Strengthened
as to escape danger which previously threatened the southern
bend from scissors of being enhladed.
Notwithstanding the difficulties confronting the the allies
bringing up their guns almost fast the Germans
withdrawing theirs, all the
retiring being subjected to the heaviest bombardens
Coincidentay the British have regained important ground
of the Ancre river where the also is reteang
Evening star., 1918-08-04
By the Associated Press

By the Associated Press
PARIS, August s.-American troops
hold the outskirts Of Fismes. the great
German base, in the center Of the
Aisne-Marne salient, according to the
war ONCE announcement tonight.
The allies continued their success
full advance today along front of
about thirty miles, toward the vesle
river. Thew have reached the SOUTH
Evening star., 1918-08-04
U.S.. AND JAPANESE
TROOPS WILL ACT
ALONE IN SIBERIA
TuO Governments Will Send a FeW
Thousand Men to Protect Rear of
Czech0-Slouak Army and
Guard VlQdiUOstOk.

Plans for extending military aid to Russia in Siberia will be
undertaken by the United States and Japan alone was an
last night official statements by the American and
Japanese governments Other allied cobeigeren have as
sented in principle
States and Japan will each send ew thousand
men, to Vladvosto force occupying and
safeguarding the city and protecting the of the westward
moving Czecho-Slovak army.
The numbers of the American whence they will
and when may not be discussed
While the United States and Japan extending aid to the
ova Siberia the United States will continue
cooperate with the allies operating from Murmansk and Arch
angel To what and in what announced
Evening star., 1918-08-04
BERLIN CALLS RETREAT
OF ARMY. A SUCCESS

BERLIN. via London. August 3d.
The success Of the retrograds
movements carried out Friday by
the German troops on the Aisne-
Marne front is attributed by the
German war office to the victory Of
Gen. Won Boehm's army on August
4. Allied infantry and cavalry de-
tachments are following the re-
treating Germans .hesitatingly and
! cautiously" the statement 'addss =
Evening star., 1918-08-04

however, be other elements in the
situation which. when reported. will
reveal the true situation and it's
menace to the enemy.
The retreat of the Germans has been
carried out with skill and, up until
Thursday, it seemed to be orderly, il
not deliberate. Ever since that time
there have been no reports of large
captures of prisoners, and there has
been no mention of captured cannon.
1t is probable. therefore, that the Ger
man retreat has been a successful
operation. SO far as men and guns may
be concerned. The loss to the Ger
mans. however. in munitions and ma
terials will be very heavy.
Hun Plan Out of Joint.
The success Of the allies. moreover,
has apparently thrown the whole Ger
man plan of campaign out of Joint.
There have been large units with
drawn from the northern battle front
to support the crown princes armies
and the German withdrawal across
ward for a distance of more than
three miles is considered by London
to be an indication that the enemy,
has abandoned that section of the
Picardy battlefield as the scene of offen-
sive operations.
There have been Indications that
the British may strike the enemy
when the moment is ripe. This at
tack might be launched at several
points along the vulnerable sides of
the German salients in Picardy' and
Flanders. II the defeat of the Ger
mans, south Of the Aisne is as COM
plete as reports seem to indicate, the
British drive may start at any time.
Evening star., 1918-08-04
Assurance to Russians,

"1n taking this action the govern
ment of the United States wishes to
announce to the people of Russia in
the most public and solemn manner
that it contemplates no interference
with the political sovereignty of Rus
sia, no Intervention in her internal
affairs-not even in the local affairs
of the limited areas which her mill
tary force may be obliged to occupy
and no impairment of her terri
torial integrity either now or here
after, but that what We are about to
do has as its single and only object
the rendering of such aid as shall bs
acceptable to the Russian people
themselves in their endeavors to re-
gain control Of their own affairs,
their own territory and their own
destiny. The Japanese government, 1t
is understood, will issue a similar as
surance.
These plans and purposes of the
government of the United States have
been communicated to the govern
ments of Great Britain, France and
Italy, and those governments have ad-
vised the Department of State that
they assent to them in principle. No
conclusion that the government Of
the United States has arrived at IN
this important matter is intended,
however, as an effort to restrict the
actions or interfere with the inde-
with which we are now associated in
the war.
'1t is also the hope and purpose Of
the government of the United States
to take advantage of the earliest OPP
portunity to send to Siberia COM
mission of merchants. agricultural
experts, labor advisers. Red Cross
representatives, and agents of the
Young Mems Christian Association
accustomed to organizing the best
methods of spreading useful informa-
ton and rendering educational help
Of a modest kind. in order in some
systematic way to relieve the imme-
diate economic necessities of the peo-
pie there in every way for which an
opportunity may open. The execu-
tion Of this plan will follow and will
not be permitted to embarrass the
military assistance rendered to the
Czecho-Slovaks.
sit l.: the hope and expectation Of
the government of the United States
that the governments with which 1t
it associated will. wherever neces-
sary or possible. lend their active aid
in the execution Of these military and
economic plans"
Evening star., 1918-08-04

country. 1t makes no account of the
Marne fighting.
Reply Was Distorted.
Gen. March's reply was distorted
into representing him as saying Gen.
Pershing estimated the cost OF the
Marne battle at that number.
The real situation as to the cas-
ualties in the big fight is that Gen.
Pershing has been unable to estimate
the number. or begin sending names
because the wounded are scattered
through French and British hospitals
at scattered points and it has been
physically impossible to assemble an
accurate and complete list This,
however, is being done as rapidly as
possible. but Secretary Baker and
Gen. March are determined that the
country shall not be needlessly dis
tressed by an inaccurate casualty
list which will need to be corrected
later.
The list will be sent to the United
States at the earliest possible mo-
ment.
Gen. March's Further Statement.
At his conference yesterday, re-
ferring to Secretary Bakers state
ment of Friday night. Gen. March
said:
''The casualty question I under
(Continued IN Sevenfh Pace
Evening star., 1918-08-04
Kenly Flies to San FRANCISCO.

SAN FRANCISCO, August 3.-Thel
airplanes bearing Mai. Gen. william L.
Kenly, director of military aeronautics,
and Lieut. O'NealI, his aid. arrived
hero from Mather held. Sacramento at
noon today.L. q. = J. -.
Evening star., 1918-08-04
Smashing Gains BY Allies
Put Hun Flank in Peril;
Americans Play Big Part

ern banks of the Aisne and the vesle.
the line extending from scissors to
Fismes.
French cavalry patrols now. are op-
Grating along the railroad between
Soissons and Rheims
French Hold vesle Fords.
The French army is holding several
fords across the vesle river. tbs
Evening star., 1918-08-04
GEN.. MARCH MLSQUOTED
AS TO u. S. CASUALTIES
No Report of Losses in Recent DriUe by Amer
leans Has Come From, Gen. Perslnng, O.Ding
to Difficulty of Getting the Information.

Widely published reports yesterday that Gen. March, chief
of staff had told the Senate military committee that Gen Per
shng estimated the American casualties only grossly
sinfored country but caused conservation and regret
among War Department officials.
Evening star., 1918-08-04

Statement by Government.
The statement by the government,
issued by the acting Secretary Of
State, follows:
"In the Judgment of the govern
ment of the United States-a judg-
ment arrived at after repeated and
very searching considerations of the
whole situation-military Intervention
in Russia would be more likely to add
than to cure it, and would injure Rus
sia rather than help her out of her
distresses- Such military interven-
| tion as has been most frequently pro-
posed, even Supposing it to be eff
cacious in it's immediate object of de-
livering an attack upon Germany from
! the east, would, in it's judgment, be
| more likely to turn out to be merely
| a method of making use of Russia
than to be a method of serving her.
Her people. if they profited by it at
all. could not profit by it in time to
deliver them from their present des-
perate difficulties, and their substance
would meantime be used to maintain
foreign armies, not to reconstitute
tstheirs own or to feed their ossn,zaen,
women and children. We are bending
all our energies now to the purpose,
the resolute and confident purpose, of
winning on the western front, and it
would in the judgment of the govern
! ment of the United States be most
| unwise to divide or dissipate our
] forces
Only for Protection and Help.
"As the government of the United
States sees the present circumstances.
therefore. military action is admissible
| In Russia now only to render such
| protection and help as is possible to
the Czecho-Slovaks against the armed
austrian and German prisoners who
are attacking them, and to steady any
efforts at self-government or self-de-
tense in which the Russians them
selves may be willing to accept as
sistance. Whether from Vladivostok
or from Murmansk and Archangel the
| only present object for which Ameri-
can troops will be employed will be
to guard military stores which may
subsequently be needed by Russian
be acceptable to the Russians in the
| organization of their own self-defense.
With such objects in view the gov
ernment of the United States is now
i cooperating with the governments of
france and Great Britain in the neigh
borhood OF Murmansk and Archangel
| The United States and Japan are the
| only powers which are just now in a
| position to act in Siberia in sufficient
force to accomplish even such modest
objects as those that have been out
! lined. The government of the United
States has, therefore, proposed to the
/ government of Japan that each of the
Two governments send a force of a
Few thousand men to Vladivostok,
with the purpose of cooperating as a
vladivostok and in safe-guarding. SO
, far as 1t may. the country to the rear
| OF the westward-moving ~Czecho-
Slovaks. and the Japanese government
Evening star., 1918-08-04
Trail of Defeat BIazed by
Bodies of Youngsters
Killed in Open.
|! !KAlSER'S BEST LEGIONS
IN IGNOMINI0US FLIGHT
Forced Back at Pace Which Makes
Replying Fire Physically
Impossible.
ny LINCOLNAYRE.

ny
CsSlexrnm to The Sunday Star and
the New York World. Copyright, 1918.
WITH THE AMERICAN FORCES
NORTH OF THE OURcQ, August a.
The enemy is once more in full flight.
From an early hour this morning. when
they were smitten hip and thigh by
our incessant blows and brutally mauled
to his heels again, and the American
forces from well west Of Fere-en-Tar-
denois to the vicinity of Ville-en-Tar-
denois has been hotfoot behind him On
the west the French reached (deleted)
and (deleted). the latter place falling
into the hands of their cavalry, which
was able to charge the German machine
guns across the open fields to the pla-
teau south of the village.
Our troops. among them a regiment
which was the first across the Ourcq
"a recent dispatch from Mr.. Eyre said
the 165th Regiment, the old 69th, was
first to cross the OurcQ) literally loped
through Nesle forest encountering a
minimum of resistance. and at last ac-
counts were within striking distance
of Marcuil-en-Dole. Other American
units moving forward from Hill No.
230 northwest of Meuniere wood, drove
the foe past Chanery-le- -Moncel, Copen
and Dravegny. to points north which
are as yet obscure-becauSe the re-
treat is still in full swing.
Further Progress Predicted.
The American contingent. which in
less than a week has advanced more
than ten miles, despite the formidable
obstacles in their path in the shape
Of the steep hills north Of the ourcq.
confidently expects further progress
intt the next couple Of days.
The happiest feature of the present
phase of the battle is the low price
we.are paying.
The first thing that struck me this
afternoon when motored across the
valley Of the Ourcq-last night we
had to cross on our hands and knees
and up into Seringes was the compare
lively small number Of ambulances I
encountered. The traffic was all head
ed one way-to the north.
Two miles behind the front an eerie
quiet hung over the countryside. The
Germans were too busy getting their
batteries back to fire more than a few
spasmodic shots from time to time.
and most of our guns were either rat
Ting along the roads behind motor
tractors or being unlimbered a few
hundred yards to the rear of the in
fantry.
Twelve hours ago single French
or American cannon was north of
the Ourcq. now there are hundred.
perhaps a thousand. of them hurrying
into position, which. in a couple of
hours, must be exchanged for en-
placements nearer the swiftly shifting
front.
Two Reasons for Retirement.
AS far ash have been able to ascer-
tain. two reasons for the enemy's sud-
den retirement exist He has gained
enough time to complete the DISPOSE
ton Of his troops on the Vesle hills.
doubtless in strongly intrenched de-
fense for his own stand or he is no
longer able to spare the men neces-
sary to stem the Franco-American as
saults. Since July is he has never
been able to- more than temporarily
check the allied assault.
The best Of the kaiser's legionaries,
fContinned on thirteenth Page.)
Evening star., 1918-08-04
WEATHER.

Fair and continued warm today and
Monday; light, variable winds
Temperature for the past twenty
four hours: Highest. SIS, at pm. yes
terday: lowest, 50. at am. yesterday.
Full report on page 8.
Evening star., 1918-08-04

, country. 1t makes no account of the
Marne fighting.
Evening star., 1918-08-04

tcontinaed on Thirteenth Psge.5
Evening star., 1918-08-04

The Associated Press 10 exclusively entitled to
the use for republication Of all news dispasches
credited to 1t or not otherwise credited In fh1s
paper and also the local news published hereiA
An rights Of publication Of special
dispatches herein are also reserved.
The Wisconsin tobacco reporter. (Edgerton, Wis.) 1877-1950, 1918-11-01
EASY DRILL FOR MEN PAST 81
Modified Training to Suit Their Ply
sique Ordered for Older u. S.
Soldiers.

Washington, Oct. 30.-Older drafted
men are to be put into shape for Serv-
Ice through modified physical training
exercises less arduOus than the course
designed for men between twenty-One
and thirty-One. Camp commanders
were ordered to train the older men
gradually, especially in the early
stages, so they will suffer no i'll eff
fects from too strenuous exercises or
OverwOrk.
The war department does not plan
to call all men within the draft up to
fOrty-five years by January L, Secre-
tary Baker said in correction of a
statement by John r. Mott, interna-
tional secretary of the Y. M. @. A.
"There is no such plan," said Mr..
Baker. ''The draft situation has
reached substantially a normal flow,
the men coming in about as fast as
they are being shipped out. This will
be continued"
Secretary Baker added that war
work is not being slowed up because
of the peace talk. The only delay, and
1t has been only in spots and tempo
rarily, is due to the epidemic of in
fiuenZa.