Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1918-04-26
RUSH FIGHTING
MEN," ALLIES CRY;
SITUATION GRAVE
French Commissioner Makes Hurry
Call for Ships, Men and Sup
plies TO War Front.
FOES MAN-POWER GREAT

Washington. April 26-'1 look for
ward 10 the future with absolute con
iidcnce. notwithstanding the enormous
difficulties of the moment, and provided
everyone understands clearly his duty
toward our common cause, which Is that
of the liberty of the world And Your
duty, Americans. is Ia make haste
This message wa brought TO the
United States hv NJ Debility. deputy
French high commissioner, who has
Just returned from France NJ. Debility
sailed ON April -, three weeks after
the great German drive was started on
the Amiens front and before the enemy
struck the British line III Flanders.
The deputy high commissioner did
not seek in any way To minimize the
gravity Of the situation which cOnirontS
the allies and the United States IN France
and Flanders. lie made it clear that the
allies know the enemy has superiority of
man power on the western front and that
von Hindenburg is using all Of his best
troops in the present operations.
He dwclt especially upon the impor-
tance Of haste III the construction OF
new ships, pointing out that transporta-
ton is one of the greatest problems con-
fronting the allies in France, rs we'll as
on the sea.
PRAISE FoR AMERICANS.
The deputy commissioner paid high
tribute 10 the valor of the American
troops. declaring they fought we'll in
every engagement III which they have
participated
In formal statement, VI. DcBilly said
II want TO tell YOU what high opinion
all the French officers who have seen
yorr bows in the trenches have expressed
II the american land soldiers heard
this unanimous praise from tho com
mandCrs uf our armies as we'll ts from
tho officers Of lower rank, neighhors of
volir hattalions on the battle line. and !
am happy to bring you this message from
France
Il want 70 express my deep apprccia-
tion of the two great steps taken by the
United States in this climax Of the war
Your people have always been in favor
uf 4 unity Of command, clearly under
standing that the weakness Of a coalition
like ours lay precisely IN the absence ct
unity When. under the pressure 0f CIR
,lmstancCs. II became apparent 20 alI that
our lack ot coordination Was the only
feature Of what came near being n serious
setback the representatives Of the I nited
states did more than anyone else 70 help
strong coordination in tho hands of q man
in whom all the armies have confidence
And next to that great service - oar
cause was the action of General PcrshIng,
when he came 10 General Foch and put all
his troops at his disposal, eager only that
the Americans should play their part in
the greatest battle OF the war This went
to the heart Of every Frpnchman, rs we'll aS
to the heart Of the commander Of the
French army No doubt that your highly
spirited and well-tralned mon have already
given and Will more and moro give pre-
cious help To the allied armies on the west
Crn front
RECALLS FORMER MESSAGE
'T have already used tho same language
when had the honor Of sending a mes
ssgc, in November, 1917 to the meeting
of the American Historical Association
IN Philadelphia SAID then Il Is the
right thing FOR the ntcd States to pre-
pare u very strong army for 1919 and
1920. but at the samc time the effort
necessary for 1918 must hc made at once;
for big German drive II successful in the