The Sentinel=record., 1918-06-02
ADMITTED THAT THE
 HUN BLOW WAS SURPRISE
Secretary Baker Explains the System Of Training That Is Being Carried Out After the American Forces Reach the Battle Front

Washington, June With the crown princes army now standing on the north bank of the Marne officials here believe the German advance III that direction will stop while in. 1 creased pressure Is excited against the Cnateau-I -Ihierry-SOissOns Lne in CGe effort to consolidate completeIy the AIsne and Picardy battle theatres. ouch consolidation IS resarded as a necessary preparation tor an advance 1 un Paris or for new assault on the Amaens front.
 Y This view was communicated to the members of the senate military ! committee today by General Marcn. Other officers share his views. There was no effort here to disguise the tact that the success of the Ger man blow up to this tune has been a surprise. Apparently new clements of strategy have been employed which forced the withdrawal of the French on an unexpected scale. Gen. eral March explained to the senators that long range fire with gas shells had played a part in the German strategy. The French positions miles in the rear of their frOt lines were repeatedly drenched with toxic shells of large callbre and rendered unten- able even before the enemy infantry had approachd them, necessitating wide retirements.
 As the German efforts continue the war department is exerting every ef- fort to further expedite the move ment of American troops to France, General March in his talk to the sen- ators laid stress on the vital fm- portance of speed in the American progress. In this connection an off, cial statement from Secretary Baker as to the troop movements is to pe expected soon,
 Mir. Baker explained today the process by which American divisions are being quickly whipped into shape on the other side. Only infantry and machine gun units are brigaded with the British, he said, while all artil-
 
 with the French or with veteran American batteries. Engineers, sig- nal corps and other auxiliary arms also are trained largely with the French and American forces.
 The secretary laid stress on the fact that exactly the same process of brigading new units with veteran di- visions for initial training Is followed in the American army as is followed with the French or British army. When g. new division arrives in France it is broken up into small units which are distributed in divisions back from the front for their rest period. The new men continue with the vet erans until they have seen front The service. Then they arc reassambled and do a tour of duty at the front under supervision of veteran staff of ficers fin order to gain experience fin functioning as a divisional unit under fire. The men then are withdrawn for a rest period and thev next come forward to take their place in the line as trained division ready for battle
 The time necessary for this training has been materially reduced as the system has been perfected. By using the brigadlng method with French and British forces as we'll as with the American veteran divisions al- most any number of new divisions oan he made ready simultaneously. The hrieadlnv of the Americans with French and English units serves the double purnosc of training new men and giving the allied armies additional man power In the present emergency"