The Mena weekly star., 1918-08-22
AMERICAN FIELD
 ARMY IS CREATED
Our Forces Now on Same Footing as French and British--Are Placed on Logical Road to
 Berlin.

Washington. Aug. l4.- Secretary Baker has been formally advised by General Pershing that the First American field army had been created. General Pershing retained command of the army. as well as of the entire American expeditionary force for the present. The dispatch added nothing to details of the army organization already made known from Paris. However, Mr. Baker said:
 "The announcement is regarded at the war department as having deep significance, mainly because it places the American army in France on the same footing as French or British forces there.
 Formation of the army is taken here to mean that the Americanization of a definite portion of the front has been completed. Supply line, rail- ways, bases, storage facilities, debark- ation ports and the like, created and operated by Americans, stand behind the first army. The only statement of the location of this American front is that it is 'south of the Marne.' Pre- sumably this meant a part at least of the long line from St. Michiel to the Swiss border where American troops have been put in at intervals during the last few months.
 The extent of that front has not been disclosed, nor has the definite strength of the army been given. The advices indicate that it comprises, however, five full corps, approximate ly 1,250,0O0 men.
 The effect of the taking over of the line is to make a definite beginning at apportioning the long front.
 British Guard Channel Ports.
 The British hold the left flank, aid ed by the Belgians, from the North Sea to the juncture of the British Fourth army and the Frtnch First army in Picardy and stand between the enemy and the channel ports, which would be his only road to Eng land while the British fleet exists.
 The French armies presumably are being concentrated wholly between the Picardy juncture with the British and the American left beyond Verdun. They block the road to Paris.
 To the Americans will fall the re- mainder of the front to the Swiss bor- der, when the other American armies shall have been formed.
 The first army undoubtedly now holds the bulk of that line, with such French help as is necessary. The whole line probably is under General Pershing's direct command
 As direct commander of the army in the feld General Pershing will be sit uated to weigh the qualities of the men he has assigned temporarily as corps commanders. From those five officers he probably will select the commander of the First army later, and opinion here leans toward Major General Hunter Liggett, now com manding the First corps on the Vesle front, for his choice. It is expected that General Pershing will soon name his permanent corps commanders, the appointment carrying with it the rank of lieutenant general.
 General Liggett's corps probably IS regarded as the mobile reserve of the First army and. as such, is being em- ployed on the French front
 The Road to Berlin.
 The American sector includes what always has been considered the logical ,roaa "a parfir fo,. French advances 1t was across lines now held by Amer jeans that the French struck in 1914, before the plunge of the German ar my thru Belgium localized the war in uorthern France