The Brattleboro daily reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1913-1955, 1918-07-25

PLANS RUSHED BY
FOCH OFFENSIVE
Baker Prepares to Call for
Army of 5,0OO,O0O-TO
Change Draft Ages
OUR AID AT ONCE
is A VITAL FACTOR
America Will Have 100000 in France
This Year for a Great Allied Drive
German Arch in France Already
Weakened.

WASHINGTON, July 25.-With prob
ably not much more than a quarter of a
million American troops engaged in the
present battle, but with virtually mil
across the ocean to join in the fight,
General Foch has been able to turn the
table on the enemy and strike blow that
has changed the whole trend of the war.
Officials here, while fully recognizing
the factor that the Americans are today
only comparatively small part of the
vast forces the supreme commander is
using in working out his strategic de-
signs, realize that the American army
going forward in constantly increasing
stream, is the governing factor in restor
ing the initiative to the allied forces.
Plans are, therefore, taking shape rapidly
at the war department to accelerate and
enlarge the American military program
1t is now virtually certain that Cen
eral Foch will have at fewest 100000
American troops to supplement his allied
armies before the present fighting season
closes. Secretary Baker announced that
the war departments new program en-
bracing enlarged army appropriations,
notifications of the draft ages to in
crease the reservoir of fighting men, and
plans for larger mobilization of the
army than any yet undertaken, would
soon be ready for congress. He would
give no details, but the plans probably
aim at getting under arms without delay
q total force not far short of the 5000 DOC
figure widely discussed in congress, when
the subject was last under consideration
there.
The fighting in the Aisne salient
where the whole German offensive scheme
has been upset if not definitely defeated
by the bold strategy of General Foch, has
lopened new possibilities. There is in
creased need for haste, in the opinion OF
Iolficials, in getting full American mar
tpower ready to supplement the efforts
-tthat appear now to be taking shape ota
ward hurting the enemy back all along
the front and beginning the advance thai
will end only when victory has beer
achieved.
Reports indicated that fully onehal
of all ground won by the Germans in TIN
Aisne salient already has been torn from
the enemy's grasp, and the French Brit
ish, and American troops were still press
ing on at last accounts Mr.. Baker sail
that the last reports from General Per
shing were satisfactory. 1t was clear
however, that the minds of officials her
were engrossed in preparations for often
sive battle ON an even larger scale.
The German offensive arch in Frame
has rested upon two great pillars, one i
the Picardy front and the other on tn
Marine 1t has been repeatedly state
that the pressing home of this might
pincer movement, threatening both Pari
and the channel ports as it progressed
E has been the German object from the frs
. day the battle of 1918 was opened las
I, March.
The southern pillar of that arch ha
now been gravely weakened It's offer
sive value is gone. BY desperate effort
the Germans are seeking to prevent
from collapsing altogether, crushing tn
whole divisions of their best troops in il
fall Even if the allied advance
checked now, there appears little likel
hood that the enemy could recreate h
: tactical position on a basis that woul
lpermit him to continue his old plan {
campaign before the coming of winter.
Meanwhile British troops are still nil
. bling away at the enemy in Flanders an
: elsewhere to the north with unvaryin
success. Just north of Montdidier til
French have struck new blow the fu
l significance of which is not yet clear. II