The Colorado statesman., 1918-03-16


the leaders in England, France and
Italy, as to the wisdom of giving Ja-
| pan a free hand in this connection.
IA
American troops in the front line
trenches in France have had their real
baptism of fire. They have taken part
in several engagements with the enc
my, one of which approached the dig
nifty of a real battle. The Americans
have repulsed several raids made by
the Germans and inflicted heavy
losses upon the enemy. The most
pretentious engagement was that
which resulted from a strong German
attack upon the American lines in the
Toul sector. A large force of German
"shock" troops, trained especially for
this operation, attacked the American
line after heavy artillery fire had
practically leveled the American
trenches. The American troops, un-
dismayed by the terrific bombardment,
stood their ground and engaged in a
hand-to-hand struggle with the Ger
man raiders in the trenches. The Ger
mans were driven back into No Mans
Land, leaving three prisoners and
many dead in the American trenches.
The Americans pursued the fleeing
Germans and inflicted further losses
as the enemy retreHted to their own
lines. The Americans suffered severe
casualties, the dead including three
officers and seventeen men, but the
American lines were maintained at all
a
complete failure. Many cases of in
dividual heroism on the part of the
Americans were reported and several
officers and men were decorated by
the French premier for bravery.
Other raids upon the American
lines in the Chemin des Danes sector
and in Lorraine were also repulsed
with severe losses to the enemy. In
all these engagements the American
troops have shown that, despite their
inexperience in the new type of war
fare, they are now perfectly at home
In the trenches and are able to hold
their own against the enemy.
IA
The increasingly large part which
Pershing's troops are taking in the
fighting on the west front is indicated
by the announcement that the Amer
leans are now holding something over
eight miles of trenches on the battle
front. This front is liable to eXten-
sion at any time to the regular trench
allotment for an army corps. The
present American sector is understood
to be a divisional frontage, which
means that at least three divisions of
American troops are there to give the
necessary support for the front lines.
The growing activity of the American
troops is further shown by the daily
casualty lists which are now coming
from General Pershing.
Announcement has been made that
the third American Liberty loan will
be offered soon. The campaign for
subscriptions will open on April 6,
the first anniversary of the entry of
the United States into the war, and
will continue for three or four weeks.
The amount of the loan, the interest
rate and other features have not been
made public but the fact that further
legislation will be sought from con-
gress in anticipation of the loan indi-
Gates that the amount of the issue
will be more than $4,000, 100000, the
remainder of authorized but unissued
bonds. The campaign work for the
new loan has already been started
throughout the country and every dis
trlct will have been thoroughly organ
lied before the drive begins.
Several steps have been taken by
the United States government to fur
ther coordinate and centralize the
work of war preparation The two
outstanding developments along this
line were the appointment of Bernard
NJ Baruch of New York as chairman
of the war industries board with great
ly enlarged powers, and the assump-
ton by Maj. Gen. Peyton C. March
of his duties as acting chief of staff.
Mr.. Baruch. according to the presi-
| dents own announcement, made In his
letter of appointment, will have great
er powers even than It was proposed
| by certain members of congress to
confer upon n minister of munitions.
| He will be, in fact, n practical dicta-
tor over industrial problems relating
to me war and will have, among other
things. the last word In determining
| priority of supplies for the govern
| ment Whenever there is competitive or
| other conflict of Interest among depart
| ,nents. The power placed in the hands