The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1918-04-08
This Is Opinion Expressed
in Weekly Review of the
Situation by American
War Department
IMPROVEMENT OF
ALLIED POSITIONS
NOW is EVIDENT
Under Foch Military Ma
chine Functioning Smooth.
ly-Sectors Held by
Americans Active

Washington, April 7.--As
usual, French and British
tenacity has upset the amhitl-
Gus plans Of the German high
command for the battle OF
Picardy, says the war depart
ment's weekly military review
tonight, and now the enemy, de-
termined to gain some sort OF
success at any cost, is throw
ing fresh forces into the bat
tie in an effort to secure linn
tied detectives. Because of this,
the situation IS expected to re-
main uncertain for sometime to
come.
General Improvement in the stra-
ltegic position of the allies is noted,
and the review declares that under
General Foch the allied military ma
chine is working smoothly and eff
GENTLY in stemming the German as
sault.
| There is no mention whatever of tho
American troops reported hurting to
the front to join the British and
/ French, though the department again
mentions that several American trans
port sections have taken an active part
in the battle and that the American
aviation service is cooperating with
| the British.
AT the opening OF the third week
of the German offensive, we find that
/ the enemy is still far short of attain
ing his principal detectives" says the
review.
PLANNED TO OvERWHELM
! HAIG'S ARMY IN ONE BATTLE
TT is now evident that the German
high command contemplated over
whelming the British at the outset, be-
tween the Disc and the Sensee and
driving a wedge into the Franco Brit
ish forces.
The enemy fully expected to achieve
a decision in the field in the course OF
one great battle. The success OF this
plan depended on being able to obtain
a break through of the British front
and advance so rapidly that neither
the French nor the British reserves
lcould come up in time to close up the
breach in the line and restore the or
der of battle.
4 GERMANS WERE TEN DAYS IN
i REACHING SOMME DIRECTIVE
Evidence Of prisoners tends to con-
/ firm that the enemy hoped to gain the
lime of the Somme by the evening OF
the first day Of the offensive. AS mat
ter of fact it took the Germans 10 days.
The stubbornness Of British resistance
and the severe casualties inflicted by
them. compelled the Germans to draw
more heavily than they had anticipated
on their own reserves.
THE German high command is now
throwing fresh forces into battle in an
effort to secure some of its more linn
tied detectives.
Under the leadership of General
Foch the allied military machine is
functioning with precise smoothness,
linsuring greatest economy, harmony
efficiency. The morle of the allied
troops remains high.
THAT ENEMY OFFENSIVE is
SPENT is NOT CLAIMED
The German offensive has not spent
itself and owing to the determination
displayed by the enemy to gain some
sort OF 4 success at no matter what
cost tho situation will continue uncer-
tain for sometime to come. However,
the general strategic and tactical posi-
tion Of the allies is becoming more
favorable.
"After period Of relative Calm
aariv IN the week. during which the
enemy was busy bringing up his heavy
guns and repairing the wastage OF pat
. | tle nv replacing tired units by fresh
troops. another powerful attack was.
launched along the segment of the hne
. row held by the French. stretching
from the Amiens Roye road to Griv-
. esnes. The enemy was able to make
slight Roadway. Fierce 1Sht-
!. Ing continues and hostile units have
penetrated westward TO within five
!. miles OF the main line OF the PARIS
Amiens railway.
ALLIED forces are masseo 10 cheek
the invaders in this area The Frene<.
have extended their lines northwaIa
<~.~ ~. ~--. ~. &ssi