New-York tribune., 1918-06-15
Entire Allied Line Stiffened
by Arrival of Amer
leans in France
Gen. Liggett Chosen
1st Corps Commander
Two Complete Divisions in
Battle; 100000 Trans
ported Since March 21

WASHINGTON, June 14.-Members
of the House Military Committee at
their weekly War Department confer
ence to-day were told that .he stream
of Americans steadily moving to the
front had resulted in noticeable stiff
fening of the whole Allied line.
The Germans, it was said, apparent
ly had encountered greater numerical
strength than they expected to oppose
their fourth great drive, and had suf-
fered heavier losses than they proba-
bly, had anticipated.
On the whole, the legislators were
Informed, there were many encourage
ing features in the present situation
on the West front.
Among other things disclosed was
the fact that Major General Hunter L.
Llggett has been selected to become
corps commander when the first Amer
lcan corps is organized, and to COM
mand the first American field army
when it is created. That General
Llggett would be chosen has been gen.
orally understood at the War Depart
ment, but there has been no announce
ment on the subject. He commands
the forces in the field now.
Two Divisions in Field
These forces, not including troops
brigaded with the British and French.
comprise two complete divisions -
about $4,000 men-fully equipped and
operating under French corps COM
fmanders.
Two other complete divisions will be
made up soon.
The divisions are commanded by Cen
erals Bundy and Bullard, and com
plete squadron of American airmen is
attached to each.
The first shipment of twenty-four
American-made eight-inch howitzers.
enough to fully equip full regiment
OF heavy artillery, has been made and
will soon be followed by others, the
committee was told.
Two. hundred Liberty airplane en-
glnes have been delivered to the Allies
and 1000 engines to our own army and
navy. This Is the high water mark of
engine production. Two hundred His
pano-Suiza engines for the fast fight
Ing planes have been produced.
Two hundred De Haviland, bombing
planes have been turned out thus far.
The Handley-Page, the other type of
large bombing plane adopted by the
department, is not yet in production.
Hold Fifty Miles of Front
Official announcements show that au-
proximately half a million American
soldiers have landed in France since
the German drive began. Already they
have aided in stabilizing the lines as
they now stand. At a recent date
American forces held more than fifty
miles of the whole Western front,
Secretary Bakers reaffirmation yes
terday Of American confidence in Cen
eral Foch was made with full knowl-
edge, for Mr.. Baker was in Europe
in conference with the Allied chief
tains when the plsn of campaign now
being followed was worked out. He
knows why no effort has been made to
wrest the initiative from the enemy.
Many officers who do not know are
frankly puzzled and cannot under
stand why some of the obvious openings
for a great counter thrust have not
been seized.
The present lull on the battlefront
IN france preSageS only new and
more violent storm of attack on the
Allied lines, in military opinion here.
The impression is rapidly strengthen
ing that the stage is almost set for a
renewal of the German main thrust at
the British army around Amiens. with
the Channel coast as the objective.
Thrusts at Paris Feints
Belief has never wavered among the
| majority of officers here that the real
purpose of the German General Staff
mas been from the first to cut the AL
lied armies apart by a drive that would
carry them to the Channel; that, ar
| rived at that goal, massed attacks
would be hurled against the northern
sector for the purpose of destroying
the British, army, willis a strong de.
fence was maintained against the
French to the south.
| The thrusts at Paris have beer
looked upon as we'll planned and exc
cuted feints, designed to weaken thu
| Amiens front before the final efforl
should be made there.
On no other theory can these OBJ
servers explain the sequence of Ger
man operations iii the great battle, ant
on no other basis, they say, can tn,
| campaign of defence waged BY Genera
Foch be understood.
81, ,O0O, 900 Asked to Survey