Arizona republican., 1918-09-05
BELIEVE EFOCH
 IS PREPARING } FOR NEW bLON|
increase of American Troops In France Will Help Fol low Up Victories. Import
 ant Developments Expect
Republican A. p. Leased Wirel


 WASHINGTON. Sept. 4-AnnOunce- ment today by General March that more than l.600,000 American troops had been embarked for all front up to August 3l furnished a new measure of Inc forces Marshal Foch has at his disposal with which to follow up the victories already won on the western front
 Included in the American shipments are men sent to Italy and Siberia, the arrival of Major General Graves, American commander at Nladivostok with nearly 1.400 men of the forces dispatched direct from the United States having been announced today by General March. The total number 1f men sent elsewhere than to France, however. is less than 10000. leaving more than a 1,500,000 American troops available for the use of the supreme commander in the great battle.
 May Prove Entering Wedge
 The size of this American force be- comes increasingly important as the scope of the new British assault at he very center of the German line on he Douai- -Cambrai front becomes ap- parent. In the opinion of army off cials the breakdown of the German lines on this front may prove the en- tering wedge for allied successes of q sweeping nature.
 In his mid week conference with news correspondents, General March reviewed the battle situation of the last three or four days, noting partic- ularly that the British in the most impressive phase of the battle east of Arras had smashed their way across the Hindenburg line on an eight-mile front with Cambrai as their objective.
 Major Resistance Overcome
 The major enemy resistance along the whole 60- mile battle front from the Scarpe to the Disc, he said. had been encountered and overcome by the Brit ish and the swift advance of the French troops last week. when they gained five or six miles on a 25-mile front in a single day, was due largely 10 withdrawal forced upon the enemy in the north.
 General March pointed out as indi- eating the rapidity with which the bat He front is shifting under the steady orlve of the allied armies. that the British had pressed ahead 14 miles since they launched their attack on August 21.
 Hurl Enemy Farther Back
 Even as General March talked. word came from the battle front that the en- emy had been hurled still further back along the Douai- Cambrai line and in aicating the British early today stood within five miles of this Cambrai pivot 10 this German defense position.
 Reports from Flanders and on the Nesle indicated that new retirements were m progress in both places, due tC the continuation of the British thrus
 
 tianking movement toward the Chemir des Danes. The advance of Franco. American forces across the Vesle in. dicates that the German line at thi, end of the battle front is being forceC pack toward the Aisne by the pressur, from the flank
 Important Battle Expected
 Tn all the dispatches from abroad. of ucers here noted again today yelled in dications that some new and importan phase of the battle is to be expectet shortly. There was an air of expect ancy among both unofficial and semi otlcial commentators which produce, the impression that Marshal F'ocb i preparing for a new blow. If this i the case, it is believed there that th employment of General Parshing's ar my may well be included in the plans tue opJect being to hit with full fore Of the American and allied armies nov that the German Reorganization ap pears to be spreading and his lin wavering.
 Decisive Stroke Seems Near
 The reports tonight indicated f. many observers that the enen,, ua withdrawing along his whole iron from Flanders to Reims. This was tb deduction made from the new Frencr adVances in the pocket formed bv th use line around the Ham, Guiscard thauny triangle and also from fin movement across the Vesle. If if dc Neiops that the Germans have bee forced by the rupture of their center f attempt such wholesale retreat. if argued that Marshal Foch might We beheVe that the moment to attempt decisive sroke had come.