Pine Bluff daily graphic., 1918-08-25
Founded on Gold Flooded Study of Situation, Says
 Chief of Staff.
AMERICAN OFFICERS
 CONFIDENT OF MEN
Yankees Show Splendid Qualities No News From PerSlling on Or. ganizatiOn of First
 Field Army.

Washington, Aug. 24.-Announcine that to date more than 1,5OO, ,OOO American soldiers have embarked for foreign shores, General March, chief of staf, reiterated today his firm be- lief that the presence of 100000 troops fthe U. s. in France by next summer would enable the allies to carry out any campaign they may adopt for the defeat of Germany and the end of the war.
 Such declaration, General March said, were founded upon Jblooded study of the respective man-power of all allies and of the enemy ii. June 1919, and "are not issued as spread eagle statements"
 General March impressed the news paper men who met him in confer ence today with the absolute confi- dence American officers have in their men as a result 0 fthe initial tests on the battlefields of France
 He intimated that the somewhat sensational prediction which he had made was based as much upon these isoldierly qualities as in the numeri- cal superiority which the war de- partment plans to give the allied command by midsummer of next year.
 Americans Deserve Confidence.
 The American soldiers deserve the confidence of the American peo- pie" said General March. "On every occasion so far where he has been Vested he has absolutely delivered the goods"
 My confidence in them is inquired andd eveloped by serving with them and beside them in battle.
 "I have ordered back from France certain men who have won distinct ion over there to give them increased rank in the divisions organizing at home.
 "These men talk the same language l do.
 You do not find any lack of confi- 'dence on the front in France among the American forces.
 These officers area now telling me interesting things which have not yet come over in official reports.
 Took $500 Men and 6s Guns.
 Zone officer reported specifically that in one engagement of the first American division, they captured 6S German guns and brought them in at the rear of our trucks.
 "On the same occasion they took $500 prisoners.
 Another officer reported that the second division, which he was with. captured ten complete German bat teries which they brought in and pres ented to General Pershing.
 No recent reports have been made to the department on the progress of the organization of the First United States #ield Hrmy, and the :chdef of staff was unable to say whether the concentration of thirty divisions definitely assigned to this force was nearing completion.
 This organization is being left en- tirely in the hands of General Per shing who is governed by instructions from General Foch.
 The fact that no mention has been made of American units participating in the French and British drives of the current week has led to the firm belief here that these troops have all been withdrawn and sent to the American sector in readiness for whatever move is assigned to them in the allied line.
 Discussing the changes on the wes- tern front since last Wednesday Gen. eral March said the French operat- ing in the Noyon sector have now ad- vanced across the plateau overlook ing that important base until they have reached the Disc and have pro- gressed northeast to the Ailette.0
 The enemy has been pushed out Of Carlepont forest, south of Noyon and behind the Disc.
 Recent events General March said emphasize that "the fine work of the French have duplicated on the Brit ish front 0