The sun., 1918-07-02
Liggett Heads American
Army Corps Prepared for
Great Enemy Thrust.
ALLIES ARE CONFIDENT
Pershing Reports Hot Skir-
mishes. With German Ar
tillery Active.


the German offensive oil the west front
is now expected momentarily by army
offcials here. Gen. Pershing's reports
as well as French and British advices
from the front have shown increa sing
enemy activity day by day, indicating
that the Germans are preparing for an
other assault
There are great stir and movement
among the Germans before the Ameri-
can lines around Chateau Thierry. Part
OF the drive may be directed against this
| from; in a renewal of the thrust al Paris
through the Conpiegne gateway. II so
an army corps Of American troops stand
shoulder to shoulder with the French
again to block the road.
Secretary Baker disclosed to-day that
organization Of the First Army Corps
under Ma5or-Gen. Hunter Liggett prob
ably had been completed. although he
made no announcement.
Divisions Are CooperatinE.
'I suspect" the Secretary said in re-
ply to a question. that several OF our
divisions are operating together as an
army corps under command of Gen.
Liggett. Whether any other divisions
have been created into an army corps
and a tentative army corps commander
chosen I have not heard"
| 1t was learned also that the First
! Second and s.Third divisions 7 Regularly
commanded respectively by Mator-Gens
Robert L. Bullard, Omar Bundy and
, Joseph T. Dickman. are included in the
first corps, ard all are either at Chateat
| Thierry or at Cantigny.
| The corps orEa nization plan, however
calls for six divisions, four combatan'
and two replacement, and with the nee
essary artillery units and other add
tional troops the total strength OF
! corps would be nearly 22o 900 men. I'm
doubtedly Gen. Liggett has all the ele
ments necessary for his corps If hi'
organization is complete.
Blow to BE Heaviest Yet.
j With this army corps in the theatre
where great events are believed TO b'
impending the expected German thrus
assumes new significance here. Tit
! opinion is general among officers tina
the blo" row in preparation Is to b'
the heaviest yet struck. Unless the!
mistake the signs, the Germans are get
ting ready for the crucial moment IL
their great effort to wrench victory b,
force before full American fghtini
power can be brought to bear agains
| them.
The belief of Gen. March. Chief o
STAFF that the allied situation is "ex
tremely favorable" as expressed in I
] las Co tNtr
day, is believed to be shared by the al
lied leaders. The speed with wh!cl
American troops have been rushed Z
France probably has played a large par
in the confidence. both here and in tn
allied countries, that this new thrust o
the Germans will fail, as have the las
two.
There is every reason to believe tina
by the Fourth of July more than
million American troops will have sailed
An official announcement to that effect
a part Of the Fourth OF July celebration
is to be expected.
Allied Leaders Confident.
The fact that Ave American division
have completed training with the Britis
and been restored to Gen. Pershing sine
last March Is another sign OF the spec
with which Cen Foch is being supplies
with fighting man power. The recen
stabbing thrusts OF the French and Brit
isb at the enemy lines in Flanders an
southwest of Compiesne are regarded
showing the entire confidence OF the a.
lied leaders in the outcome aithoug
weeks or months OF bitter fighting ma
be in store.
l. Secretary Baker had no advices to
5av to show that formation OF the frs
raId army under Gen. Liggett had bee
en,irely completed. Gen. Liggett is re
sarded as the logical organizer and com
unander of the FIRST army. as he was Ger
pershing's selection. The rank OF Lieu
tena mt General probably will go with tn
, command.
Presumably Gen. Liggett's corps
regarded now as a part OF Gen. Pei
: shings mobile forces, as distinct fror
, troops in the army organization whic
is being built up to take over dehnit
American sector of the battle front tn
: appearance of American troops at nv
: nojnts along the line between st, Mihi'
, and the Swiss border indicates tha
, this whole stretch OF 16o to zoo mile
, of the front is being rapidly Amer
GA n,xed The definitely placed America
sector from the vicinity Of St. Mihisl
the Moselle River is included. and
nresent is the left nank Of the who
sector. which the Americans seem De-
tined to mold wnen they come fully int
nosjtlon or the right of the line.
q If these Indications are correct II
/ Continued on Second Page.