The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1918-03-29
WHOLE U. S.
FORCES ARE
OFFERED TO
THE FRENCH
Pershing Places All the Re-
sources of America at Dis
posal of Allies for Employ
ment In Battle.
TRAINING SPEEDS UP
(By Associated Press)

(By Associated Press)
PARIS, March 29.-General Perish.
ing called on General Foch at head
quarters yesterday according to LIN
formation and placed at his disposal
the whole resources Of the American
army for employment in the battle
now In progress.
II come" Information quotes Gen.
eral Pershing, as saying, ito you that
the American people would hold 1t
great honor for our troops were they
engaged in the present battle. l ask
it. of you, in my name and in that OF
the American people.
There Is at this moment no other
question than that OF fighting. In
fantry, artillery, aviation-all that we
have are yours to dispose Of them as
you will Others are coming who are
as numerous as will be necessary. l
have come to say to you that the
American people would be proud to
be engaged in the greatest battle In
history"
General Foch placed General Per-
shing's offer before the council at the
front, Information says. The coun-
Gil includes Premier Clemenceau.
Commander-in-Ch Chief Petain and Louis
l.oucheur, minister of munitions
There have been several reports re-
Gently that General Foch, one of the
most brilliant strategists OF the day,
who was largely responsible for the
French victory in the battle of the
Marne, would be placed in supreme
command on the western front.
The Daily Chronicle of London yes
terday said an announcement bearing
on the coordination OF British and
French military exertions might be
expected almost immeditely, and that
an influential role might be assigned
to General Foch.
WASHINGTON. March % The
first official reference to Gen. Foch as
being in supreme command of the al
lied forces on the western front Is
contained in a cablegram President
Wilson sent to the general today con-
graduating him on his new authority
The president said: MAY l not con-
vey to you my sincere congratulations
on your new authority? Such unity of
command Is a most powerful augury
of ultimate success. We are follow
ing with profound interest the bold
and brilliant action Of your forces"
WITH THE AMERICAN ARMY IN
FRANCE, (By The Associated Press,
March 2S.-Four prisoners were cap
tured by the Americans on the front
northwest of Toul some time during
last night or early this morning, .ac-
cording to reports filtering back from
the line.
The artillery fire was heavier dur
ing the night, the Germans putting
down a barrage on the American
positions.
WITH THE AMERICAN ARMY IN
FRANCE, Thursday. March 2S-While
there is no false optimism regarding
events in northern France in the
American expeditionary force, all
ranks, although realizing that the sit
uation is tense are confident that al
lied arms eventually will be victori-
Gus.
Every man is intensely interested
in the outcome. Newspapers contain
ing the official statements and de-
scriptions from newspaper correspon-
dents are eagerly read by all the
Americans, from generals to privates !
and from the base ports to the front |
line trenches.
Not the slightest doubt is expressed |
but that the British and French will
not only halt the enemy, but defeat
him.
Boys Anxious for Fight.
All the American troops are anxious |
to get into the fight and are envious
Of the role played by the handful Of !
American railroad engineers who are !
believed to have been caught in the
German advance.
As the days have gone on and it ap-
peared that the men would not get a
chance to participate directly in the
fighting there have been some slight
"growls." but the men in the ranks
are confident that whatever is being
done by the commanders is for the
best.
Speeds Up Training.
Some Of the Americans far back Of
the lines have insisted that they
heard the rumble OF the guns in the
zone of fighting, but this is not prob.
able, owing to the distance of the
American sector from the battle front.
This Is taken as an indication Of the
continued On Page TweIve.1
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