The Washington herald., 1918-03-29
Statement Is Denied.

Statement l. Denied.
The estimate was published as OFF,
Cial and had the effect OF drawing a
denial from Chief Of stan Mai. Gen.
March.
The greatest interest among War
Department officials vas centered yes
tcrday in the point from which the
reserve army would launch its at
tack.
Here again the lack Of informa ton
was embarrassing. but grouped about
great maps which give every detail
of the terrain through which the Ger
man lines run officers worked out the
problem for themselves.
The reserves are known to have
been assembled somewhat south of
the NOyOn district, not far from the
forest of st. GObain. The country
here is tOrtuous. and owing to this the
German lines are not believed to be
strongly held.
IT the blow should be struck in this
vicinity the fast moving army would
pass to the rear Of La Fere and prob
ably come within striking distance of
~. quentin where the Kaiser and the
German general stan are reported to
have established headquarters.
AyiatOrs spot Reserves.
Somewhere in this vicinity the ayia-
tors who are the eyes OF the army.
are supposed to have spotted the Ger
man reserve divisions. These divisions
are supplying fresh men for the drive
which is being made to force a wedge
between the British and French nj
the point Of contact, now near
Alontdidier II they are engaged bv
the allied reserves support for The
German forward movement will no,
only be cut off. but the German COM
municatiOns will be open 10 attack
1t was estimated at the War De-
partment the total strength of the
German reserves was less than forty
divisions or approximately 500, 90
Taking into consideration all avail.
able figures the numerical advantage
would be with the reserve army.
The only explanation of the DELAY
in making the full strength of the
allied reserves felt is that they have
probably been held back for the pur-
pose Of supporting the French anC
British on the extreme fronts in the
event a break became imminent in
either of these lines.
Hope to Ease HaIg's Strain.
II nothing happens to prevent az
attempt to execute the new STRATEGY
the strain on Gen. Haig's forces, a.
well as the main army of the French
will be greatly decreased. it is
thought. Without reserves the Ger.
rannot keep pounding ahead.
IL Is believed here Gen. Haig will
begin a counter attack with the Brit,
ish army. which will have the SUP.
port Of all British reserves now ir
France, just as soon as the allied
reserve army gets into action. Wheth
cr this time can be measured by housl
or days no official Of the War De.
partment Is willing to speculate.
Reports were received yesterday
from both Gen. Pershing and Gen
Bliss. Secretary Bakers reports hav,
all gone direct to the White House
They are understood to deal alnost
entirely with the urgent necessity
Of getting men and supplies tc
France.
At the Navy Department II was sait
the unusual amount of tonnage de
stroyed by submarines last week wa.
not unexpected.
A period of inactivity by the un
Gersea boats such as left the list OF Z
week ago negligible in Importance ha!
always been followed by an increased
number of sinkings.
IL is declared to be obvious that the
German admiralty withdrew the sub
marines two weeks ago to make re
pairs that would facilitate attacks
upon shipping at time when supple!
for the allies was vital. The plan alsC
fts with the German system of try
ing every known method of demOrali
Zation at the same time.