Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1918-08-16
100000 MEN NOW
IN j. s. FIELD ARMY.
SAYS GENERAL MARCH
Pennsylvania and Illinois
Troops Figure in Recent Bat
tIeS-AIIieS Attain Advance
of Fifteen Miles in PiCardy

WASHINGTON. aug. 1.-THE One
Hundred and Thirty-first infantry of the
Thirty-third United States division, has
been engaged in the fighting north of
the Somme and particularly in the re-
pulse of an enemy counter attack at
Chipilly General March said today at
his semi-weekly conference with news
paper correspondents. This regiment
alone captured three officers, $50 men
and seven l05-millimeter guns.
General March briefly reviewed the
situation in the Picardy salient, where
the lines have now reached the general
position of the front in 1916 before the
HindenLurg withdrawal At no point is
the enemy now within fifty miles or
Paris
The Picardy salient has been trimmed
away on a front of fifty-three miles 10
a maximum depth of fifteen miles, the
chief of staff said, and the line on the
Marine front has remained stationary.
American troops have recaptured Fis-
mette, on the north bank of the Nesie'
from which they were driven.
Discussing the work of the Twenty
eighth division, comprising Pennsyl-
yania cuardsmen, in the Aisne-Marne
salient. General March said the only
report upon its casualties received was
that 400 men had been hit during four
hours on July 80 in the advance to the
Vesle.
the one Hundred and Thirty-first
repirent is composed of Illinois natlonal
gusrdsmen and is attached to the Sixty
sixth brigade of infantry in the Ihlrty-
third division, commanded by MAJOR
General George Bell. The troops were
trained at Camp Logan, Texas.
-as division General
March said, was IN positions near Dor
roans on July 16 and participated in the
advance across the Ourcq river on the
26th. when the attack against the Ger
man lines attained its full momentum
and thrust the enemy back 20 the Nesle'
The Twenty-eighth was thanked on one
side by the Forty-second (Rainbow) and
on the other by the Third regular dlVl-
sion. Its position in the line was be-
tween Sergy and Roncheres.
The work of the American troops, both
on the French and British fronts, Cen
eral March said, continues to win the
highest praise from the allied com
manders.
l,25o,ooo Men in Field
General Pershing's announcement of
the formation of the first field army,
shows il was organized on August 10
and in this connection, General March
disclosed that there were three American
divisions in France and the field army
included approximately 100000 men.
The organization of additional corps and
subsequently of additional armies will
proceed without delay. he added, and
eventually General Pershing will take
command of all the armies. leaving com
nand of each to a general officer. whom
he may select. 1t is assumed that Cen
eraI Pershing has taken over his own
staff as the staff of the first field army
In that case Major General James w.
McAndrew is the chief of staff both OF
the army and of the American expedl-
tIonary forces.
General March was asked as to the
truth of reports that the American
forces north Of the Marine lacked ade-
quate air service. General PershinS's
dispatches make no mention of any such
condition, he replied, and added that
specific report as to the operation or
airpIanes in action and the conditions in
that regard had been asked of the
American commander, the substance or
which will be made public when re-
ceived.
The chief of stan took occasion to
frown upon the name Sammy" for
American troops. No American soldier
in France approves the use of that
name, he said. nor do either the french
or British understand why big, strong
men like the Americans should be tagged
with such a nickname. The British SOL
diers call their American comrades
"Yanks."
General March said no American
troops had landed in Siberia as yet. He
did not have available figures on the
total embar kation for France, which ne
will make public on Saturday.