Evening journal., 1918-03-25
EXPECT DRIVE TO
! nST SEVERAL weeks
u. S. Military Experts Re-
gard Outcome as Hanging
in Balance
TWO DETECTIVES
SOUGHT BY FOE

WASHINGTON, March 20.-Nith Of
ncial Washington, from the President
down, In suspense over the outcome OF
Tho flrst onslaught OF the great German
irive, now clearly revealed az tho ma
ilr offensive OF tho war, military ex-
ports here last night regarded The out
come as still hanging IN tho balance.
General stan officers, including Major
lisneral Peytoh g. Marsh, actlng chief
4 stan. look upon the offensive as sill
IN It's lnceptlve stage. No onlclal re-
ports have yet como frem General
pershing, but every scrap Of lnforma-
ilon from the battle zone is being eag-
rrly scanned.
With America now actively Ia the
war and American troops holding part
Of the limo it Is almost as n The battle
were being waged on our own coil. In
tcrest here In che combat has excluded
GA other matters from consideration.
The fact ls not lost sight OF that the
whole fate OF the war depends upon
preventing the Kalser's leglons from
breaking through.
AilH ANUlNNN liIiNNllk was NnllFU OH
by the President The House Military
Committee spent part of the day with
General Marh and the War Council
and eagerly sought the opinions OF the
military experts on the progress OF The
battle.
American army officers explained that
they could as yet form no definite CON
cluslons as 10 the indicated outcome OF
The lrst German 0i' sck. but these facts
they explained stood out In the light OF
latest reports.
Germany, it has become increasingly
apparent. has begun her much adver-
iised offensive. on which 70 would seem
she has staked her boasled ability to
force peace by the sword. The Ger
man high commend Is using Us best
shock troops and all lie resources 10
sustain the drive.
The British by counter attacks ap-
pear able TO hold The Teutons In check
and arc in1lctlng terrible losses on the
enemy.
The Germans appear 20 be conductlns
a. general offensive on the western front
and even on the italian. Tho principal
onslaught Is undoubtedly directed 10
The ST. Quentin region. where The
AlWMNN u AAuNNNl ~ NfiNl MNNNlIa NllN
Is IN a drier condition than elsewhere
Military men also explain that the
advantage OF a thrust az this point of
The line lies Ia the fact that two major
obiectives are possible with this as G
starting noint. The Germans. might
strike % The north for tho Channel ports
or they might strike southwesterly fol
Paris The main objective can thus hC
q. nrtN
Army men, however. are confident
that the Germans jlesplte their unpre
cedenttd preparations. will not succeed
ia breaking THROUGH the British line @
an extent where either OF these maiOl
obiectives can be pressed
The new British limo is being kent Sc
cret bv Sir Douglos Haie. but announce
inent that the British by brlllian
counter attack have driven The Ger
mans out OF Doinlcs give an cncour
aging indication that the British lin'
has not been bent back 90 any grea
oxtent Doignies, which is on the Cam
hrai-Bapaume road, is only three mile.
from the battle line OF last winter
There ia a distinct impression In mill
iary circles here that lhe Germans vii
attempt 90 sustain their offensive per
haps for weeks and consequently thl
irain on the man power OF The attack
ing forces will be an all important fac
tor. So far no reports have come from
tieneral pershing Indicating whether %
not the American sectors arc feellni
the weight OF the renewed German OF
fcnslve
When asked yesterday as Co the ef
feet the drive m ght have on the plan
OF General porshings forces, Maio
General March said be fully realize
that the country was keenly intereste'
and concerned I'm This particular phos
of the lighting but in The absence o
official information from General Perish
Ing he felt 10 unwise 90 speculate %
attempt TO make predictions. II
promised 20 make public any informa
ion received from General pershin
which could properly De given out.