Evening star., 1918-07-07
SAYS THE GERMANS
PLAN HEAVY BLOW
Gen. March lnterprets Delay
in Pressing West Front
Attacks.
REVIEWS THE SITUATION

hEvIEWS HE SIIUAlIUN
pressing attacks in France means
only that they are preparing new and
heavy blows, Gen. March. chief of
staff. said yesterday in his weekly
conference with the newspaper men.
"The situation along the various
western fronts has developed a sit
uation where nibbling by the allied
forces is going on all the time. and
with complete success so far as the
allied attacks are concerned. The
most interesting Of these minor raids,
from the American standpoint. was
the successful attack on vaux, which
occurred on the 1st of July.
Nicely Planned American Attack.
This town was taken by a very
nicely planned American attack, in
which the 9Th and 23d Regiments of
infantry furnished the infantry con-
tingent. and the 18th, 18th and 18th
Regiments of field artillery supported
the attack. These troops form a part
of our I'd Division. which is under the
command of Maj. Gen. Omar Bundy.
The successes attained have been con-
solidated, and subsequent attacks of
the Germans have not been sufficient
to cause our withdrawal from any
terrain which has been occupied.
Situation on italian Front.
'on the Italian front the situation
mas now come down to complete oc-
cupation by Italy of the southern
bank Of the Piave, with the exception
Of one small sector. The size of that
sector. which is the only part of the
south bank of the Piave stiI held
by the Austrians. Is three and a half
by one and half miles. 1t is on the
delta near Grisolera. Along that en-
tire region, which has been held by
the Austrians for long time, the
Italians have made successful ad-
vances over practically a nine-mile
front, driving the Austrians back of
the river, with the exception OF the
little area have indicated to you.
1T Is perfectly evident that this
aelay asli; is is PPssparatory Paspa to heavy as
command. and the present condition
or ana1rs does not mean anything but
that. They are recognizing their
troops, filling up losses and preparing
to try it again.
W ith ICISiSHCe 10 Cne American
program, as you have been told dur
ing the week, we have embarked a
million men and we are now going
after the second million"
Answers Specific Questions.
In answer to specific questions. Gen.
I'VE have nothing ofiicial on the
statements In the press that supplies
intended for the Russians are going
is not word Of truth in it. When
we have American troops SERVING
with the British we are furnished
with exactly the same supplies the
British troops get, and when we have
French we are furnished with SUD
plies by the French. and that is al
ways a matter of subsequent adjust
ment. What Is furnished Is replaced,
paid for or covered in some other
way: When part Of our troops are
scattered and the entire service of
supply Is in the hands of our allies
1t Is absolutely necessary that they
should supply our troops, as it would
be impossible for US to bring up from
troops.
There is nothing to give out on
the subject of Russia
Speaks Of the Use Of Gas.
'"The matter Of the use Of gas in our
service has recently been consolidated,
as has been announced to the press,
by organizing what we call the chemi-
cal warfare service, under Maj. Gen.
Sibert. and this under Presidential
order has taken over the bureau of
mines and experiment stations here
tofore conducted by a great number
Of agencies, and is now being pressed
forward under Gen. Sibert into a very
large and important section Of Army
work. Chemical service in France was
formerly called the gas service. Gen.
Pershing has been directed to make
his organisation conform to the or
ganization adopted here, and the
chemical warfare service is the title
now given to that section in France
also.
In that connection. the tribute which
has been paid to the fine work Of our
chemists under the bureau of mines
is thoroughly deserved. They have
really done unusually good work, but
the work now coming under one di-
recting head will show the fine results
achieved from unity of command
everywhere. In order to have success
in modern war you cannot have four
or five men doing the same thing"
Den rpnce tn nEI IVER