Highland recorder. (Monterey, Highland County, Va.) 1877-1972, 1918-08-23
OUR TROOPS WILL
HOLD BERLIN ROAD
Foch's Appointments Place
Stars and Stripes in Fore for
Big March Into Germany.
u. S. ARMY OF 100000.
Allied Forces All VIII be Placed on
Same Footing With U. S. Soldiers
"South of the Marne"-British
Guard Channel.

hingtOn.-SecretaTy blhei
formally advised by General Pershlns
TINT the first American Field Army
has been created. General Pershlng
retains command of the army as well
nc of tbe entire expeditionary force
for the present.
The announcement is regarded az
having deep significance at the war
department, mainly because II piaces
the American army in France on the
same footing as the French or BRUSH
forces there.
Formation of the army is taken here
TO mean that the Americanization OF
a definite portion of the front has been
completed.
Supply lines, railway, bases storage
facilities, debarkation ports ana the
like, created and operated by Amerl'
cans, stand behind the first army. Inc
only statement of the location of TINS
American front given Is that II ID
south Of the Marine"
The advices indicate that our army
comprises five full corps, which means
approximately 100000 men.
The effect of the taking over Of the
line is to make definite beginning at
apportioning the long front.
The British hold the left flank, aid
ed by the Belgians, from the sea TO the
iuncture of the British Fourth Army
and the French First Army in Picardy'
In that position the British are not
only holding their share of the line
but stand between the enemy and the
channel
The French armies presumably are
being concentrated wholly between the
Picardy juncture with the British and
the American left, beyond Verdun
They block the roads to Paris.
To the Americans have fallen the
remainder Of the front to the Swiss
border, when the other American ar
mics shall have been formed. The
First Armq undoubtedly now holds the
bulk of that line, with such French
help as is necessary.
The whole line probably Is under
General Pershing's direct command
even the French corps or divisions thai
are necessary until additional Ameri'
can troops arrive.
The American commander will here
after direct all operations on his front
He has as much freedom of action Oh
his own lines as has Sir Douglas Hais
on the British front, or General Petain
on the French, for he stands on an
equality with them. All three are
under Marshal Foch for the major
campaigns.
General Liggetts corps probably is
regarded as the mobile reserve of the
First Army, and as such Is being EN-
ployed on the French front
This recalls the fact that the Amer
lean sector includes what always has
been considered the logical road to
Berlin for French advances.
1t was across lines now held by
Americans that the French struck In
1914, before the plunge Of the German
army through. Belgium localized the
war in northern France.
While the enemy Is still in northern
France, it may be that no major at
tack can be attempted through these
gateways. The campaigns in Picardy
and-n the Marine, however, are aimed
at forcing him back until the oppor-
tunity comes to drive back at him. 1t
is regarded by officers here that 1t will
be over the American lines that the
real thrust at Germany will be driven
home.