New-York tribune., 1918-04-30
Many Men Needed
To Fill Army Gaps,
Says Baker Review
Outcome Of Present Opera
tions Depends ON Numbers,
War Department States
v WASHINGTON, April 2s.--Forma

WASHINGTON, April 2s.-Formal
announcement that American troops,
sent to reinforce tho Allied armies, have
taken part in the fighting is made to-
day by the War Department i'll its
weekly review Of the situation.
"Our forces have taken part in the
american units are in action east OF
Amicns. During the engagements which
have ragged in this area they have ac-
quilted themselves we'll"
The review, in emphasizing the i'm
mediate need Of fresh men to with
stand the German onslaught, adds that
Americas imperative duty is to pro-
vide replacement units for the French
front.
an addition to those already called
to the colors," says the statement, "and
or already selected for service, very
large quotas will be required in the i'm
mediate future to fill the gaps"
In this connection the review points
out that "the enemy is seeking deci-
sion that will end the war, and the out
come of the present operations depends
upon man power"
The statement is as follows:
"The outcome Of the present opera
tions in the West depends on man
power, the statement says.
"The Germans are relying princi-
pally on rifles, machine guns, man
power and carefully thought-out
methods Of transporting and supplying
munitions to the front Of attack under
all conditions, which means that they
have developed mobility of offensive
action that can be met only by counter
measures of equal potency and hex-
bility.
"A battle of such magnitude as the
one being fought in the West cannot
be dec 'ded by any single engagement,
yet there arise a series Of crises on
which the ultimate outcome depends.
These crises have, up to the present, in
large measure resulted favorably to
the enemy.
The vigorous attacks driven agains,
the British lines were intended to par
alyze the independent will power OF
the British command. In this the en-.
cmy has failed. Unity Of command OF
the Allies has extended operations tc
the broader field of general engage
ments, in which all the Allied forces
/ Will henceforth be used interchange
ably
"This change in the combat situa-
ton has materially altered the moment
Of decision Of the offensive Instead
of the enemy being able to defeat the
British army and then turn its full en-.
ergy against the French, the Allies arc
now able to oppose their full unitet
strength to the hostile attack.
at must constantly be borne in minG
that the enemy is seeking a decision
that will end the war. This decision
can only be arrived at by the destruc
tion Of the Allied forces in the tiel(
before fresh units, contributed from
additional lcvies in France and Great
|. Britain as we'll as by our own troops
can take up their position in sufficient
numbers to turn the German successes
TO defeat.
viding replacement units for the armies
in France. We must be able to pu
fresh men in the field, thoroughly ane
methodically trained In addition tc
those already called to the colors ant
now training at our cantonments or al
ready selected for service, very large
quotas will be required in the immc
diate future to fill the gaps
"Our own forces have taken part i,
the battle. American units are in ac
tion in the area east OF Amens. Dur
ing the various engagements whicl
have ragged in this area they have ac
! quilted themselves we'll"