The sun., 1918-02-20
Big ALLIED MOVE
EXPECTED SOON
Wilson's Prediction Appears
Significant Under New
War Plan. > ~A
READY FOR TEUTON DRIVE
Baker Reiterates That Allies
Are Superior in Man Power
on Western Front.
READY FOR TEUTON DRIVE
Special DespotcA TO Tur srS.

cPeCsoS DeSp0tCh 70 SCN.
WARRINGTON, Feb. 1s.-President
Wilson's leadership and his plea for
unity Of control for the allied armies on
the western front, to which THE SUN
has referred on several occasions, Il now
announced openly by Premier Lloyd
George in the British House Of Com
mons. The announcement, accompa MED
as 1t Is by the unqualified endorsement
OF tho British Premier and the added
statement that all allied Representatives
at versailles concurred in tho Presi-
dents view. is regarded here as strik-
ingly significant
Lloyd George takes the stand that the
Presidents plan has been adopted be-
cause 1t was presented in manner
which was regarded as unanswerable by
tho combined military experts at the
council. The note OF optimism In the
British Premier's statement indicates
that the new strategy means something
more than merely repelling the threat.
ened German drive and that q strong
and perhaps decisive counter offensive
to be looked for before many months.
In this connection particular sisnih-
canoe is attached to q recent statement
BY the President-the only statement he
has made on the war programme-that
tho year 1918 was to be the decisive
year. This Is now interpreted to mean
that the old order Of stalemate Of war
fare which has prevailed on the western
front for three years Is to be scrapped in
favor OF a new plan. 1t Is not thought
possible that the President would regard
the mere successful resistance against a
sustained German offensive as constitut-
ing decisive action during 1918.
Optimism Grows in washington.
There Is a distinct feeling of optimism
In certain military quarters tonight re-
gardless Of tho news from Russia that
the Bolshoviki have capitulated to mill
tary force. Indications are increasing
that the long advertised Teuton drive IL
about to begin. The American and allied
forces are ready and eager to come to
grips with It.
Significance is also attached to a re-
cent statement by Secretary OF War
Baker that the Allies and the Americans
had a preponderance Of man power on
the western front. In response to inquiry
Mr.. Baker said he had made this state
ment with the realisation that It con-
nicted with unofiicial information sent
out by unofficial military critics abroad.
His information. no said. was based on
reliable and authentic data from various
trustworthy sources.
President Wilson has been in favor Of
unity Of control on the western front
even before he sent Col. House to Europe
to attend the interallied conference in
Paris
In the only report ever given out by
this Government on the deliberations OF
this conference II was stated that par
ticipation In military deliberations in
supreme war council was considered as a
step toward efficient and centralized
unity of control Of military operations"
Col. House Swerved Two Premters.
Col House pleaded for this policy and
won over both Premier Clemenceau OF
France and Lloyd George.
The threatened German drive has
made 1T imperative. according to Lloyd
George. to discard all half way
measures and adopt the Presidents
plan. There is every indication now
that British opinion will solidly sup
port him.
The explanation Of the Premier Of tho
rejection Of Gen. Sir William Robert
sons proposal to place a subordinate Of
ncer as Great Britain's representative on
the Supreme Council probably throws
light upon the purpose Of the Washing
ton Government in continuing Gen.
Versailles, as Chief Of STAR. although his
functions In that capacity arc In process
Of transfer to Major-0en. Peyton C.
March,