The Birmingham age-herald., 1918-06-02
Americans Are Vital Factor ir the Present
 Fight, Says Bridges
Head of British Military Mission to United States Thinks Pers]ing's Troops May Hold Balance
 of Power Between Victory and Defeat

Washington, June 1-American troops have become a vital factor in the great battle in France and may hold the bal ance between defeat and victory. Gen eral Bridges. head of a special British military mission to the United States, said here tonight in discussing the TO- newal of the German drive.
 | In concealing their preparations so as 1 to make a surprise attack. General Bridges said. the Germans were aided probably by four factors: Their pre- ponderating number of divisions, a good military system, the proximity of woods I to their first objectives, where large | numbers of troops could be concealed, and the fact that this front long had been organized for attack
 | The objectives before the Germans, l the general said appear to be three fold: the capture. of Paris. the division | vance through Amiens and the capture of the channel ports.
 EFFORT TO WIDEN SALIENT | While now on a narrow and danger ous salient, said the general the Ger mans will be in a favorable position for an advance on Paris should they
 be successful. in pushing out the west | leg of the salient and joining it up with tine Amiens salient That, he said, appeared to be their intention, as they could be expected to call halt at the Marne.
 1 The allies must now be prepared either to see the offensive resumed in the north soon, continued General
 Bridges, CT else to see German divisions from the north sent down to exploit the new success. The battle, he added, l is likely to continue for weeks and will
 become long drawn out struggle of man power with the first duty of the allies to husband their resources by giv- ing ground for men where possible. 1 STATEMENT IN DETAIL In making his statement Genera
 Bridges was emphatic in saying that ht could not fully appreciate thes ituatior until news was received as to the dis tribution of German reserves and as tC whether Identification had been obtained of any divisions being withdrawn iron other sectors of the front to take par in the drive.
 The objectives now before the Ger mans the general said, appear to bt | threefold. CD Paris; @ the division ol the main allied armies by an advance through Amiens. and t3) the capture oi
 the channel ports.
 The present attack appears to have
 come as a surprise. One. of the reason: for this was no. doubt that it was no
 considered by the allies as a decisive
 direction for major operation because
 of the possibility on this sector of giving
 an amount of ground that would be fata
 either at Amiens or Ypres. The German:
 have also concealed their preparations
 extremely well aided very probably by four factors. CD Their spreponderatins number of divisions: @ the fact tha they are working with a good raiwa, system on interior lines; (3) that ther,
 are woods around Laon in close prox' limity to their first objectives, where large
 numbers of troops could be brought III by night and concealed, and (D that thi.
 front has long been organized for at tack
 "As the Germans commenced the at