South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1918-09-08
PERSHING
COMMAN
90 PERCENT
That Number of A. {. F. on
Battle Lines Now Under
Direct Command of the
American General.
Associated Press Service:

AesoNAAlcu EAeSH service
WASHINGTON. Sept. 7.-Couceu-
tration Of American troops in the
American sectors in France is pro
ceeding rapidly ana Gen. Pershing
now las under his direct command
more than go percent of the troops
who have reached the other side.
This was revealed today by Gen.
March. chief of staff. who said that
more than 80 percent OF the Ameri-
cans now are in THE American sec
tors.
Gen. March made no comment as
to the purpose OF tins concentration
and added nothing that might indi-
cate his W opinion a. 70 the prob
ability that an all-American drive at
the German lines might be impeud-
ing. He did say. however. that the
custom 81 brigadins new divisions
with the French or British forces
to hasten their preparation for front
line duty had not been abandoned.
But as our men 90 over there
now pretty well instructed NJ
added, the time they stay in the
training camps over there is very
much less" Gen. March announced
also that the eth division. previous
~ training behind the British lines.
is now on the line in Flanders. This
was interpreted to mean that the
division soon would be withdrawn 70
Join Pershing's army.
Retire on 1OO-NIile Front.
In his review of the battle sltla-
ton, Gen. March pointed out that
the Germans are ~retreatiug along a
riOO-mile front from the Arras-Cam-
brai sector 10 Rheims, with the Brit
ish. French and Americans in close
pursuit. Official reports show that
) the enemy now is SO miles from
Paris at his closest approach 10 hat
city, Gen. March added. while the
old Hindenburg line. from which the
greatest German effort of the Wal
was launched last March. stands at
the point OF maximum distance only
TO miles beyond the present active
front.
The pressure which forced this
retreat. Gen. March said, came at
two points: the British front between
Arras and Peronne and the Franco
American sector on the plateau OF
scissors.
MAY soon Take Cambria.
Review iug the pIUgress i'm each
sector. Gen. March said the British
/ thrust toward Cambria bad paused
along the line OF the Sensee marshes
and the Canal du Nord. with Cam
brai only seven miles away and DO
natural obstacles impeding the road
20 that objective In the meantime
/ however. the British crossed the
canal farther south and swept for
ward Yesterday and today toward
the HinCenburg line north OF St.
Quentin.
OF the thrust oy The French and
American forces. Gen. March said.
"'7ae Franco-Americau drive across
the plateau north OF scissors. di-
rected against the flank OF the
/ Chemin-des-Dames after q week OF
severe lighting. forced the enemy 20
tall back without further resistance
from the Vesle. Our allied forces
crossed tae Vesle-Aisne ridge and
had reached the Aisue river ON a 10
mile front last night.
Continue Hun Consolidation.
Furthe- evidence OF the drain on
I German man power during the fight
ing OF the last few months. reached
Washington today IN official dis
patches. which quoted captured enc
my documents Numerous German
battalions nov are composed of
three companies instead Of four. IL
was said. as reserves were not avail
able TO keep four company units up
20 the necessary strength. In this
process OF consolidation A. German
regiments are said 20 have been
wiped out entirely
II also is stated that the men Of
the German class OF 1913 are rapid
" disappearing and those OF the
1920 class must be drawn on 70 iii
gaps. "a which the eneny Is
said 10 be postpouing AS long as
possible.
The espatches note that the mill
tary efficiency Of the class OF 1920
is very low as the boys are exhausted
by u~nderseeding before they Joined
their regiments. The dispatch also
says that the actual monthly arrival
OF American troops In France IS now
equal 20 fully one-ralf OF tr~ Ger
man al recruitment