The Sentinel=record., 1918-05-25
GERMAN POSITION PLACE
 ARMY IN GRAVE DANGER
Must Maintain a Big Reserve to Keep off Thanking Attacks While or fenslve is Being Pushed Forward American Forces Now a Factor on the Battle Line.


Washington, May 24.-Benewal of the German drive in France, indicat- ed by Premier Lloyd George to he imminent, finds American military opinion here confident of the out come. There is not a doubt in the minds of high officers familiar with the situation that the enemy will be repened with loss and that the of fensive power of Germany finally broken.
 There are those who believe that the end of the war may come ths year as a result. Others foresee a long defensive struggle by the Ger mans while efforts are made to se- cure peace on the best possible terms
 Officers here point out that the German position strategetically is far weaker than it was when the drive was launched in March Their lines are now shaped so that there is constant danger of flank attacks from several points that means dis aster. To guard these points ample reserves must be held, whatever the call for more men may be made. Be- fore the German army stands a force that have been largely rehab litated since the shock of the drive fell on British and French fronts and bent them back by weight of numbers. Losses of men and materials have been made good. The armies are | keyed to a high pitch of enthusiasm American man power. sufficient to replace by far the larger portion of the losses of the British and French in the bitter fighting which stopping the first German rush, has been car ried to the fighting zones, supple menting the considerable American force which already was In France Except for the finer points of trench warfare the new American units are ready for the battle. They are re- garded as fully prepared for the form of action in which they will be engag- ed
 In addition many thousands Of trained Italian troops have reached the front in France. They came with out equipment beyond their uniforms, it is understood, but now have been fully supplied and are available for employment by the supreme com mander, General Foch.
 1t is regarded as probable to sum | up the man power situation, that the effective fighting strength of the allies and the Americans in France today shows considerable net gain over what it was on March 21, when the German assault was begun. On the other hand, Germany. with losses certainly as great as those ol the British and French combined and probably very much greater mas only her returned wounded men tc fill up the depleted ranks of her front line divisions. Every regiment of ths German troops that could be spared from the eastern front was withdraw before the first blow was struck Nothing has happened since then tC make available additional forces.
 With disorganized Russia at he, back, Germany cannot further reduce the forces she is compelled to holl in the east. it is believed here. Some interchange of regiments, or larger
 units between the east and west, mal have been made during the lull II preparation for the first onslaught il
 the west, however. the German highd
 command combed out the east, nb
 only every strictly front line reglmei
 but even replaced the fittest men \ companies there with other perso4