The Oklahoma City times. [volume] (Oklahoma City, Okla.) 1908-1984, 1918-07-31
BLEEDING FORCES
ONLY OBJECT OF
BATTLE IN WEST
Both Sides Try to XIII as Many
as POSSibIe-MarCh,
NEW DIVISIONS ORDERED
National Guard and National
Army Designations to Go,

g
WASHINGTON, July jl.-The bat
tie IN the Alsne Marine salient has de-
yeloped into a life and death struggle
between the opposing armies. More
limited obJectlyes the Germans NAV
have had IN launching their attack at
Rheims, or for which General Foch
may have aimed in his counter thrust.
have been submerged in greater
struggle, the obJec, OF which on each
side IS the destruction OF the opposing
army
Other Objectives Abandoned.
Ihis Interpretation OF the battle was
formally presented today by General
March, chief OF itaff, in his mid-week-
conference with eewspaper correspond
cnts. Whatever was the original Ger
man purpose or the hopes that gov
trned the allied counter blow, he said
It IS now perfectly evident that these
have been set aside.
he object OF each army now is the
other army; each is seeking to kill
as many as possible.
Salient Flat; Prisoners Few.
General March pointed out that the
salient has been greatly flattened, thus
virtually dissipating any hopes of the
allies bagging large numbers of the
enemy. The German withdrawal since
last Saturday, he added, had reduced
the length OF the line another ten miles
to fif,yfour miles. The MAXIMUM
German retreat in the center, is four
teen miles.
Third Division Whipped Prussians.
Arrival OF the Forty-second (Rain-
bow division and its participation in
the fighting east of Pere-en. Tardenois
was announced The Third regular di-
VISION also was identified as in action
at Sergy and Cierges. where the crack
German guard divisions have been de-
ieated in recent fighting by American
troops.
Six New Divisions.
General March announced the for
nation in the United States of six
more divisions. numbered from fifteen
to twenty, and to be located at Camps
Logan, Texas; Kearney, Cal; Beau f!
regard, La; Travis, Texas; Dodge. |
Iowa and Sewer, S. c. As in the case
OF the six divisions announced last
week these will be built around two
regular infantry regiments in each |
case.
Cavalry Into Field Artillery.
General March announced also the |
conversion of fifteen army cavalry
regiments, numbered from JOl TO 3ls. |
into field artillery These will com
prise part of the artillery units for the
new divisions.
General March had nothing to reveal
as to the extent of the casualties sus-
tained by the American forces in the |
recent fighting. He said, however.
that General Petshing had been ordered !
to cable the casualties as received and |
that these would be given out here at |
once He added that there would be |
no distribution OF casualties over a !
long period hereafter.
The chief Of staff said that in car
rying out the policy of zone army" the
war department intends TO put the let
ters ~. s." heretofore reserved for
The regulars. on the collar of every |
man serving in the military forces of
The United States
The sub designations Of IN. G." for
the national guard and IN A." for the
national army will be abandoned. In
the same connection General March
said that the thirteen major generals
and thitty-six brigadier generals nee
essary for the new divisions would be
selected from all elements of the serv-
ce
This statement was taken to mean
hat both national guard and natioyal
lrmy officers hereafter will be eligible
'or promotion to the rank of general
>ffieers even in regular army divisions.