Middletown transcript., 1918-08-24
OUR FIRST
FIELD ARMY
Their Sectors Are on the Road
to Berlin
HOLD LINE To SWISS BORDER
And Military Experts Are Of Opinion
That Over The American Line
The Real Thrust At Germany
Will Be Driven Home.

Washington.-Secret Baker was
formally advised by General Pershine
that the First American Field Army
had been created, General Pershine
retaining command of the army as
well as of the entire American Expe
litionary Force for the present. The
dispatch added nothing to details OF
the army organization already made
known from Paris, however, Mr.
Baker said.
The announcement is regarded as
having deep significance at the War
Department, mainly because it places
the American Army in France on
the same footing as the French or
British forces there.
Formation of the Army is taken
here to mean that the Americaniza-
ton Of a definite portion of the front
has been captured. Supply lines, rail-
way bases, storage facilities, debarka-
ton ports and the like, created and
operated by Americans, stand behind
the first army. The only statement
Of the location of this American front
| given is that it is South OF the
| Marne." Presumably this means a
part at least OF the long line from St.
Mihiel to the Swiss border where
American troops have been put in at
Intervals during the last few months.
Five Full Corps.
The extent of that front has not
been disclosed, nor has the definite
strength Of the Army been given. The
advices indicate that it comprises,
however, five full corps, which means
approximately 1,25O,OOO men.
The effect of the taking over of the
line is to make a definite beginning
at apportioning the long front. The
British hold the left flank, aided by
the Belgians, from the North Sea to
the juncture OF the Fourth Army and
the French First Army in Picardy,
where an offensive is being conducted
at present.
In that position the British are not
only holding their share of the line,
but stand between the enemy and
the channel ports, which would be his
only road to England while the British
6eet exists.
The French armies presumably are
being concentrated wholly between
the Picardy juncture, with the British
and the American left beyond Verdun.
They block the roads to Paris.
To Swiss Border.
To the Americans has fallen the
remainder Of the front to the Swiss
border when the other armies shall
have been formed.
The First Army undoubtedly now
holds the bulk of that line, with such
French help as is necessary. The
whole line probably is under General
Pershing's direct command, even the
French corps or divisions that are
necessary until additional American
troops arrive The American COM
mander will hereafter direct all op-
erations on his front. He has as
much freedom of action on his own
lines as has Sir Douglas Haig on the
British front or General Petain on the
French, for he stands on an equality
with them. All three are under Mar.
shall Foch for the major campaigns.
AS direct commander of the army
In the field General Pershing will be
well situated to weigh the qualities
of the men he has assigned tempo
rarily as corps commanders. From
those five officers he probably will
select the commander of the First
Army, and opinion here leans toward
Major General Hunter Liggett, now
commanding the First Corps on the
Vesle front, as his choice. 1t is ex-
pected, also, that General Pershing
will soon name his permanent corps
commanders, the appointment carry.
ing with it the rank OF lieutenant
general.
ne M00lIe Reserve.
General Liggett's corps probably is
regarded as the mobile reserve of the
First Army, and as such is being
employed on the French front. Should
aggressive operations be undertaken
on the American front, however, this
corps probably would be used there,
supplemented by French and possibly
British mobile reserves sent by Gen
eral Foch. In that case, while General
Foch would map out the objectives
of the action in a broad way, General
Pershing would command the joint
forces.
This recalls the fact that the Amer
lean sectors include what always has
been considered the logical road to
Berlin for French advances. It was
across lines now held by Americans
that the French struck in 1914 before
the plunge of the German Army
through Belgium localized the war in
Northern France.
While the enemy is still in Northern
France, it may be that no major at
tack can be attempted through these
gateways. The campaigns in Picardy
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