The sun., 1918-03-31
j, s, MEN TO AID
F0CH AT CRISIS
Americans to Be Used at Open
Fighting When Time Is
Ripe for Decision.
TO INCREASE SHIPMENTS
Authorities Here May Decide
to Fiaiall lD n1naIolae. !.
Units in England.
TO INCREASE SHIPMENTS
Spec1al DespatcA TO Tas srx.


wAsu,NoroN. March 80. - Following
the announcement that Gen. Pershing
had made all his forces available for
Gen. Foch the new supreme commander
on the western front. the time and man-
ner OF American participation in the
great battle was the chief subject of con-
sideration here. General stan officers
and military officers In Entente circles
here believe substantial American forces
probably will be factor at the most
critical stage Of tho fighting.
The progress Of events, RS indicated
by the trend of official reports. leads to
the belief that the Americans will be
thrown In with the French and British
At q time when the German offensive is
ripe for decisive counter attacks on a
scale which for the present is not pro-
pitious. according TO army opinion here.
THE situation is getting better every
day This announcement was made
officially tonight by Major-ien. Peyton
G.. March. acting Chief OF Stan. after pc
rusing the latest advices from Gen.
PershnG. Gen. March added;
"A supreme commander for all allied
armies Is an extremely valuable asset.
1t is one that the Germans have enjoyed
from tho start"
The enthusiasm OF the American
troops which Secretary Baker observed
when the news reached them that they
were to have an opportunity OF getting
into real action is interpreted here as
rejecting the potential assistance which
Pershings men will be 10 the Allies In
strengthening the force Of the counter
blows in store for Field Marshal Won
Hindenburg.
U, 9, Men Best In Open Warfare.
Every ono here expects the American
troop. TO 60 into the world battle with
the spirit and confidence that cannot be
downed. But at the same time II IA
generally conceded that the value OF
this American force to Gen. Foch would
not be so great In purely trench war
fare or in a campaign OF defence. The
Americans. It Is explained. from Gen,
PcrshinE down would be far more dan
gerous to the Germans In more or less
open warfare and 1t is generally con-
ceded that the Americans. at least at
the beginning, would be better at the
| attack than in defence.
| As one general officer at the War De-
partment to-day explained. trench war
fare OF defensive warfare aiming to
check advancing troops Is moro OF a
mech anical science than the brand OF
warfare which permits the personal
equation Of the troops engaged to count
| "The Americans may not know that
game as we'll as others yet" this Of
fccr remarked, but give our boys a
chance out In the open and We will hear
from them"
Tho fghting now has begun to take
more and moro Of an open character as
a result OF the steady German advance
toward Amiens. The fighting near
Mon, didier has been marked, according
to the latest reports. by q series of vii
lases captured and recaptured after
they had exchanged hands several times
Tho momentum OF the German advance
In this area IL still so strong that Il
may be a few days before fresh French
troops can reach there In sufficient num-
her to turn the tables
To speed Up Shipments OF Men.
Though interest IL OF course centred
on the immediate operations OF Amer
lean troops against the enemy there con
tinue to he systematic and pressing
steps taken to respond to Gen Foch
appeal for more troops by speeding vi
troop Sh!pments abroad.
Encouraging news was forthcom!nl
to-day respecting the availability o
ships for the new efforts to increas
troop shipments 1t was pointed ou
that the acquisition of almost 500 00
tons Of Dutch shipping. the comman
rosNa~>A ~ 0aoo~A pnns