New-York tribune., 1918-08-25
Chief of Staff Again Pre-
diets Victory for Allies
Next Year
Americans Have Made
Good, He Declares
Weekly Review of Situa-
ton Indicates Further
German Losses

WASHINGTON, Aug. 24.-The total
amber of soldiers embarked has now
,as,ed the 1,50o,o 600 mark. General
March, chief of staff, announced to-
cay.
Commenting upon the military stu
tion. the chief of staff pointed out
hat since last Wednesday the French
,dYance continued from the plateau
overlooking Noyon down to the Oise
River, making a maximum advance for
these troops of nine miles since Au-
sast Is. This has forced the enemy
uack across the Oise.
The French success, he said. has been
duplicated by the British, who inaugu-
sted an attack Wednesday, south of
Arras. Rapidly advancing. the British
reached a depth of three miles. but
their progress has been held I'D b.
German counter attacks. The railroad
70 Arras still is in German hands. ac-
sording to latest official advices, and
.ier defence the railway embank-
ments.
The British thrust Thursday in the
Albert region resulted in an important
advance between the Ancre and the
Somme rivers. which. General March
said, has develored new salient.
Rest OF Line Quiet
The rest OF the line since Wednes-
tay has been reasonably quiet. he said
the Allied activities being confined to
"nlbbllng tactics and artillery fire.
General March spoke WARMLY of tho
senevements Of the American soldiers
Il France
"Ihe American soldiers deserve the
s0nhdence of the American people" he
aid. Every time they have been
the goods
Every man who has served with
american troops has absolute conf
dsnce In them, be added. citing the re-
''rts made to him personally by Amer
ran ofticers returning from France &c
aSe higher rank in new divisions. One
these described an action IN which
N American division captured sixty
issns German guns and brought then.
asx at the rear of army truc6s.
ms DIVISION at the same time cant
tsd 5000 prisoners. Another Ameri-
aa DIVISION in single action took ten
rnplete German batteries and nre-
'ated them to General Pershing.
General March said statements bo
made MADE recently N hearings before the
MILITARY Affairs committees were the
results OF cold-blooded military oninion
and were not intended to raise tha
hopes Of the people He apparently re-
iefled to his testimony that an arm
OF s,o000O0 Americans could win ths
wal next year. VIC
NO recent reports have come to the
eepartment from General Pershinp re-
nfung progress in the organization of
we lst Field Army. General March
sH unable to say whether the Amer
Fan divisions forming this army have
0een concentrated in a new American
s3d Replacement Force
-, IN answer 70 questions, he said the
"a Division Pennsylvania and Ohio
s0ops) IS serving as replacement di-
nslon; the 37th Division Cvnio troops)
the 4th Army '-orps.
me 18Th Division District of Co
.lnola, Maryland and Pennsylvania
OOPS has reached France and is in
-ila'ns IN the reaf o. the line.
"a. Al ms weekly conference with the
s mate Military Committee the chief of
aa. without discussing in detail the
..sss Allied forward movement now
Tae. way, said the situation on the
sss.ern front now was decidedly ia
''raDle to the Allies.
farther Improvement in the shipping
a.ua'ion was noted, and General March
.su tne programme of transporting
~.'ps to France was going ahead with