The circle banner. [volume] (Circle, Mont.) 1914-1939, 1918-08-23
FIRST j. 5. FIELD
ARMY IS CREATED
FORCE COMPRISES FIVE ARMY
CORPS, OR APPROXIMATE
LY 1,25o,ooo MEN
GEN. PERSHING IN COMMAND
American Army in France Has Taken
Over Definite Section of Line
and Is Now on the Same
Footing as Other Allies

Washington, Aug. IA. = Secretary
Baker has been formally advised by
| General Pershing that the First Amer
| lean field army has been created,
| General rershng retaining command
| of the army as well as of the entire
American expeditionary force for the
present The dispatch added nothing
to details of the army organization al
ready made known from Paris, 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 Brit
ish forces there.
Formation of the army is taken here
to mean that the Americanization of
definite portion of the front has
been completed. Supply lines, rail-
ways, bases, storage facilities, de-
barkation parts and the like. created
and operated by Americans, stand be-
hind the first army. The only state
ment of the location of this American
front given is that it is south of the
Marne.' Presumably this means IL
part of the long line from st. MihieI
to the Swiss border, where American
troops have been put in at intervals
during the last few months.
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
1,250,0O0 men.
The effect of the taking over of
the line is to make a definite begin
ming at apporti0ning the long front.
The British hold the left flank. aided
by the Belgians. from the North sea
to the juncture of the British Fourth
army and the French First army in
Picardy, where an offensive is being
at present.
In that position the British are not
,nly holding their share of the line,
tut stand between the enemy and the
'hannel ports which would be his only
Dad to England while the British
leet exists.
The French armies presumably are
icing concentrated wholly between
he Picardy juncture with the British
nd the American left, beyond YER
un. They block the roads to Paris.
To the Americans will fall the re-
lainder of the front to the Swiss
order when the other American
rmies shall have been formed. The
'irst army undoubtedly now holds the q
ulk of that line, with such French
clip as is necessary. The whole line
robably is under General Pershing's
irect command, even The French
Drps or divisions that are necessary
ntil additional American troops ar
We. The American commander will
GREATER direct all operations on his
ont. He has as much freedom of ac-
on on his own lines as has Sir Doug
IS Haig or General Petain, for he
ands on an equality with them. All
lree are under Marshal Foch for the
ajor campaigns.
Maj. Gen. Hunter Liggett's corps
'obably is regarded as the mobile
serve of the First army and as such
being employed on the French
ont. Should aggressive operations
, undertaken on the American front.
,weyer this corps probably would be
'ed there. supplemented by French
I'd possibly British mobile reserves
mt by General Foch. In that case.
lille General Foch would man ont
e objects of the action in a broad
ay, General Pershing would COM
and the joint forces.