Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1918-08-01
EACH IS BATTLING
TO DESTROY OTHER
Cbjectives Of Both Combatant
Forces No Longer Are
Limited.
RAINBOW TROOPS AT FRONT
Arrive at Point Where Ameri-
cans Hold Apex of Drive,
General March Announces.

ti!M fel! over the Aisne- Marine battle
-'ea To-Day with only the thunder OF
we guns 10 tel! or new and more ter
Fiu.e gusts OF the war storm TO come.
far!s and Berlin both acted II. The
infantry had paused :or breath while
'he artillery pounded new roads of adj
vance for General roch's victorious
armies
Just what the luu may portend was
not apparent. Possibly the enemy Is
already ou thc move after the decisive
Hcieat ne met In the battle whic! began
saturday and ccntcred on the Amer
l'an positions along the north bank
oi the Ourcl. Here the American Third
DIVISION and ;he noh famous Forty
second Division. Tie Rainbow Division.
composed OF former nationa. guards
men of many States. have made good
their positions against the cnenIy's
best hghting units They have met.
ou,toughi and forccG backward BY
their fire The picked PruAssau ard Bn-
%arian divisions brought fresh to the
h"!d with orders 10 hold the line OF
The ourrT a, all costs
That line has been brcHcn The
American spearhead driven forward
again and again. finally brok4 the light
ing edge OF tn" enemy defense. When
supporting columns sursed forward
across the Ourcq to consolidate the
ground so Nalantly won and held by
the hrst rush. enemy hopes Of cl!nging
20 the present line dwindled Ilolding
the apex OF the allied line at the center.
the Americans had paved the way for
the dash!ng capture Of Chalmont Butte.
20 the westward bF the franco British
forces. Allied guns nov dominate the
cnemy's lines from this hcigh, fore
telling new inroads 10 his positions
and the strong probability that he viii
be compelled to fan back TO the Ees.e
line
The Interpretation OF the battle was
formally presented today by Genera!
MarciI. chief OF staF. in his lni1-week
conference WIKI newspaper corresror-
dents. Whatever vas the original
German purpose or the hopes that gov.
erned the allied coun;erb,ow. ne said
!, Is now perfectly evident that these
have been Sc, aside. The object OF
each army NOW is the other army: each
is seeking TO kill as many az possible
In making this announcement Cen
cral March frankly admitted that the
German resistance III holding apart the
JAWS Of the salient had frustrated any
nope cl EltS any cons lurTaDle pD'-
tion OF the German armies In the "a.
lient. In two weeks time, he pointed
out. the enemy has had ample time to
withdraw his advanced divisions and
to perfect his defensive positions along
the nattenrd 'front.' now established
LOSSES HAVE DIVERTED
NEITHEu SioE fIiOM STRUGGLE
General Marclrs s,a,emen; WAS ac-
cepted as explaining reports that the
Germans haYc concentrated nearly
100000 men On this narrow front.
and as disclosing the reason TOR the
terrific nghting IN which american
forces have been engaged III the center
OF the battle front. where losses have
not served TO divert either side from
the struggle tor critical positions
The Americans hold Tie apex Of t.e
allies drive. the vital poin, on which
the outcome OF the struggle NAV hing"
and the fury OF thc German counter.
attacks IS accounted fo- icy tlis tac;
The appearance OF the a.! America
.Rainbowp division. the roy,y sec"n':.
at this point. was disclosed '"-dAy
OBJECTIVE NOW o" EACH
ARMY Is OTHER ARMY
The principal portion OF General
March's statement follows:
Whatever the enemy's objective was
at the start of the drive, and whatever
our hone in the counteroifcnsivc on the
Hank of this salient. II is now per-
Fecily evident that those aims have
been set aside. The objective Of each
army is the other army: each one OF
Them wants 10 kill as many OF the
other as possible. The holding back of
the laws by the Germans at Soissons
and near Rheims mas made ii practi-
calIy impossible FOR us 10 expect bag.
They have had two weeks now I" with
draw from the dangerous points down
naar the Marne. and the objective OF
each army is the other army. During
.he last few days the American forces
on that salient have been increased by
tho arrival OF the Forty second pivis-
ion. which is taking part in the fight
;ro near Fere- EN- Ia rdemos and Sergy.
:. American division is in the vicinity
Roncheres and Cicrges is Our Third
Division.
~ have ordered the formation of six
.w American divisions In the United
St,tes. They viii! he numbered from
s.,aen To twenty. and will be organ
;,.d AZ Camps Logan. Kearny. Beaurr.
.,rd. Travis. Dodge and Sewer. These
d;yisions will have as nucleus as the
six divisions organized last month did.
TWO regular infantry regiments. foi-
lowing the policy Of the war Depart
mont 10 replace as far as possible every
colder at home who is 1T for service
abroad with the home guards or men
~ limited service. The regular regi-
noents referred to will be the nucleus
OF these divisions.
"Following out the same policy, we
have ordered the transfer from the
cavalry to the field artillery arm or
the service of fifteen national army
cavalry regiments. numbered from Soi
70 3l5. These men have been In tfo
United States for some time, and haVd
had a good deal OF training and are
now going to be utilized for service
--- IContinued on Second Pase)