The Brattleboro daily reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1913-1955, 1918-07-25

* p /
success. however, was startling, event
from the meager accounts SO far re-
ceived. -sss.4.
Some observers believed the new at
tack was q minor operation, designed to
min German reserves to that front. lust
as the British nibbling has pinned enemy
forces there when they We're badly need |
ed in the south. Others saw deeper STRAIT |
epv behind both British efforts in Flan- |
ders and the French and British localj
thrusts in Picardy.
The allied reserves on the Aisne- Marine
line now have the advantage of interior
lines. They occupy a salient buttressed
on forests and other strong positions
which the enemy was unable to break |
through when in the full strength of his
great drive. 1t appeared possible to some
officers here that the next few davs
might see an allied assault on both sides
of the Picardy front. delivered with the
purpose of forcing German reserves. to
rush back around the corner of the Com
|peigne salient from the Aisne theatre
If resistance to the allied advance
from the Marine becomes too great to be
overcome they confidently expect some
such operation, as General Foch fire.
quently has proved his full knowledge
of the value of holding the initiative and
| can be relied upon to hold it by surprise,
assaults which will wear out the German
reserves in hurrying from front to front
| to meet them.
| SO far as future American participation
goes. General March has already disclosed
/ to members of congress the fact that
defensive operations against the enemy
| on large scale had been expected to be
undertaken later in the year That gem
eral scheme, it is thought accounts for
the new plans of the war department,
since what is being devised now is in
preparation for the spring campaign of
next year in all probability.
There are already available more
Troops than can be shipped to the front
before winter brings the fighting to a
halt, although the last five weeks have
seen 100000 American troops sent to
France.
| In making his statement Mr. Baker
would not say what changes in draft ages
were now contemplated. The matter
was still under study, he said. Inciden-
tally, he disclosed the fact that def
mite figure for American forces to be EN-
ployed in France within some fixed pc
Rod Of time was being had in mind. Thu
study of the draft age question, he said
. was based on finding the necessary mum
Der of men with the least possible dis
J turbance of economic conditions in TIN
country" ~
1t was recalled that the original ma
tional army plan rs presented by the wa
department recommended age limits o
10 to 26 inclusive. Congress changes
, these limits to the present 81 to 81 law
There has been nothing to indicate, how
ever. that either Mr. Baker or his advis
! ors have changed their opinion that me
!, Iof ~ should be taken, furnishing tw
! large, additional classes of recruits imme
ldiately without material disturbance o
economic balance
just what maximum age viii be foun
u most desirable it is difficult to say ]
u was frequently urged in congress recent
~ that the limit be set at 40 years. Tha
: would involve an enormous amount {
{ registration and examination of record
however, for which very small retur
: in fighting men could be. expected in til
! higher ages. Probably compromise .
i 40 or perhaps below that will be worke
II out in the end. 81
5 One of the chief arguments for exter
II sion upward Of the age limits is the pow
Z er it would give to- apply The work
! fight rule on far wider scItle The go'
n eminent, however. has not rs yet con
;. mitted itself to a policy of this chara
II ter