Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1918-08-02
FRENCH WAR AIMS
OUTLINED IN DETAIL
BY NJ. MILLERAND
Restoration of AIsaCe-Lor-
raine, Reuniting of Italia r.
redenta and Freedom for
Rumania Are ExaCted

WASHINGTON, July 31.-The battle
in the Aisne-Marne salient has devel-
oped into life and death struggle be-
tween the opposing armies. Mere linn
tied detectives the Germans may have
had in launching their attack at Rheims
or for which General Foch may have
aimed in his counter thrust have been
submerged in greater struggle the
object OF which on each side is the de-
structiou of the opposing army.
The Interpretation of the battle was
formally presented today by General
March, chief of staff In his mid-week
conference with newspaper correspond
ents. Whatever was the original Ger
man purpose or the hopes that governed
the allied counter blow, he said it is
now perfectly evident that these have
been set aside. The object Of each
army now is the other army; each is
seeking to kill as many as possible.
In making this announcement Cen
eral March frankly admitted that the
German resistance in holding apart the
jaws of the salient had frustrated any
hope of bagging any considerable por-
ton of the German armies in the salient.
In two weeks time, he pointed out, the
enemy has had ample time to with
draw his advanced divisions and to per-
feet his defensive positions along the
flattened front now established.
General March's statement was ac-
copied as explaining reports that the
Germans have concentrated nearly a
million men on this narrow front and
as disclosing the reason for the terri
fic fighting in which American forces
have been engaged in the center of the
battle 'front.' where losses have not serv-
ed to divert either side from the strug-
gle for critical positions.
Americans Hold Apex
The Americans hold the apex of the
allies drive, the vital point on which
the outcome of the struggle may hinge,
and the fury of German counter at
tacks is accounted for by this fact. The
appearance of the American (Rainbow)
division, the Forty-second, at this point,
was disclosed today.
The principal portion of General
March's statement follows:
Whatever the enemy's objective was
at the start of the drive and whatever
our hope was in the counter offensive on
the flank of this salient, it is now per-
fectly evident that those aims have been
set aside. The objective of each army
is the other army; each one of them
wants to kill as many of the other as
possible. The holding back of the jaws
by the Germans at scissors and near
Rheims has made it practically impos-
sible for us to expect bag. They have
had two weeks now to withdraw from
the dangerous points down near the
Marine and the objective of each army
is the other army. During the last few
days the American forces on that sa-
lient have been increased by the arriv-
al of the Forty-second division, which is
70 in ha
en-Tardenois and Sergy. The American
division is in the vicinity of Roncheres
and Cierges is our third division.
New Divisions Ordered
81 have ordered the formation of six
new American divisions in the United
States. They will be numbered from ff-
teen to twenty and will be organized at
Camps Logan, Kearney, Bauregard, Ira
Wis, Dodge and Sewer. These divisions
will have as a nucleus, as the six divi-
sions organized last month did, two reg
ular infantry regiments, following the
policy of the war department to replace
as far as possible, every soldier at home
fit for service abroad with the home
guards or men of limited service. The
regular regiments referred TO will be the
nucleus of these divisions.
FOLLOWING out the same policy, we
have ordered the transfer from the cav
airy to the field artillery arm of the
service of fifteen national army cavalry
regiments, numbered from 301 to 315
These men have been in the United
States for some time and have had a
good deal of training and are now going
to be utilized for service abroad. These
regiments will form part of the old ar
tillery for the new divisions now being
organized"
General March had nothing to reveal
as to the extent of the casualties sus-
tanned by the American forces in the
recent fighting. He said, however, that
General Pershing had been ordered to
cable the casualties as received and
that these would be given out here at
once. He added that there would be no
distribution Of casualties over a long
period hereafter.