The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1918-05-07
PREDICTS GREATEST
BATTLE IMPENDS.
Both Sides Have Drawn up Their Ful!
Reserves in Preparation for the
Tremendous Struggle Which
May Last All Summer.

Washington, May 2.-The greatest
battle of the ages impends on the
western front, military experts pre-
dicted here today.
The full reserve of the allies and
the enemy, it was stated, have been
drawn up in preparation for the tre-
mendous struggle.
1t is estimated that the Germans
have available 2,650,000 men. Against
this number, it is said, the allies will
be able to throw in at least 2.675, ,00G.
The brunt of the fighting will oc-
cur along the 50-mile front with
Amiens as it's pivotal point, the line
of battle extending all the way from
the sector north Of Ypres to point
south of Armentires.
And because the German army must
so forward if it is to save itself, and
because it's present position will not
long remain tenable, prediction is
made that the gigantic battle will be
fully under way within three or four
days. Weeks may be consumed ard
longer before decision is reached.
Struggle in Two Theaters.
The struggle, it is foreseen, Will
center within two main theaters, the
one in Flanders and the other on the
shell-torn plains of 'Picardy. Conn
dent assertion is made by the eX-
perts here that the British will re-
tire no further, though even now, as
some see it, the preIuae TO the new
Flanders battle is being heard in the
German artillery activity in that quar-
ter. French and Americans, it is Ill.
dicated, are at the forefront in the
other theaters east of Aniens. Haig's
force. it is stated, is made up prln-
cipally of British and British colonia!
troops, some French veterans and d
fair number of American auXiliaries.
including ambulance, engineering and
signal corps units.
The situation to date, military eS.
merits here contend, can fairly be de-
scribed as a victory for the allies, lii
that the enemy's effort to repeat the
spectacular drive of Won Kluck's army
in 1914, has been effectively checked
while. on the other hand, the enemy
position has been rendered more aES
more precarious. Political conditions
in Germany as we'll as the military
situation at the front, it is pointed our
have contributed impulses in the en-
emv command compelling another at
tempt to break through.
Speeding up Americas Troops.
American troops are going overseas
five times faster than they were, due
to the decision to brigade them wiz
the British and French. When sc
brigaded they will be armed and fed
by the service with which they fight
Though done primarily to keep uni
form the lines of supply to the battle
line this step will save four-ffths c.
the shipping space required for trans
port overseas.
Americans with the British VII
shoot English rifles and eat Enghsa
food So as with the French. They
will be protected by the artillery o.
the divisions in which they serve
Tins all that America will have to
/ fursish will be the men.
Germans Three to One,
The need of men was eyemplified to-
dav by a high British authority who
declared that tabulations in his pos
ssession showed that the Germans out
numbered the British three and four
to one in the recent attacks. These
attacks. he declared, Will keep up vi
summer. because the Germans have
set their hands to the plow and can
not turn backwards.
Every available British reserve unls,
he saws, has been used and otIers are
nouring across the channel. He says
that should the same pressure be eX
crted on either the French or the
American sectors available British re-
serves would be rushed up without
question of the gallantry or efficiency
of the defending units which might
need them.