Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1918-04-30


WITHOUT STRATEGIC VALUE.
Even the whole Ypres salient, off,
GERS here think, has no strategic value
which justifes the assumption that its
loss might force general retreat over
a wide front.
Should the rate rate of advance
they have made for the last two weeks
Sc maintained by the Germans, it is
estimated that it would take weeks
for them to reach positions which
would seriously threaten the allied
aold on the channel ports. Meanwhile
the strain of continuous offensive
operations will increase steadily upon
he German forces, while it decreases
correspondingly on the allies with
shortened communication lines to
maintain.
OFFENSIVE MAY LAST WEEKS.
For this reason many observers
here believe the present situation, with
the Germans steadily pounding and
the allies striking back wherever op-
portunity offers, may continue Tor
some time.
Official reports from France have
indicated three weeks as the time that
might elapse before the allies could
regain the initiative. H..
Official announcement that Amerl-
can troops are in the trenches in the
, Amiens region was welcomed by 9TH
ciafs here. It has been known that
, considerable force had been assem-
bled in that vicinity, but the fact that
the Americans were actually in line
faciry the German army, where the
final battle is being staged, had not
been contemplated.
Americans Relieve French.
The only statement as to the
ground occupied by the American
forces is that it is east of Amiens.
Since unofficial dispatches describe
the sector as not directly involved in
the present fighting at Hangard and
Villers-Bretonneux, however, it is as
sumed that the newcomers have been
placed somewhere along the line to
the southeast of Hangard, toward
Noyon. If so, officers here believe
that these American units may share
in the ultimate triumph of the allied
armies directly, as it is from this
flank of the Picardy battlefield that it
has always been anticipated any great
counter movement would be launched.
The number of American troops in
that part of the line and their or
ganization has not been revealed,
though the presence of American
artillery indicates tactical units of
considerable size. The force serves
to relieve veteran French units for
employment by General Foch as
mobile reserve.
Million More Men in Plan.
The increased army program, neces-
STATED by the German drive, it is
learned, probably will be laid before
congress by Secretary Baker within
the next few days. The whole ques-
tion of available equipment, quarters
and transport tonnage has been re-
viewed recently in preparation for
submitting these figures.
There are some indications that
efforts will be made to add million
men to the army at the earliest pos
sibls time, supplementing the million
and half already with the colors.
II . large increase in the number of
divisions now organized or in process
Of organization is planned, it will be
necessary to secure an amendment to
the seiective service act removing the
present restriction of the draft to two
units Of 100000 men each. While the
sct places no limit upon the raising
Of replacement troops as may be
necessary. officials hold that no legal
right exists for the organization of
additional line units.