Evening star., 1918-03-28
American Staff Officers Study.
ing War Maps Believe Re-
action Near at Hand.
MAY START FROM SOUTH
OF 0ISE RIVER, is OPINION
German Forces Might Easily Be Cut
Off by Little Good Fortune on
Part of British.


ing closely war maps and latest
dispatches from the battle front.
believe that developments of mo-
ment in the allied counter attack
will begin today or tomorrow.
Further advances CT the Ger
mans toward Mcntd:dier lead
some officers to look FIR the coun-
ter drive from the south of the
Oise river. A study of the map
will show the reasons of officers
here, who base their Judgment
solely on map possibilities and ad- i
NIT they are without information
about tine conditions of weather
and ground, believe that there is
possibility of a successful attack
on the German hn- now extend
ing IRON :1.e N; yon region north
west through Lassignc toward
Montdidier.
With little good fortune, one on1cer
stated. II Is entirely possible that ths
large German forces which have pene-.
| trated the wedge of which Montdidfer
| Is the apex may be entirely cut of.
| Another point Of advantage for the
allies it was pointed out, is the com
Z. pc rative strength of German and allied
reserves. These calculations are baseT
wholly on estimates, but the most con-
Servatiye estimates indicate that the
reserve strength is with the allies
800, 900 Ready for Action
1t is believed that the allies have s0e,-
! 600 men ready for action who have nor
yet been used. This figure includes the
allied army of maneuver, but does not
include the British reserve force sub
| ject to Gen. Haig's orders. This re-
serve under Gen. Haig. at the beginning
of the present drive. numbered about
| 400, 700. it is believed, but a large pre-
| portion of these men have seen active
| fighting at various points along the line
of attack.
Included in the soo,aoo men who may
take part in the counter offensive, IL
was estimated today, are about l0o, zee
American troops. This quota of Ameri-
| cans of course does not include those
hoiding one sector who would not b
withdrawn.
| The Americans have had training
along the front, principally with the
| French, at five points at least, In ad-
| dition to. the sector held by an ALL
American force. The American troons
! are under instant orders from Gen. Per-
| shing, and no further authority IL re-
outred by him to throw them into the
/ thick OF the battle when they are
needed.
The Germans would seem to have
| about twenty-five divisions, or about
100000 men, in reserve for the counter
attack
American troops have had little traip-
! ing with the British. on French soil, ex-
cept the sanitary and engineering
, units. Therefore il is probable that the
Americans will participate when the
French reserves get into action
Belief tnat the allied reserves NAV
attack from the south further was
streng thened by the indication that
the German general staff is located at
St Quentin, the point from, which re-
sistance to such B. drive would be di-
rected.
Though disappointment was express-
, ed that the Germans have been able to
pierce tho line held by the British and
French in 1916, il was pointed out thai
the penetraticns are local The farthest
advance across this line was but nine
miles The Ger1lans stiil are fourteen
miles away from AIaie,ls, one of Their
admitted ob5ectives On the basis Of
this mornings reports.
Explanation was made of tho zh-
sence of any reports or CONNECTS hy
Gen. Pershing today On the ground
that observations from him on an at
tack which was primarily British
would not be courteous. Any matter
he sent might differ in some details
from reports of Gen. Haig, and sucl.
difference would be embarrassing
Views Might Leak Out.
If be gave any indication of pro-
posed disposition Of enemy troops
scraps of this inforinatiop, even IL
transmitted in confidence. might leak
out and would be of extreme value to
rns enemy in disposing of their forces
to meet the coming counter attack. =
Whether by their own desire or be-
cause of the elusive tactics employed
by Cen. Haig, the Germans apparently
stand committed to their present eff
fort beyond withdrawal. For six days
they have battered at the British lines.
reckless of the loss of life involved
bent apparently upon only one purpose,
the British army should be crushed
and useless. Now, 1t is pointed out
the first force Of their rush has been
dissipated and they have not been
in a final struggle. Always RaiG's
men have slipped away to fight again
and again withdraw time after time
Now for the first time they are strfk
ing back at certain points and retakfng
ground they had surrendered.
1t is the view OF many officers that
the Germans face the prospect Of find
ing themselves firmly enncshed in tbe
net into which they. have been drawn
Around them stand the undalnted
French and British battle fronts And
behind those fronts there is gathering
a storm in the shape Of new and fresh
armies soon to be poured down on
,haSr tired ,ana shAII-tpr1 EaDaeh