New Britain herald., 1918-06-22
AMERICAN ARMY IN
 FRANCE IS gO0,0O0
Gen. March Reveals Shipment Of
 100000 During Past Week
FAR AHEAD OF SCHEDULE
Weekly Statement by Chief of Staff Also DisclOses President Wilson Was First to Put Forth Unity of Command Idea.

Washington, June 22.-Nine hum dred thousand men have been ship ped across the seas, General March told newspaper correspondents at the weekly conference today These in- clude the troops shipped from all American ports of authorization.
 The United States today is five months ahead of it's program for placing an army in France, General March said.
 The figures on American troop shipments are significant as General March, at his first conference last week, fixed the number shipped at more than S00,0O0, the addition of 100, ,OO0 during the week showing the rate of progress that is being made.
 While the general battle situation looks good today, General March said, the lu'll on the western front means only that German combat divisions are being reformed for another drive Viewing the whole situation. inclld- ing the Italian front. the chief of staff said the Central Powers again were held on all fronts
 American troops have done we'll
 
 far. General March said regarding the character of the troops, whether Regulars, National Guard, National Army or Marines.
 The fight at Cantigny the most important engagement in which American troops have, participated because it gave opportunity to judge of the full measure of their traning he said, had been fought by the first division, commandered by Major- General Robert l.. Bullard This di- vision is now, he said, a thoroughly trained, high grade unit and was the first American division to reach France.
 At Cantigny, General March said infantry and artillery operated in close cooperation to achieve the vic tory, showing the successful work of the staff officers upon whom that CO., operation. depended. The fight clear ly showed. he said, that the training of the American general staff officers had reached the point where the sys- tenn would work under battle strain. Wilson Father of Unity Program.
 One of the most striking things on the western front, the chief of staff declared, was the supreme impOr- tance of a unified command. This was first advocated, he added by President Wilson and carried through under the presidents constant pres sure until unity of command was re- alized in the appointm of General Foch. General March regarded that as one of the greatest single military achievements of the Allies which was 1 already showing it's effect in the fighting.
 During the past week, General March said, the fighting in France 1 has been of a minor character. In | terest for the Allies has centered on 1 the Italian front, where the Austrian | drive at two points on the Piave line penetrated deeply enough to cause concern. That offensive has now been checked, he added, and the swollen waters of the Piave aided in repel- ling the attack. The entire Austrian bridge system on the lower Piave was 1 washed away.
 Austrian engineers had construct 1 ed seven bridges over which their l advance forces could be withdrawn if l they were compelled to give up their footing on the south bank of the riv- CT. At one point however, in the Montello sector, the Austrians had l Deell ulIdoAe Co 1eplsect lIle DIidSeS up 1 to last night, and their advance forces are in grave danger of capture or an i initiation.
 Gen. March deprecated discussion Of the participation of the American combat forces on the Italian front for 1 the present. Some American amb - l lance sections are in Italy but the 1 chief Of staff thought it unwiSe to dis l close any other movements in pros l pect for that front at this time. l The fighting around Chateau-Thier- ] rv. where American marines distin- lContinued on Eleventh Paga-)