Arizona republican., 1918-04-04
MILITARY EXPERTS
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 WAR DEVELOPMENTS
Republican A. p. Leased Wire1

| WASHINGTON, April S-With the battle of Picardy brought to a stand
 III for the time being, at least, and tue initial momentum of the German drive overcome, military observers here were plainly puzzled tonight by the fact that a great counter assault had not developed. The psychological moment of the counter stroke under the rules of strategy they think is passing, if it has not already passed, without recorded movement of the allied forces toward throwing back the exhausted foe before he has had time to dig himself in.
 Officers here admit frankly, however. that they do not know what the situa- ton at the front it. If any report has come from Generals Bliss or Pershing that would serve to explain the defen- Slve tactics of the allies it is a cerefully guarded secret. Naturally nothing ] would be made public regarding such ladyices, even without Secretary Bak- CTS order of yesterday shutting down absolutely on war department an- nouncements regarding operations in France. That order has served, how ever to make officers even more eau tious about discussing the situation Informally
 ! It was suggested as possible that the pan of campaign mapped out by Gen. bral Foch is of far greater scope than would be involved in an effort to hurl 1le enemy back to his old lines The German defenses there, which success f | ctp no prit icI, 1916 are still intact and even if the allies were successful in rushing the German lines back over the twenty or 1 lirty- mile zone he has wrested from tlem they would face those defenses when their own organization was badly demoralized by their advance and their men showing the wear and tear of a prolonged offensive.
 For this reason some officers were inclined to look elsewhere for the az g-essive campaign to which they are inning their faith. They have counted
 upon the creation of a unified army
 under General Fosh to produce offen- -sive operations and they see nothing
 in the situation at the present time to
 warrant the conclusion that the allies
 have not the necessary reserve forces
 or supplies.
 It was suggested that the new pur-
 pose of employing American troops tc
 fill out allied fighting divisions might
 have some bearing upon the situation
 If General Foch is laying his founda
 tions for continuous operations Of ar
 aggressive character he would neeo
 to be certain of his reserves and tho
 detailed plans for employment oi
 American troops would have to bt
 worked out.
 movements to France is expressing at.
 tention here. President Wilson hele
 his weekly conference with the head.
 of the war making and production
 branches of the government today ant
 il is understood that the ways ant
 means for throwing the full resources
 of the United States into the conflic , this year were talked over.
 One immediate step to that end i known to be in contemplation It ha to do with the calling to the colors O the S00,000 men which it already ha been announced will be mobilize,
 through the selective service machiner, , during heyear. Assurances have beer
 given that no great withdrawals o l men from agricultural and industria l life would be made at one time, but tn : indications are that statement nov being prepared regarding the numbe
 of men to be called out first under tha I plan will show that a larger force wi
 be mobilzed this month than had beel l intended before the German drive al
 tered conditions abroad.