The Bridgeport times and evening farmer., 1919-12-16
GENERAL PERSHING REPORTS ON
 WORK or J. s. ARMIES IN FRANCE
Praises American Soldier In Interesting Report of Activities of American Expeditonary Forces
 On Western Front.

Washington, Dec. Is. - General Pershing, in his special report to Sec retary Baker, on the operations Of the American Army in France, says in effect. although not in terms that the American army won the war.
 Ut was this spirit of determination anirattng every American soldier, says General Pershing referring to the Neuse-Argonne battle, that made 1t impossible for the enmey to main tain the struggle until 19l9.
 Twenty two American and I French divisions" says General Pershing. had engaged and decisive 1v beaten 47 German divisions, repre- senting 25 per cent. of the enemy $ entire divisional strength on the west ern front. Of the enemy divisions, 20 had been drawn from the trench front and l from the British front Of the 22 American divisions 12 held at various times during this period (Sept. ? to Nov. Il, 191S) been en- gaged on other fronts than our own The First Army had suffered loss of about 117,0O0, in killed and wounded: it had captured 26,0o9 prls- oners, S47 cannon, 5000 mach1he auns and large quantities of ma terial.''
 With the American army holding +he heights dominating Sedan, the re- port said, and the German line O. Communications definitely sundefeo .'recognizing that nothing but ces- sation of hostiIities could save his ar mics from complete disaster, he ap- pealed for an immediate armist1ce (Nov. 6)-''
 General Pershings report follows in detail the growth of the American
 lot of denarture with a small staff, May 28, 1917 until 1t numbered more than 2.OO0,OOO men. Every step Of organ izatton. every conference with the al- lied generals the important decisions reached are recorded.
 Summarizing the military situation which existed in the Spring or 1S4f [, when the United States aligned itself with the Allies, General Pershing said:
 ssIn the 5 months ending June 80, 1917, German submarines had accom- pltshed the destruction of more than 3,250,0OO tons of allied shipping. Dur ing years Germany had seen prac- ticaIIv all her offensives except Yer dun crowned with success. Her battle lines were held on foreign soil ant she had withstood every attack since the NIarue. The German general staff could foresee now the complete eim- inatiou of Russia, the possibility or defeating Italy before the end of the year and,- finally, the campaign or 1918 against the French and British on the western front which might terminate the war.
 "Fipancial problems of the Allies were difficult, supplies were becoming exbsrsted and their armies had suf-
 ], Ir5c 0jGrnJIra a sYnent existed not only among the civil nonr1ation but throughout the armies as we11."
 Within one month of his arrival, General Pershing recommended det1- r7iteiy that 900, 900 men should be in France before May 1918, 1t being evil dent that "a force of one million is the smallest unit which in modern war will be a complete, well-balancec and independent fighting organiza- tion." Plans for the future, the rec omnendation added, 'should be based on three times this force"
 The general was equally specific in choosing the ground for American operations. He says:
 "Our mission was offensive and II was essential to make plans for strlk- ing the enemy where definite nnlh- tary decision could be gained. While the Allied Armies had endeavored to maintain the offensive, the British, In order to guard the Channel ports, were committed to operations in Flanders and the French to the DOT ton Of the front protecting Paris Both lacked troops to operate else where on a large scale.
 ITO the east the great fortified dis trict east of Vcrdun and around Metz menaced central France, protected the most exposed portion of the Ger man line of communications that be- tween Metz and Sedan, and covered inc Briery iron region, from which the enemy obtained the greater part of the iron required for munitions and material. The coal fields east of Metz were also covered by these same defenses. A deep advance eas' of Metz, or the capture of the Erie! region, by threatening the invasion ol rich German territory in the Moselle Valley and the Saar Basin, thus cur
 The Tickle Makes You Cough
 HAYES HEALING HONEY Stops the Tickle Heals the Throat ana ana A