The Dermott news., 1919-07-10

the time that the armistice was signed. German army was thoroughly under stood ny high commanding Americans, and II WAS very mentally dense doughhoy who did not know for him. self just how things stood with the foe that was confronting him from Metz to Belgium.
 Ii Is true that the Germans manag- ed to keep their battle line intact; that is. they had troops confronting every unit of the allied forces, but they had no reserves worthy of the name, and while their supply of ammunition Was sufficient for some weeks fighting, the end of tho supply was in sight
 All these things were known to the American commanders. The intelii- gence ,ervice of the armies of 1he al lies WIS of the best Information was obtained from captured prisoners, from y#jas au German trenches. from air blaine observation and by other means.
 The Germans had a railroad line and Il high road running from Metz Tn Lorraine which was one of their ereat military strengths, to the army lines hack of Nerdun
 Nothing Left But Retreat.
 The Americans cut off the St Mi- hfel salient and drove the Germans haek north af Chatel, where the enemy established a new line North ef the Arsoune the enemy wis driven back to Sedan, which fell some days prior to November II.
 The railroads and highways from Metz fo the west were under Ameri- can artillery fire In few days nj the most the German armies from north of Sedan to Metz could have been supplied only in q roundabout way. Il way so difficult that it yirtu= ally WIS impossible to use il ade. quately.
 There WIS nothing left fer the Ger man army except retreat. which meant soon the isolation of Metz, tue fall of that stronghold. and prccipitate re treat ef the Germans into their own territory. There was no other way out of l..
 The German army of November Il Inst Was licked out of its boots. It's commanding officers knew it. They saw the inevitable facing them and hastily they took advantage of the opz partuaitv La enter into uu armiStiee.
 Army of 500 900 Urged.
 Military men say that 5o0o regu- lar troops Will be necessary to main tatn Ameriea's part of its obligations under the League of Nations General l Pcytou (. March. chief "f Staff, has testified te this effect before the senate i committee on military affairs.
 There k apt to be misuulerstand ] Ing eeHeeraIag what k said before the committees of congress on army nut ters. I'm administration has asked for appropriations for continuing T force af 1nu.noo In service until raace becomes stable 8ia the League ef NJ tons hecomrS reality, if if iS to be come otte In addition te tblS. the heHirf=of military mon k that q large force ef regulars must be maintained after the present war is u thing of the past aHd the League of Nations k in existence.
 This k mere statement of the things that have been presented hY military ehicftutus and hy the Seere tary nf War to the house aHH te the senate committee which has been talk ing uuder consideration the matter al appropriations for the army a> lt is to continue until poacr is nn acnality In the hearings which have been hett the future has been gone into as wei as the present. and II is for this reaser that the regular army Of the fuur' has been under discussion.
 Wide Variance of Opinion.
 There seems to be feeling amons mn iority members in congress that th, United States regular army safely eag he cut to l25ooo men after reae' definitely Is established. Therefore th, country e4n >ee at once how u4ae th' variance k hCtWccu congress and milt tary ehieftains on ihe Suhie af h, force necessary fNr the country I, maintain under the ordinary coHaittan' of world aTairS Y seems that th, chief of stnn believes Inc provisions ef the Ieaeue of Nations Will make | necessary for uS tN maintain an arm, of half million. notwithstanding th, fact that the leaeue in Its provisions aims tn make military forces fo il con slderah1e cNteHt uunrcrSSary How eyer as rhe chef ~ staf views il. th, force will he necessary in case th, pruFi~fnuS of the )caCuc are violated and tho United States intends to liv, 'ur to tts obligations under thr cove uenf
 Secretary ef Baker in urging that present aHprnpriatlonS bo based on 1T army of sooooo men Is novel hy hl, desire fo make recrea,ional and edu catiora' work in n" army m abiding feature thereof in order to stimulate euliStments and to make the army not only fighting force. hut schoo f, t.+Nf.k .,,.p aat, fn,