Jasper County Democrat, Volume 21, Number 27, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 3 July 1918 — GERMANS MASSING BEFORE AMERICAN LINE [ARTICLE]

GERMANS MASSING BEFORE AMERICAN LINE

Allied Forces Await Next Movement by Enemy—Renewal of Offenslvo on Western Front. PENDING BLOW MOST CRUCIAL k - ■ -r » General Pershing’s Report* Indicates Extraordinary Preparations on Cliauteau Thierry Sector Notv Occupied by Yankee Troops. Washington, July I.—Resumption of the German offensive on the west front is now expected momentarily by army olliclals here. General Pershing’s reports as well as British and French advises from the front have shown increasing enemy activity day by day, indicating that the Germans are preparing for another assault. There is great stir and movement among the Germany (before the American lines around Chateau Thierry. Part of the drive Imay be directed against this front in a renewal of the thrust at Paris through the Compejgne gateway. It so an army corps of American troops stands shoulder to shoulder with the French again to block this road. Army Corps Probable. Secretary Baker disclosed today that organization of the first army corps, under Major General Hunter Liggett, probably had been completed, although he made no annoy ncement. “I suspect,” the secretary said in reply to a question, "that several of our divisions are operating together as an army corps under command of General Liggett. Whether any other divisions have been created into an army corps and a tentative army corps commander chosen, I have not heard.’’ Total Strength 220,000 Men. It was learned also that the First, Second and Third divisions (regular) commanded respectively by Major Generals Robert L. Bullard, Major Bundy and Joseph T. Dickman, are included In the Firjpt corps and all are either at Chateau Thierry or at Cantigny. The corps organization plan, however, calls for six divisions, four combatant and two replacement, and with the necessary artillery units and other additional troops, total strength of a corps would be nearly 220,000 men. Unr doubtedly General Liggett has all the elements necessary for his corps if his organization is complete. Fear U. 8. Man Power. With this army corps In the theatre where great events are believed to be impending, the expected German thrust assumes new significance here. The opinion is general among officers that the blow now in preparation is to b e the heaviest yet struck. Unless signs fail the Germans are getting ready for the crucial moment in their great effort to wrench Victory by force before full American fighting power can be brought to bear against them. The belief of General March, chief of staff, that the allied situation is "extremely favorable” as expressed in a carefully weighed statement last Saturday, is believed to be shared by the allied leaders. - The speed with which American troops have been rushed to France probably has played a large .part in the confidence both here and in the allied countries that this new thrust of the Germans will fail, as have the last two thrusts. There is every reason to - believe that by the Fourth more than a million troops will have sailed. Secretary Baker had no advices today to show that formation of the First field artillery under General Liggett had been entirely completed. General Liggett is regarded as the logical organizer and commander for the First army, as he was General Pershing’s selection for commander of the First army corps. The rank if lieutenant general will probably go with the coknmand. The appearance of American troops at five points along the line between St. Mihiel and the Swiss border indicates that this whole stretch of 150 to 200 miles of the front is being rapidly Americanized.