Show j SERIOUS NA NATURE TURf OF DRIVE IS FRANKLY ADMITTED Present Situation Most Critical Critical Crit- Crit ical ica Since the Marne First FirstS First S Successes Expected By Henry G. G Wales International News Service Staff Cor Cor- respondent WITH THE AMERICAN AL ARMY IN FRANCE March 25 American 25 American army officers declared today that the present pres pre ent eat situation on the western front is the most critical confronting the allies since the battle batlle of the Marne They do donot donot donot not except Verdun These Thes officers pointed out the tho necessity necessity necessity sity for plain speaking now so that the people at home can realize that every effort Is necessary on their part in or order order order or- or der that the foe may be beaten The German announcement of the capture of Peronne and Ham was re rec received received re- re c by the Americans yesterday afternoon Coupled with the announcement announcement announce announce- ment that the enemy was again bombarding bom born barding Paris it was felt that the kaiser was isas making his supreme effort to end the conflict before the United States Stales could actually get a huge force Into the field American officers pointed out that the Germans are ready to sacrifice enormous numbers of troops in order to force a no decision In the west The enemy they declared Is trying to batter batter batter bat bat- ter down the morale of ot the populace In Inthe Inthe inthe the rear of the battle line Une with his air raids and long range bombardments at atthe atthe atthe the same time that he Is trying to break through the front American and French artillery ex experts experts experts ex- ex are keenly Interested In the official cia cial French report that Paris has been shelled by a a. range long-range German gun gull I The feeling is prevalent that a critical period is at hand and all the AmenI Amen Amerl- i I 1 cans are hoping to get into action j The initial success of the Germans does not surprise Americans who have been taught that either side can advance ad ad- vanes vance a certain distance and capture men and guns during the first few days o of a drive But the real fruits of the operations must result during the secondarY secondary secondary sec sec- phase of the the offensive when efforts are made to follow up the first successes The fact that the Germans heavily outnumbered the British is r regarded as complimentary to the skill of Field Marshal Sir Douglas Haig as the Indications in indications indications In- In were that the Germans Intended in intended intended in- in tended to tc strike In the thi Cambrai sector In a possible effort to make the British reinforce that part of or their line by withdrawing troops from the north thus leaving the channel ports exposed Instead the British maintain a careful careful careful care care- ful balance ba of strength along along- their front holding a strategic reserve force |