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Show HURRYING U. S. ! TROOPS TO FRONT J WASHINGTON, April 1. With the news that American troops now are in the battle zone. 'he blunt statement of David Lloyd George, the British premie?, to parliament as to the situation situa-tion in Plcardy came home to Americans Ameri-cans today With added force. Army officers of-ficers expressed satisfaction thai the reinforcements ordered into the fight by President Wilson had begun to arrive, ar-rive, for the British premier had left no room for doubt thai the need for them is urgent Behind that advance guard, other American forces are moving rapidly to the front. Figures may not be disclosed, disclos-ed, but it is known definitely that the rale of departure of American troops for France is now three times that of only a short lime ago The increased troop movement makes interest in the submarine situation situa-tion acuie. There were indications two weeks ago that the Germans had coupled with ihe assault in Picardy an effort to increase their inroads upon allied shipping Officials here believe thai with the situation on the batttle front as Mr Lloyd -George pictured it, German submarine efforts would be concentrated against troop ships to prevent American reinforcement ir reaching the battle front in suflicient cumbers to Influence the outcome this, spring and summer While there hae been no information to indicate any increased menace to I the transports, the very decided tailing; off m the Binklngs of British ships last week and the present week was inter- I preted in some quarters to mean the diverting of the U-boats to the transport trans-port lines. |