Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1917-04-30
Plan Is To Send Several Hun
dred On Each Ship
that Sails
THESE WOULD BE TAUGHT
ALONG SPECIAL LINES
Allies Need Money and FOod,
and Also americans and
Their Flag
By George Martin.

NN"''V" iVsS sldAf correspondent
Washington, pril 3O.-It will be only
a matter of g few days before United
States militia units now mobilized in
this country, are on their way to the
European front and less than six weeks
before they are actually embattled with
the Germans on the European front. if
the allies urgent communications to
the American government today meet
the approval of the administration
This question, it was believed was
to be of prime Importance at the con
terence today between President vii.
son and Vive-Premier Viviani at the
White House Officially Great Britain
has not asked that an expeditionary
force be sent. France has formally and
strongly urged it through Marshal Jof-
ire. Great Britain, however, is known
positively to be in thorough accord with
the plan of Marshal Joffre.
May Give Roosevelt Chance.
1t developed TO-DAY that both England
and France have stressed the need Of
Americas food and money at once, but
have avoided asking great numbers Of
troops at once for fear of affecting the
course of President Wilson s conserip.
ton bill in congress.
1t is even thought possible-so great
is the European allies desire to have
the Stars and Stripes on the battle line
that Colonel Roosevelt himself might
be the man tc put it there. This, how.
ever, IS speculation, merely, on the part
of those who speak unofficially
All four European allies, it became
known today, would be delighted-silent
as they were about it until Joffre spoke
Ito have eny kind of an American
army at the front, even unframed men,
to be trained there.
Today's developments indicated clear.
ly that there is strong pressure for send
ing an American expeditionary force
abroad-and so on Ills pressure. as
has been demonstrated at the capitol
during the past few days, comes from
congress and from many sections of the
country-as well as in the Joffre plea
of yesterday.
To Send by Units.
1t became known today that the al.
lies want American troops in patches of
several hundred to go at once to Europe
aboard every ship that sails.
This will oEviate necessity for the
concentration of enormous masses OF
men in one place and the crippling of
food and munitions ships to carry them.
The allies idea is to take small Am.
nnitp ~
must be done in this war.
This specialized course under the guns
is vitally necessary, the allies pointed
out, because they can develop bomb
squads, sappcrs, snipefs, trench experts
and other highly specialized groups
from each unit in a few weeks.
The failure of the Canadians, after
their year and half training, came in
the fact that there was not a bomber,
sapper, sniper or other expert among
them. They had been drilled to open,
or partially covered mass battle fac.
tics.
Would Sandwich Them.
These American units would be
sandwiched in on the fighting front be-
tween seasoned fighting groups and
would be gradually absorbed into the
front line of attack.
Not only would this help our fight.
ing strength" said high ally commits
sioner today, "but it would have most
depressing morale effect upon the Ger.
mans along the entire front"
The Importance of this allied declara-
tion was emphasized by today's activi-
ties among American administration of.
ficials
Secretary Of War Baker, the man who
would have active charge Of dispatching
American troops to Europe, was in con.
ference with President Wilson at the
White House just before Viviani ar
rived
The present attitude of the adminis-
tration, Secretary Baker said, was to
postpone the actual dispatch of troops
to France until the conscription bill ac.
tually becomes law.
The visit Of Viviani and Joffre to
the United States senate was postponed
for the time being for the same reason,
it was believed.
"When the urgent, immediate nt ed
for American fighting men at the
front has been threshed out and is more
thoroughly understood by the American
congress- said the commissioner, 81
am sure it will desire to hear a complete