The Madison daily leader. [volume] (Madison, S.D.) 1890-current, 1917-05-02
Send AMERICANS
TO FRENCH FRONT
4. =. WILL SEND FORWARD
FORCE DESIRED BN
FRANCE.
TO DISCOURAGE GER MANY


Washington. u c.. May . The
United States stands ready 10 send
an army TO Europe whenever the al
lies deem il wise to divert the ueces-
e3rE shipping from porting food
to Transporting men
III became known definitely today
that the government has offered the
allies troops. but has suggested that
She ID rmne shortage of world ship
ping may make It impracticable to
send them at once I'm spite Of OBJ
ieetf0ne OFF the general staff TO put
ting amy American forces ON the fir
ing lime before the great war army
has been raised and trained, the ad-
ministation has determined that the
small contingent earnestly desired hy
France for moral effect shall be sent
as soon a- ible The general be-
lief here is that the way soon viii be
found
Whether the force first to carry
the stars and stripes into battle in
France shall be made up Of regulars
oy national guardsmeu. or both. has
NOT been worked out The subject
was not discu sed at today'- cabinet
meeting bat Secretary Baker re
nained afterWard for conference
with President Wilson.
state department officials have
continuously urged the sending OF am
army solely for its psychological Ell
feet not only In encouraging the al
lied troops. but i'm discouragine the
Germans. Convinced that the diplo-
rfH t5i haI
technical and training difficulties adj
vauced by the general staff. they
have faH that such a step would con
seerate the United States as full
member of the alliance entitled 10 a
most honorable seat at the peace con
ference
There lis reason 10 believe that the
arguments of the French commits
efoners have been presented directly
ta American officers during the con
farances here These talks have been
confidential but from the general
trend of The more public utteranees
nj ALI members Of the mission Il =
Gathered that an undercurrent OF
feeling Is thrilling France with the
belief that May. June and July Will
-aa GREAT events on the battle front
and mat this feeling prompts mueh
of the French desire that American
troops by their presence sven lhe
wave of French enthusiasm aurlhe
those critical moments.
Since it is the psychological elleel
that ls sought troops with no more
training than the border hardened
national guard units would serve the
nnrnoeo iu the French view. ffehel
offfeers believe that with briei addl
|fional training within sound OF me
gnns at the front-possibly i've
weeks of the intensive last tonch
which the French have learned Il
necessary before troops so INTO ae-
tfon euch men could be made ready
- take their places by the sides OF
fha veteran French and British reel-
ments
An American army division OF m
faptrv AT war strength would take
% GOO men from that total II ma.
hean estimated that 4 3 divisions OF
the new conscript army could oe
trained bv single division of reg
ulare and that the whole scheme OF
developing an army of 2.0Oo.ooV
trained men within two years Would
have to be curtailed if any regulars
were sent abroad.
The general staff's aim in prepar-
i ing its plan was to produce as quick
f ly AS possible an army that, backed
/ bv the system which produced u
could meet Germany alone If neees-
|sary. There is nothing to indicate
that American officers expect an
early end of the war and the staff
nrogram seems 10 provide for the
possibility that the full resources o.
lthis country might be needed, before
it Is over.