The Colorado statesman., 1917-06-02
BY EDWARD q. CLARK.


Pershing TO grade next higher than
that which he held in the army and
thereby give recognition to the COM
manding qualities as a soldier of the'
young officer of cavalry.
1t then was in the power of the
president of the United States, how
ever, to promote any man that he
chose to the position of brigadier gen
eral. He could promote to no grade
except that of general rank. Roose-
welt had recognized Pershing's ability
as soldier, but he did not at first feel
that he should jump him over the
heads of 300 other officers to make of
him a brigadier general. Inasmuch,
however, as the law prevented the
president from promoting Pershing to
any lower rank, he named him in Sep
tember, 1906, as a brigadier general.
and today Pershing is ordered to lead
to Europe the eXpeditionary force
which it was Roosevelt's desire to
lead in person.
Pershing May Take $4,000.
The war department has allowed the
press to print the fact that Pershing
is to go to Europe with division, and
III ShOll OIutI Lie VI NhS
troops that Pershing will take with
him are not given definitely, but, of
course, everybody is supposed to know
how many men there are In division.
An interesting question, however, is
raised when one considers the fact
that in the French and English armies
a division consists of 1900 men while
in the American armies it consists of
26,000 men.
The country has been allowed to
know that 1t is the intention of the
American war authorities to raise the
number of men in company from 1oO
to $50, thus making each company
equal in size to the companies in the
service of the allied countries on the
western front.
1t may be that all the American
forces will be made to conform in or
ganiZation with the allied standards.
If this is the case Pershing may take
10000 men with him to the firing line,
possibly to be split into three divisions
after the European order.
1t Is natural enough to assume that
Pershing's force will be given at least
two months training behind the lines
take with him are trained to field serv-
ice which they must render on the
battle front. The men know compara-
lively little of grenade fighting, or of
trench warfare In the highly developed
state in which it is carried on at the
present day.
Will Be Picked Men.
The regulars which will go with
Pershing will be picked men. All the
regulars regiments are in good trim
physically. They are not, however,
up to wartime strength in numbers,
but this readily can be remedied by
transfers from one batch of regiments
to another.
1t can be taken for granted that
when the expedition leaves under
Pershing'S command there will not be
a knot-hole in it's seasoned timber. No
better men ever fought an enemy than
those who will follow Pershing to Eur
.ope. There is equipment enough for
them except in few departments of
service and this lack quickly can be
supplied.
If Pershing shall take 10000 men
to Europe with him and after getting
in camp back of the front 1t shall be
agreed to split the force into three
divisions, although this chance Is re-
mote, two American brigadier generals
will find themselves promoted to ma
ijor generals over night. Pershing will
Ibe in command of the first division and
in supreme command of the three, but
he will have two officers of his own
rank as fellow commanders.
New Generals to Be Named.
President Wilson Is about to ap-
point u or IA brigadier generals of
the regular army, and one ma
jor general for each three brigadier
generals. Later the president will ap-
point a great many more officers to
general rank which they will hold
while In command of troops of the new
army.
For every brigadier general that is
made in the regular army, advance
ment. of course, comes all down the
line because of the vacancy which is
created above. With the expansion of
the regular army to force of nearly
100000 men there WIN be need for
great many additional field officers and
for scores of captains The subordinate
Of1cerS OF tne regular army VIII oS
given quick advancement, not all OF
which will be dependent upon the Gre
alton of new brigadier general and ma
jor generalships.
So far as the regular army is con-
cerned, 1t may be that the promotions
TO the brigadier general rank will be
made from the ranks of the colonies of
the service. 1t does not follow neces-
sarily, however, that the ranking colo