Wauwatosa news. [volume] (Wauwatosa, Wis.) 1900-1948, 1917-06-01
MAN ROOSEVELT PROMOTED
WILL COMMAND FIRST AMERI-
CAN ARMY IN EUROPE.
DIVISION OF BEST REGULARS
Probably $4,000 Picked Men, Complete
Iy Equipped, Will Comprise the Ex-
peditionary Fcree--May BE Split
into Three Divisions.
BIZ EpwAan 3. CLARK.

cenber, 1905, lamented that as presi-
dent of the United States it was not
in his power TO promote Capt John j.
Pershing 10 a grade next higher than
that which he held in the army and
thereby give recognition TO the COM
handing 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 gem
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 brigadier general. Inasmuch.
| however, as the law prevented the
| president from promoting Pershing TO
| any lower rank, he named him in Sep
| TENDER, 1906 as a brigadier general.
and today Pershing is ordered to lead
TO Europe the expeditionary force
| which Ii was Roosevelts 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
| In short order. The numbers of the
| 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
| division consists of 1900 men while
in the American armies it consists of
$4,000 men.
The country has been allowed TO
| know that it is the intention of the
| American war authorities to raise the
number of men in a company from $50
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
$4,000 men With him TO the firing ine
| possibly TO be split into three divisions
| after the European order.
| 1t is natural enough to assume that
| Pershings force will be given at least
| two months training behind the lines
in France. The regulars which he will
take with him are trained to field serv-
1 ian ho
battle front. The men know COMPARE
lively little of grenade fighting, or Of
| trench warfare in the highly developed
| state in which it is carried on at the
present day.
viii Be Picked Men.
The regulars which will 90 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 thai
| when The expedition leaves under
| Pershing's command there will not be
a knot-hole in its 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 $4,000 men
to Europe with him and after getting
/ in camp back of the front it 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
| lor generals over night. Pershing will
| be in command of the first iivison and
| in supreme command Of the three, but
| he viii 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 brigadler generals of
the regular army, and one ma
| jor general for each three brIgadier
| generals. Later the president will APP
| point a great many more officers to
general rank which they win 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 viii be need for
great many additional field officers and
for scores of captains. The subordinate
officers of the regular army will be
given quick advancement, not all of
which will be dependent upon the Gre
alton of new brigadier general and ma