The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1917-05-19
Troops Directed to Go "at
as Early a Date as
Practicable
LEADER SAILS FIRST
Wilson's Decision Is Exact
1y in Line With Marshal
JOffre's Advice.
HE PAYS TRIBUTE TO Il. X.
Says His Force Would Add
Practically Nothing to
Allies Strength.
HE PAYS TRIBUTE TO L. r.

WASHINGTON. May 1s.-American
troops are to be sent to France at once.
They will be regulars and not Col.
RQosevelts volunteers. A DIVISION
$4,000 men-to be led by Mator-Gen.
Pershing, is to have the proud dlstinc-
tion Of carrying the colors to the front.
The troops will be despatched "at as
early date as practicable"
Gen. Pershing and his stafr will pre-
cede them to France. This electrify.
ing announcement came tonight with
the signing Of the selective conscrip.
ton bill by the President giving the
United States an army Of 1000, 900 men
in two years.
AT the same time that he signed tho
army bill the President gave his de-
eision against the raising of the four
volunteer divisions by Col. Theodore
Roosevelt, assigning as the chief rea-
son that 1t would interfere with the
contemplated system OF raising troops
and would contribute practically moth
ing to the effective strength of the
armies now engaged against Ger
many
He also issued formal proclamation
setting June 8. 1917. as the date for the
registration of all male citizens of the
Oh,'ea states between the ages of II
and 30 years, from whom will be ss
lected the first increment of the nav
army.
DIVISION in the American army con-
sists or approximately $4,000 men. In
\cluding 22'000 fighting men. OF which
Z latter number about 5000 are cavalry
men. six thousand men are attached
10 the quartermaster's corps, ordnance
wagon trains &C 1t Is evident that the
Amerlcan cavalry for the present will
not be used In France, and this ex-
plains why Gen. Pershing will have only
zo.ooO troops under his command
Foints stressed in the Presidents proc
lamation ape: -
IL Is not an army that we must shape
ana tram for war; it is a nation.
our people must draw close in one
compact front against a common foe.
The whole nation must be a team IN
which each man shall play the part for
which he is best fitted,
IL Is IN no sense a conscription Of
the unwilling; it is rather selection from
nation which has volunteered in mass
| eSN cS hO gaps IN THE ranks
President's Warming.
Announcement OF the exned,tior ..
france came with dramatic unexpected-
ness. With the disclosure of this na
'iohs intention to send a body OF its fn-
est soldiers to the front to inspIre IN.
armies o. France and Great Britain the
PRESIDENT in his proclamation invoked
the loyalty OF every American, warning
| 1nt
armies were wont to be considered. but
war or entire nations armed. This, he
sald, must be the case with America
Inc Pershing expedition will be only
.he advance guard of an immense army
to be put across the seas az soon a.
possible Regular troops will be sent 10
France and Belgium las fast as thew
can be got ready" the President indi-
| Gated ''''''
The announcement OF the decision n
send the expeditonary force abroad fol-
| lows:
The President has directed an exre-
ditionary force OF approximately one d.
VISION OF regular troops under command
or Gen. john j. Pershng to proceed to
France at as early date as practicable
Gen. Pershing and stan will precede the
| troops abroad. 1t is requested that no
| details or specuatons with regard to
| the mobilization of this command. dates
| OF departure. compositio or other items
be carried by the press other than tho
omcisl bulletins given out by tho War
| Department relating thereto"
Gen. Pershlng was called to Washing
| ton several weeks ago for conferences
| with Secretary Baker and the General
STAFF. Much speculation was occasioned
by his arrival here, and the report soon
| spread that he ha., been picked to head
| the frst contingent OF American troors
! to set foot in France. Officials however
4 refused TO make public the reason for
the Generals visit and discouraged con-
lecture on the subject.
Selection .. Approved
The selection Of Pershlng meets the
approval OF all the military chiefs here
, His conduct OF the campaign in Mexico
against many handicaps, including num-
beress restrictions imposed by the fact
that this country was not actually a.
n war with the de facto Government OF
= Mexico, won admiration in military cir
= cles here. The feeling prevails that me
n knowledge that man of his capabilities
4 IL TO head the first expedition even
= though II IL small one, will give the
i Entente Allies an earnest that this Gov
n ernment intends to throw its strength 10
= the uttermost limit into the task OF crush
= Ing German mllitarism and autocracy.
= Although Gen. Pershing and his STAFF
: will precede the troops into France, II is
known that the division he will have
Y under him Is equipped and ready to sail
Il the moment they are called.
|. BY this decision 1t is believed that
President Wilson IL following out almost