Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1917-05-20
PERSH|NG WILL
COMMAND FIRST
ARMY TO EUROPE
President Announces Twenty
Five Thousand Men Will
Be Sent Abroad Soon
as Practicable.
BULLETIN.

~ 11I AiNs
Washington, May 1s.-Amefican
troops when they 60 to the Euro
pean battlefront may take places to
buttress the little Belgian line, SO
tenaciously holding fast to strip
on the extreme west-all Of Belgium
that escaped the German invaders.
Washington, May lo.-United States
regular troops, led by Major General
Pershing, will carry the Stars and
Stripes to the European battle front.
Under orders from President Will
son, division of approximately u.s.
900 troops will 60 to France as soon
as possible to cooperate with British
and French forces.
General Pershing and his staff will
go to Europe ahead Of his troops at
as early a date as possible. He was
automatically relieved of his command
Of the Southern department by the
presidents orders designating him to
command the troops to be sent to
Europe.
This is the answer OF America to
frances plea that the Stars and
Stripes be carried to the fighting
front without delay to hearten the SOL
diers battling there with concrete evil
dence that a powerful ally has come
to their support against German ag-
gression.
Action Follows Signing Bill.
Announcement of the order followed
signing of the selective draft war
army bill by the president, and the is
suing of statement that under advice
of military experts on both sides of
the water, the president said he could
not employ volunteers nor avail him
self of the Sine vigor and enthus-
iasm" of former President Roosevelt
for the expedition.
The army law provided for an ulti-
mate force of approximately 2,000,-
900 men to back up the first troops to
60 to the front. When the bill had
been signed, the president affixed his
name and signature to proclamation
calling upon all men in the country
between the ages of q and 80 years,
inclusive, to register themselves for
military service on June S, next.
Sift Ten Million Men.
The proclamation sets in motion
Immediately machinery that will en-
roll and sift 100000 men and pave
the way for the selection of the first
100000 young. efficient soldiers with
out crippling the industries or COM
merce of the nation or bringing hard
ship on those at home.
Even before the bill was signed the
War department announced the full
strength of the National Guard would
any state or territory to perform any
duty in the execution OF this act, are
hereby required to perform such duty,
as the president shall order or direct.
and all such officers and agents and
persons so designated or appointed
shall hereby have full authority for
all acts done by them in the execu-
ton of this act by the direction of the
president. Correspondence in the
execution of this act may be carried
in penalty envelopes bearing the
frank of the War department. Per-
sons charged as herein provided with
the duty of carrying into effect any
of the provisions Of this act or the
regulations made or directions given
Hereunder, who shall fail or neglect
to perform such duty, and any per-
son charged with such duty or hav-
ing and exercising any authority un-
der said act. regulations or directions,
who shall knowingly make or be
party to the making OF any false or
incorrect registration, physical exam
nation exemption enlistment, enroll
ment or muster, and any person who
shall make or be party to the max
ing Of any false statement or certih-
cate as to the fitness or liability of
himself or any other person for serv-
ice under the provisions Of this act.
or regulations made by the president
hereunder, or otherwise evades or