Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1917-05-02
United States Army to Go to
Front When Food Ships Can
Be Diverted. !
NATIONAL GUARD MAY BE !
FIRST FORCE TO EMBARK
French Mission Believes These Men
With Border Training Are Ready.
Peace Efforts Secuted. !

Members of the French war
commission today had assurance
that the American government is
willing to send troops to France
when Our allies believe they can
spare ships necessary for trans
porting an army and its equip>
ment across the Atlantic.
Such a course was one of the
urgent recommendations tho
French commissioners brought to
this country. The fact that tho
commission is understood to have
pointed out that the troops re.
Gently returned from the Mexicart
border are fit to begin a fve-
week training within sound Of
the cannon" resulted in specula.
ton today about the possibility
of the National Guard being sent
into the trenches in France. !
Discussed at Luncheon. I
Minister viviani and Minister Hoves
lacque of the French commission took
luncheon at the White House today
with President Wilson, when the SUBJ
ject Of such an expedition again came
up for discussion, and 1t is presumed
that they again urged the project upon
the President.
In spite Of objections Of the general
stan TO putting any American force On
the firing line before the great war
army has been raised and trained. the
administration has determined that the
small contingent earnestly desired ~
France for moral effect shall be sen4
as soon as possible. The general bes
lief here is that the way soon will be
found
Whether the force first to carry the
Stars and Stripes into battle in France
shall be made up Of regulars or ma
tional guardsmen, or both, has NOT
been worked out.
State Department officials have urged
continuously the sending of an army.
only in encouraging the allied troops.
but In discouragtng the Germans. Con>
vinced that the diplomatic advantages
Tar outweighed the technical and trains
ing difficulties advanced by the general
stan, they have felt that such a step
would consecrate the United States aa
a full member of the alliance entitled
to a most honorable seat at the peaca
conference.
Some Of those who have vigorously
opposed an early expeditic-a-y force az
with the training of a larger
army have modified their views as .
result of the arguments advanced by
the military experts with the French
commission that training can be much
better carried out in France within
sound Of the guns. Nevertheless, tho
opposition Of the staff has not wavereds
Vast Tonnage Needed.
The amount of tonnage that would
be required for transport is usually pue
at about twenty tons per man in q
fully equipped force. For the regular
American unit of $4,000 men, nearly
half million tons. therefore. would
be necessary. 1t remains for the allies
to figure out il they can afford to
divert that amount of shipping.
Little doubt exists that the French
VIII gladly put up with any sacrifice
necessary to have American troops in
France. as the great plea of their mis-
sion has been for troops with tho
American flag. They have pointed out
that this is needed to convince the
Germans beyond doubt that all the res
sources Of the United States have beeH
into the battle.
The British also are known to bo
anxious to have American troops in
France as a final earnest of American
but there is reason to
believe that they have taken a some>
what more detached view than th0
French. Overcome by the whole-heartS
nf m
war. they believe that the one essential
is to marshal the common resources to
the greatest advantage. With their
for tonnage, their des
cision about the advisability of sends
ing an expeditionary force is uncertains
To Start Tour Tomorrow.
Tomorrow the French party will leave
for its tour of eastern and midwesterH
cities
1t is no secret that the counsel %
Marshal Joffre was one of the principal
factors in leading the administration 70
decide upon sending an army to France
II also is known that the administraA
ton realizes that the effect of the touD
Of the French commission is likely to
have a remarkable effect in crystallixs
ing sentiment of the nation toward ape
proving that course.
The British mission expects to bd
here at least ten days longer. Them
he party will leave for New York and
possibly will make a short tour in the
middle west. Several experts may re>
main permanently in Washington to
1elp work out arrangements agreed
upon and to reinforce the stan of the
British embassy. Included would probably
De a shipping. munitions. food and
rade expert.
Reports Of fresh peace offers from
Berlin brought forth the statement
rom the mission today that a series Of
eelers were expected during the next
ew months, as an immense amount OF
,uiet peace effort has been under way
~ Teutonic emissaries, especially by
Austrians in Bern. but no credence -
placed in their acceptability.
Reported German Proposals.
Germany was stated to have made ada
,ances to the entente. proposing surrenS.
lering her conquests in the east and woog
N condition OF retaining her Balkin way
O Bagdad and Mesopotamia, but the ale
les have been more united against thao
,lan than against any other proposal
Prospects OF separate peace by any a
he Teutonic countries are wholly di44r