Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1917-05-16
'PETAIN URGES
s. FORCE BE
SENT AT ONCE
New French Military Head
Issues Appeal for
American Aid
RACKS SELECTION PLAN
Volunteers, However, Sent I'm
mediately Would Tell in
Battle Line
PARIS. MAY l6.

. n,ea for the United States to send an
.rmy to France Immediately was made to-
s.y nv General Petain, who yesterday be-
..a,s Comma nder-in- Chief of all the French
armies in the field
.,ybat is imperative now is men," said
r.,orai petain. What France needs most
4 !. ren-infantry. We fully believe that of
~ tho nations the United States can do
w W. In the least time. What we look to
..,ar;ca for is quick action In order to re-
,,.ys the nations which have already suf-
sar.a so much. We look to America also
10 see big things done
General Petain dwelt especially upon the
I'D for officers and urged that an Ameri-
ran army he sent to the hghting front
vithin three months, II possible
"Jt seems to be the intention OF the
r,nited states Government to create a
nowerful army. TO 90 lnis conscrlp''oh
. must become reality.
z .~rhere must be raised, equipped armed.
,,s,ructed n vast number of recruits sufti-
,,ent To form a great number of divisions.
e,perior and subatern officers must be
shosen trained and staffs and other in
numerable services organized. IL Is well
known America is capable of this hercu-
isan effort but it must also be remembered
/, norted to France, they must again go
through period of training before they can
/ he sent into battle or even hold quiet
portion of the front.
4 "Witness the experience Of the English
d when the divisions of Kitchener arrived
Z The British staff sent them to the battle
) front by battalion, then by brigade. In only
one or two instances were masses allowed
10 move and then the result was very poor
and the losses tremendous.
Think also of the immense amount. of
organization necessary before your men can
eyen embark. The service of food and food
distribution, artillery and it's services OF
munitions of calibers, workshops to repair
and guns TO replace. the engineers with
their materials for roads bridges. railways
: telegraph, water and light installation; the
aviation service with its machines. it's bal
looms its workshops the medical service
not to speak of the transport service by
: horse and motor All these difficulties pre-
4 sent themselves not only to one. bur to every
, division. Imagine the delay ecessary be-
fore such difficulties can re overcome and
above all. before they can operate under
the conditions necessary. True, all this will
be realized later. 1t must be-
I'VE also look to America to create or
sanizations capable of developing and util
ixing the immense resources of your coun'
try and above all, to send volunteers imme
3 diately.
r These volunteers would at first be organ
Z .ized with French units. but still respecting
the autondtpy of America. 1t Is understood
that it is moral necessity that they fgh
under their own flag. but there is also neces
sity for a period of transition or instruction
when quicker and better results could bt
obtained by the above method Therefore
In order as soon as possible to get them II
line it is imperative to charge the Frencl
with their training by Incorporating then
Immediately into the French Army itself 81
they in turn can train your troops arriving
later and be ready to take the place o
officers and petty officers