Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1917-06-28

them going for months and more will fol-
low.
General Pershing and his staff nave
been busy for days preparing for the ar
rival of the men. Despite the enormous
difficulties Of unpreparedness and subma-
rine dangers that faced them, the plans
OF the army general staff have gone
through with clock-like precision.
When the order came to prepare imme-
dlately an expedtionary force to so 20
France virtually all of the men now
across the sea were on the Mexican oo--
der. Gen. Pershng himself was al his
headquarters in San Antonio. There were
no army transports available in the At
lantic. The vessels that carried the troops
were scattered on their usual routes.
Army reserves were still depleted from
the Mexican mobilization. Regiments
were below war strength.
That was the condition when Presi-
dent Wilson decided that the plea of
the French high commission should
be answered and force of regulars
sent at once to France. At this word
the war department began to move,
General Pershing was summoned quiet
ly to Washington. His arrival created
some speculation in the press. but, at
the request Of Secretary Baker the
newspapers generally refrained from
discussion of the point. There were
thousand other activities afoot in the
department at the time. All the bust
ness Of preparing for the military reg
istration of ten million men, of pro-
viding quarters and instructors for
nearly $4,000 prospective officers, for
finding arms and equipment for mill
lions Of troops vet to be organized, of
expanding the regular army to full
war strength, Of preparing and re-
cruiting the national guard for war
was at hand.
General Pershing dropped quietly
into the department and set up the first
headquarters of the American expe-
dictionary forces in little office. hard
" large enough to hold himself and
his personal staff There. with the aid
Of the general staff, Secretary Baker
and the chiefs Of the war department
bureaus, the plans We're worked out.
Evidences CT Expedition
Announcement Of the sending Of the
force under Gen. pershing were made
May Is. The press gave the news to
the country and there were daily
stories. There came a day when Gen.
Pershing was no longer in the de-
partment. officers Of the general staff
We're missing from their desks. No
word of this was reported. Then came
word from England that Pershing and
his officers were there. All was car
ried through without publicity.
Other matters relating to the expe-
dition were carried out without word
of publicity The regiments that were
to go with Gen. Pershing were already
gathered before he left and moving
toward the sea coast, from the border.
Other regiments also were moving
north, east and west to the points
where they were to be expanded.
Great shipments of war supplies be-
gan to assemble at the embarkation
ports. Liners were taken off their runs
with no announcement. A great arm
ada was made ready. supplied.
equipped as transports, loaded with
men and guns and sent to sea, and all
with virtually no mention from the
press.
The navy bears it's full share in the
achievement. From the time the
troop ships left their docks and head
ed toward sea, responsibility for the
lives Of their thousands of men rested
upon the officers and crews Of the
fighting ships that moved beside them
or swept free the sea lanes before
them. AS they pushed on through the
days and nights toward the danger
in wait every precaution that trained
minds of the navy could devise was
taken. And the news from France
shows that the plans were well laid.
While his troops were embarking or
stea ming toward their destination, Gen.
Pershing and his staff, supplemented by
special corps of general staff officers
have been busy in France preparing the
way for the new army that is to fling
itself soon against the German lines. The
camp sites have been selected, the details
of the final training to be given before
the move to the front begins have been
worked out. and the question of supply
and transportation lines studied. Reg-
ments of the national army. composed of
railway workers and engineers, will aid
Ill IHdt WI LHtSt Wv, HdNs DteI CIc-
ated in few weeks time.
The war department has no announce
ment to make as to Gen. Pershing's dis
position of his forces; presumably that
has been left to him to decide in confer
ence with the French general staff and
the officials Of the British army.
The American troops will be an indie
pendent force. cooperating with the AL
lies 1t has been suggested that the
Americans might be placed between the
French and British forces as connect
ing link. but the exigencies OF the plan
ned campaigns will govern that question.