The Idaho Republican. [volume] (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1904-1932, 1917-06-04
.PERsH|NG TO Lead
MAN ROOSEVELT PROMOTED
WILL COMMAND FIRST AMERI.
CAN ARMY IN EUROPE.
DIVISION OF BEST REGULARS
Probably $4,000 Picked Men, Complete
Iy Equipped, Will Comprise the Elk
peditionary Force-May Be Split
Into Three Divisions.
BY EDWARD q. CLARK.

NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. Roosevelt In
an annual message to congress In De-
cember, 1905, lamented that as presi-
dent of the United States it was not
in his power to promote Capt. John ].
Pershing to grade next higher than
that which he held in the army and
thereby give recognition to the COM
handing qualities as a soldier Of the
young officer Of cavalry.
1t then was In the power Of the
president Of the United States, how
ever, to promote any man that he
chose to the position of brigadier gen.
eral. He could promote to no grade
except that Of general rank. Roose-
welt had recognized Pershing's ability
as soldier, but he did not at first feel
that he should jump him over the
heads of 300 other officers to make of
him brigadier general. Inasmuch,
however, as the law prevented the
president from promoting Pershing to
any lower rank, he named him in Sep
TENDER, 1906, as brigadier general,
and today Pershing is ordered to lead
to Europe the expeditionary force
which it was Roosevelt's desire to
lead in person.
. 1t unquestionably Is true that, with
the exception of Leonard Wood, Roose-
welt would prefer to have Pershing CIV
en- the command to any other officer
in the United States army. The colo
mel would like nothing better probably
than to go to Europe with Pershing as
a brigadier general, but of this there Is
no chance. 1t Is believed however,
that later Roosevelt will find himself
on the fighting line, either with New
York troops or as brigadier general
in the new national army.
Pershing May Take $4,000.
The war department has allowed the
press to print the fact that Pershing
Is to go to Europe with division, and
in short order. The numbers of the
troops that Pershing will take with
him are not given definitely, but, of
course, everybody is supposed to know
how many men there are in division.
An interesting question, however, Is
raised when one considers the fact
that in the French and English armies
division consists of 1900 men while
in the American armies it consists Of
$4,000 men.
The country has been allowed to
know that 1t is the intention of the
American war authorities to raise the
number Of men in company from $50
to 25O, thus making each company
equal in size to the companies in the
service of the allied countries on the
western front.
] 1t may be that all the American
forces will be made to conform in Or
ganization with the allied standards.
If this is the case Pershing may take
$4,000 men with him to the firing line,
possibly to be split into three divisions
after the European order.
1t is natural enough to assume that
Pershing's force will be given at least
two months training behind the lines
in France. The regulars which he will
take with him are trained to field serv-
ice which they must render on the
battle front. The men know compare
lively little of grenade fighting, or of
trench warfare in the highly developed
state in which it Is carried on at the
present day.
Will Be Picked Men.
The regulars which will go with
Pershing will be picked men. ALI the
regulars regiments are in good trim
They are not, however,
up to wartime strength in numbers,
but this readily can be remedied by
transfers from one batch of regiments |
to another.
1t can be taken for granted that |
when the expedition leaves under
Pershing's command there will not be
a knot-hOle in it's seasoned timber. No |
better men ever fought an enemy than
hose who will follow Pershing to Eur
ope. There is equipment enough for
them except in a few departments of |
service and this lack quickly can be
supplied.
If Pershing shall take 10000 men
to Europe with him and after getting
n camp back Of the front 1t shall be
agreed to split the force into three
divisions, although this chance Is re-
note, two American brigadier generals
will find themselves promoted to ma
|or generals over night. Pershing will
)e in command Of the first division and
n supreme command of the three, but
he will have two officers Of his own
'ank as fellow commanders.
General Pershing is in fine physical
condition. He has seen all kinds of
service and it was at the time of his
brilliant exploit in Mindanao when as
| captain of cavalry he found himself
put in command of brigade
He had few troops but
hey included cavalry, artillery and
Co. kE.w- 1