Mexico Missouri message., 1917-05-31
American Destroyers Already Are
Taking Part in the War on
German Submarines.
FIRST TROOPS GOING SOON
President Orders Division Under
Pershing Sent to France at Once
Draft Registration Set for
June 5-HoIlwea Refuses
to Discuss Terms
Russian Crisis
over.
By EDWARD w. PIcKARD.

The American navy is represented
In the war zone, and an American war
ship has had fight with u German
submarine.
So much was revealed on Wednes-
day by the British admiralty, which
announced the presence in British wa
tiers of q squadron of American de-
stroyers. 1t mentioned. the brush"
with the submarine, but did not tell
the result. Both the British and the
American naval authorities maintain
q policy of silence concerning the cap
ture or destruction of U-boats.
The destroyers, which are under the
general command of Rear Admiral W.
S. Sims, arrived at Queenstown ana
were inspected by a British ofhcer'
who asked the American commander
when he could be ready for business.
1--WE can start at once" replied the
American, and they did.
There is reason to believe some OF
these destroyers took part In the re-
cent big raid on the German submn-
rine base at Zeebrugge.
The American vessels and their
crews were given an enthusiastic well
come at Queenstown, and Vice Admiral
Beatty and Admiral Mayo exchanged
congratulatory cablegrams.
Pershing to Lead First Force.
Friday evening, President Wilson is
sued orders for the dispatch to France
Of the first American expeditionary
force. 1t will be about one division of
| $4,000 men, all veterans of the regu-
lar army, and will be commanded by
Mai. Gen. J. ]. Pershing. This force
will be sent across as soon as Is prac'
ticable, III response to the appeals OF
| the British and French war missions
The army CONSUMPTION bill, having
been accepted by both house and sen
ate, was signed by the president, but
he announced that for the present, al
least, he would not accept the Roose
Welt volunteer divisions. In a public
statement he handed some bouquets
to Colonel Roosevelt, but said that "tht
business now in hand is undramadc
practical and of scientific defnitenes'
end precision" he was acting under ex
merit and professional advice from boil
sides of the water. The president als'
issued n proclamation calling on al
men subject to selective conscriptloI
to register on June 8.
Japan also began taxing an acdv
part In the warfare in Europe las
week, A number of Japanese gun
boats arrived ut Marseille to aid II
the fight on submarines and to conVo'
French merchantmen, and 1t was un
officially stated that contingent o
Japanese troops was landed at tn
same port and would fight on the ives
front alongside the Russian diVisio
that has been there for some time.
Building Up Our Armies.
with no illusions as to the serious
moss of the task confronting 1t, tn
administration is proceeding steadll
I'm it's preparation for the part til
limited States is to play in the wal
President Wilson has ordered the rec
Mar army brought up to full wa
strength, and all the machinery 10
raising the great selective draft arm
IL ready. All over the country tn
training camps for officers wer
opened at the beginning of the weel
and thousands of efficient youn
Americans are being drilled In the d'
ties of commanding officers. The sal
ot "I.Iberty" bonds In denomination
as low as $50 is In full swing. To pr
. vide for the country's own expenses
belligerenl, the appropriations con