Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1917-10-21


tary effort has been prepared especially
for The Sunday Star by one Of the fore
most authorities in France. who has &C
lively participated in the conduct OF
operations since the first day of mobili-
zation:
THE first American divisions have dis
on French soil. They prepare
for battle. Never has reinforcement ar
rived at a more vital moment; never was
aid more opportune. France is on the
threshold of the fourth winter of the
war. After three years of uninterrupted
she maintains her sentry watch.
She may we'll be proud of the magnif-
cent results her courage and tenacity
have won.
French military successes have been
preceded and accompanied by prodlg.
ious industrial effort. In the midst OF
the battle storm. factories, new from
top to bottom, have sprung up In every
direction. War manufactures have de-
veloped to an extent quite unforeseen.
Assistance to Allies.
Thus France has been able not only
to forge admirable weapons for her
but even to contribute largely
to equip and supply her allies-hus-
slams. Serbians, Rumanians and GREEKS.
But this stern toll Is exhaustfnS the
country and long road must be COW
cred before victory is reached. Hap
PLY the United States comes suddenly
to throw into the scale the immense
weight of her gigantic resources IN
man power and colossal supply OF
material. Without doubt Americas in
PREVENTION will necessarily rupture the
equilibrium between the opposing
forces and hasten the coming OF de-
cisive victory. Americas entry guar
henceforth that victorious peace
to which Frances heroic struggle gives
her right. American honor Is
pledged not to disappoint her. There
fore, it is necessary that Americas
full effort be exercised.
1T is a formidable task that con-
fronts the American government. To
build up armies from the foundations
and organize their transport and supply
services at an immense distance IN de-
fiance of the obstacles of submarine
war-that is work OF a gigantic char
acter.
Task Is Gigantic One.
'Tn the great country whose activi-
ties hitherto have been centered on
peaceful business, innumerable contin-
gents must be raised, necessary officers
must be trained and provided, staffs
must be arranged and uniforms. rifles.
mitrailleuses, guns and technical ma
terial must be manufactured.
And when the men and material
have been assembled it will still be
necessary. if America would avoid
painful lessons in the future. to apply
to their instruction a striving after
perfection and an understanding OF the
realities of modern warfare. which ne
cessitate a constant appeal to the ex-
perience of those who have preceded
her on the battlefield.
THE British example is there to
prove-if proofs were needed-that an
in July. 1916. that new British di-
visions, raised by Kitchener at the end
of 1914. learned of the Somme battle
field their first lessons and won their
first laurels. And it was only by
eight months battle. after that. that
they definitely acquired the experience
in attack which they now fully enjoy.
Able to Work Quickly.
Americans will be able. perhaps. to
work still more quickly. If at times
the European allies were delayed by
the necessity of freeing themselves
from certain stiff and out-of-date mill
tary traditions. you have no such
situation to hamper you. With you
there is little or nothing of archaic
institutions. You have not got to en-
large or modernize an edifice that is out
be built wholly new. Right from the
beginning you can and must build 1T
as you desire. guiding yourselves by
the most recent teaching and most
conclusive methods.
Americans are daring and practical.
Your great public administrations still
prefer. doubtless-like those of Europe
methods of prudence to decisions of
daring, Their actions are sometimes
inspired by that administrative for
mality which. in France, has SO often
paralyzed initiative and delayed effort.
But GU have a right to hope that your
great task of military organization will
be carried through. not along admins
trative channels that are always slug
gish, but by rapid and daring methods
that are the boast of Americas indus
trial and commercial leaders. 1t is thus,
and thus alone, that you Will reach your
goal-to come swiftly to aid your al
lies to strike hard upon the common
foe.
Operation Is Colossal.
Outlining difficulties of all kinds in
volved in the construction of an army
of useful Intervention on the battle
field. we mus not forget either that
to Europe of such vast
forces is a colossal operation. II one
that you must transport to
France not only your forces, but the
supplies required to maintain them. II
small number of vessels available.
then it will be realized that despite all
YOUR efforts the number of divisions
to France between now
and next summer must forcihly be linn
tied You are obliged therefore by the
most formal of necessities to begin
of American forces
right now and continue it to the ut
most possible extent without any in
terrurtion.
ia eeous to draw up plan regulating
m odically in advance the embarka-
tion in special ships of American units
fully organized, eouipned and trained.
and. in word. to subordinate the trans
tion of their training. But this solu-
ton of the problem is too theoretical
and presents serious dangers. of which
the least would be to delay the arrival
of American troops on the scene Of ac-
tion far beyond the period in which
their intervention would be opportune.
Plan for Transportation.
oft is true that a plan of transporta-
+ion must be drawn up and true that
forces embarked must receive prelimi-
nary training as thorough as possible.
But 1t is necessary also that every
ayaflable ton of freight be utilized and
that every ship leaving America be
yolye the embarkation of units that
were incomplete OF inSumclently
trained.
at is in France that these units will
be brought up to full strength and
united to the corps to which they be-
long. a process which itself will hasten
them toward their final state of organi