The Madison journal. (Tallulah, Madison Parish, La.) 1888-current, 1917-05-12
ARMY To GO SOON
AMERICA WILL BE SENDING
TROOPS TO EUROPE BEFORE
MANY WEEKS.
WILL CROSS IN DETACHMENTS
Preliminary Training Of Four Months
Needed by Absolutely Green Men
The Rest They Will Get Back Of
the Lines.
BY EDWARD 3. CLARK.


go 10 Europe in short order. This i
the logic Of the whole situation and
every army man, whether al enemy or
d friend, knows IL. Il cannot be
secret 10 anybody except the uusoplIis-
ticatcd civilian.
If anyone expects 10 see troops
raised in June delay their departure
for Europe until the following spring,
expectation Will be disappointed. our
troops will receive large part Of their
trimming just back of the lines both on
the East and West ia Europe, for there
Is no thought that American soldiers
are 10 cOniinc their activities solely
10 the fields in France.
There are 10000 American soldiers
ready today for the final training with
In sound of the firing in Europe. Two
months in such places as the British
troops trained for the fight will pre-
pare at least two American divisions
for actual conflict. The men compris-
ing these divisions know all the pre-
liminary game.
Men with military knowledge uppre-
ciate the fact that if green troops are
given Il years training in America be-
fore being sent to the front, they will
have Oycrstayed their time by half
year Military lessons learned during
the present war and in part during pre-
viOus wars, If they are put TO service
as they will be, will result in the quick
a oh If hut off r.
ganiZatiOn to the European battletields,
added to from time to time by other
increments as they are prepared for
the final training for battle.
Would Not Send All at Once.
No one ought to be led to believe
that the United States intends TO raise
n million men and TO send them across
the water all at once, thereby inviting
sea disaster on q huge scale and de-
laying the participation of American
troops in the battle game until it may
be too late for them to be of saving
service.
From time to time during the next
year, If war shall continue, the cOun-
]
American troops sent successfully
across the water under convoy. Many
Of the men who will enter the service
have seen previous military training.
They will be ready for the last train
ing back Of the lines far In advance Of
the men who never before have toted
rife or executed a squad right"
Can Supply the Ammunition.
There is the matter, of course. of
the supply Of troops and it may be said
that If we send men over we are in
condition to keep the timber chests
and the caissons of the artillery filled
with shells and the belts of the infan-
try and Of the machine guns filled with
cartridges. The United States is in a
condition today to supply the neces-
sary ammunition, and more of it as the
need arises to considerable force of
men.
If $4,000 troops go to Europe within
month, as is likely, they will not
want for supplies of every kind so
long as the lanes of approach can be
kept open, and this our navy unques-
tionably can attend to.
Prior to the sending Of a second
expedition there will be ample time TO
provide its equipment and continu-
Gus flow Of ammunition. Our factories
are in good shape, not only to supply
quickly American needs but allied
needs. When the men are ready they
will 20 and 1t will not take as long
to make them ready as some people
seem to believe.
Absolutely green troops must be
taught 1.-The school Of the soldier
obedience, self-reliance, guard duty
company and battalion drill before
they are sent aboard, but this can be
done in four months time. With @
, supplementary training of from two tc
three months under semi-battle cOndi
lions in France or with the Russians
on the eastern front, these men will BIZ
ready for the fighting line and in les.
, time than most Americans seem L
think is to be needed to give them theil
preliminary drills in this country. TIL,
man who enlists now will get into Eur
ope long before he has any idea will
be the case.
First Line of Defense.
Coast guard ships of Uncle San
| out on the lonely seas are pa
trolling their ports and doing senti
mel duty for the United States. In
way these cutters of the old revenu
| service form first line of defense 70
| the battleships, the cruisers, and tn
destroyers, and for the cities Of thes
| United States.
| The cutters not only are sentinels
| but they are fighters. OF course the
| cannot contend with the great ships O
| an enemy's navy, nor with the smalle
| armored craft, but they can do valian
| service against submarines. More
| over. with their wireless they can flas
| instant signals of warning to all tn
| warships near shore, to oil the nav
| yards and to all the coast service sta
| tons of the home land.