The Madison daily leader. [volume] (Madison, S.D.) 1890-current, 1917-05-21
Pershing Will Com
mand Expedition.
men WILL START SOON
President Opposes Raising VOL
unteer Divisions.

Washington, May 20. - President
Wilson has ordered that division of
regular troops, commanded by Major
France at the earliest practical date.
This is the answer of America to
frances plea that the Stars and
Stripes be carried to the fighting
front without delay to hearten the
soldiers battling there with concrete
evidence that a powerful ally has
come to their support against German
aggression.
Following is the text of the terse
announcement of the war department
as to General Pershing's expedition:
The president has directed en- ex-
peditionary force of approximately
one division of regular troops under
command of General John j Pershing
to proceed to France at as early a date
as possible.
General Pershing and staff will
precede the troops abroad.
IL IN IEQutEAtd AAtab hO ACAhiAo VI
speculations with regard to the mobil-
ization of this command, dates of de-
parture or other facts be carried by
the press other than the official bull
letins given out by the war depart
ment relating thereto"
Roosevelt Plan Is Opposed.
At the same time it was announced
that Colonel Roosevelt will not be per-
mitted to raise his volunteer expedi-
tion to carry the American flag against
the Germans in France.
On signing the war army bill Presi-
dent Wilson issued a statement say
ing that, acting under expert advice
from both sides of the water, he would
be unable to avail himself at the pres
ent stage of the war of the authorize
tion to organize volunteer divisions.
There was talk in army circles of
the possibility that a way would be
found to use the former PRESIDENT s
services in another way but official
comment on the subject was lacking.
The man who led the expedition
llllO MtAlAO anu lldnhiFA AiF hiiAlAhAA
task with such judgment and skill as
to win the complete confidence of the
president and his advisers has worked
hard on plans for the expedition TO
France He has been in daily confer
ence with Secretary Baker, Major
General Bliss. acting chief Of staff
with department officials cooperating
In the preparation of the forces he
will lead against the Germans and
also with Lieutenant General Bridges
head of the military section of the
British mission and a veteran of the
battlefields of France.
Selecting Force With Care.
No information that either French
or British officers have been able tC
furnish has been lacking and there i
every indication that the regular
forces which will compose the expedi
tionary division are being selected
with the greatest care.
No inkling of the plans for that di
vision have been allowed to leak out
It is known, however, that orders have
already gone forward to officers ol
tried judgment and long experience
notifying them to prepare for foreign
service.
The war in Europe has developed
many new phases of battle not here
tofore known in military science.
Artillery has decided the fate Of
many battles and every army has
doubled and trebled its guns, both in
size and number.
For this reason 1t was thought like
ly that the expeditionary forces would
include a disproportionate number o
artillery troops and be backed by {
solid wall of guns when it comes tC
grips with the enemy.
The number of men in the expedi
tionary force has not been disclosed
A division at war strength, how
ever, totals more than $4,000 men o
all arms and the approximate" divi
sion of the war departments state
ment probably will exceed that figure