The Ozark spectator., 1917-06-16
WAR PLAN CHANGED
JOFFRE'S APPEAL FOR TROOPS ALTERED THE SCHEME OF
 THE GENERAL STAFF.
LONG DELAY NOT NECESSARY
Indications Are That America Will Be Represented on the Fighting Line Far in Advance of the Date Originally Set.
By EDWARD B. CLARK.

By EDWARD 8. CLARK. Washington.-The American peo- pie were given to understand that 1t was the intention of the war depart ment to hold American soldiers in this country until an enormous force was trained and ready to send to Flu rope virtually in one great expedition. Of course all the troops could not be sent together, but the plan was to get them over there as nearly as possible in Il bunch.
 This planning of the army authori- ties, so far as the military chiefs could do 1t, definitely was fixed upon Most people, however, probably will remember the "recall' which was sounded by American authority on the request made by General Joffre for the dispatch of an immediate force to Europe.
 Ii may have been President Wilson who finally decided the question of the wisdom of sending General Persh- ihg'S division to the other side. Un- occasionally General JOffreS plea made a great impression upon Presi- dent Wilson. Pershing's force is to go, and it seems now to be extremely likely that other original plans of the war department may go the way just as this first plan has gone it. When General Pershing's division reaches Europe. or rather after it has
 
 found to be serviceable in a way that Is not all sentiment. There have been some vaporings about a force for sen timental purposes. If "Black Jack" Pershing thought he was being sent to Europe as lollipop with a senti- mental feather in his hat he probably would quit the army.
 Original Plans Altered. The government of the United States has allowed newspapers to tell how many men there are to be in Pershing's outfit, and that it is intend ed to send the troops as quickly as possible. So 1t becomes proper. be- cause the intention to dispatch force marks complete change of original plan, for one to say word about how the general staff's original plans were shell riddled and to say something al so concerning what effect the change may have on the future.
 No one knows. of course, and nd one would say if he did know, just when other eXpeditionary forces are to be sent to Europe. The departure of Pershing's force will not be chron- icled. When it arrives safely on the other side the world will know about 1t, and not before. The same veil of secrecy will be thrown about the de parture of other forces in the future. Out of the general field of the plan ming, however, one or two things may be picked for proper comment and ex- planation.
 If the original plan had been ad- hcred to American troops, except for some few engineer attachments, would not have sent to Europe for many months. A long time will elapse anyway before big force is on the fighting line, but 1t can be said that the United States is in much bet ter condition than 1t was thought to be to send considerable forces of troops to Europe earlier than was the expectation.
 The French military officers appar- cntly made an impression on the mind of the war department when 1t told of the intensive training possibili- ties just back of the French lines. General Bridges of the British army In public address, told of men who never having seen rifle. were made ready for the fighting line with eleven weeks intensive training.
 Training Won't Take So Long.
 Everything that has developed with in the last few weeks tends to show that America will be represented on the fighting front of Europe a consid- erable time In advance of the date or lgnally set for its participation in ac- tual hoStilities. There are units of the National Guard which Frenchmen have said need only the short train ing back of the lines to make them lit 
 training than would be necessary for the Guard. will be in condition quick iy to go into the trenches.
 It is not going to take a year to train the recruits for service. Today there are in camp many thousands of young men who after only three months instruction, will be made ju- nior officers of the national army, whose duty 1t will be to instruct re- cruits. If the regular officers of the United States army can make officers out of green men in three months. is it logical to suppose that 1t Is going to take much longer time to fit the enlisted men for the intensive train ing camps back of tho line in France.