Evening star., 1917-05-20
United States to Play Part.

When the troops Of the entente strike
simultaneously or in prearranged rapia
succession on all fronts-Flanders. France.
Russia, Rumania. the Trentino. the car
SO, the Caucasus and Mesopotamia-the
United States will be expected to play
part commensurate with her man ana
munition power.
Marshal Joffre, who has not omitted
to discuss the unity Of action problem
with American officers in Washington, has
told the administra tion what, in his op1n-
partment to follow. He has pointed out
the necessities Of the situation. which. he
believes, make it advisable for the
United States to ship troops to France,
for intensive training behind the guns,
at the earliest possible moment.
There is no expectation. however, that
this country will participate in the inter-
allied offensive, either on land or on sea,
to as large an extent as the other big
enemies Of Germany. ALTHOUGH the ,, first
may start across the Atlantic In two
months, at least half year must elApse
before a really considerable American
force could be placed in line. sveh under
the spring Of 1918 1t IL deemed doubtful
il more than ten or twelve dixisions--es.
timating a division at the French ana
German figure OF 1900 r1en-c0uld be As-
aembled on the western front under the
American flag.
But the inevitable numerical inferiority
Of the American contingent would be Off
set in a certain measure BY the large
ranks Railroad and bridge builders. tele-
phone and telegraph experts, and highly
alxilled engineers Of every kind are needed
badly in France. and 1t will be up to the
United States to supply them in bulk.
Ideas Of Marshal Jofffs.
There would. Of course. be from the
etart. according to Mar.hal Jofffss
carry the Stars and Stripes forward
into the German lines. and later on
s0me artillery. ana perhaps, II open
warfare develops. q Few cavalry resi-
.na 81 a ona hi frem sne Tine at
nrst Americans leave for France. ac.
cqtdine to my deductions. would be 90
per cent infantry, 36 per cent technical
services. including Aviatofs, and per
cannot be considered as Anal in any
sense, a. the situation changes from
day to day and the ship problem be-
comes ever more dffi1cult.
Although tActicAl1y controlled en-
tirely BY. their own ofhcers and form
ing 3 wholly self-centAined unit, the
American troops would doubtless be un-
der the command OF the interAllied gen.
era1 stan directing the offensive on All
frenta in the planning Of which the
voice. Probably they would also be
subject 70 general s1psrvieton By the
French high command On the wSatsrn
front. - the Dftfith ana D4l6iAno have
been. Al most France would Ask Of her
new ally, In this respect, less than was
demanded OF Lafayette and Rocham-
beau, who were, Of coufse, entirely un-
der the orders Of Warrington.
What viii Russia Dor
From the French military point OF
view the most impeftAnt question for
the time being Y what nussia will do.
means demoralissd and are sti1i hold
ing the trenches All along the line. the
soldiers Of the new democracy are
fona svss hess the s.Ss ssy ..n .ss
many as 100000 desertsrs. most Of
whom have simply gone of home be-
cause they wanted TO ind out what had
cause reports of the impending division
Of. the former cars domains among
the PEASANTS have been in constant cif-
cuiation at the front. A great many
tranquil at home. have returned to the
ranks.
The authorities in Paris whose duty
It il to watch these things. however
occurs in Petrograd than on the actual
front. So centralized is the Russian
governmental system that If disorder
sets in at the capital it is bound to
be felt very soohS in the army zone
The failure Of food and ammunition to
arrive promptly and in adequate guam
titles would make the lot of the Rus
sian soldier q most unpleasant one. and
his dependence on the central power
at Petrograd in this respect is abso-
lutte. Should he abandon the firing
line. either owing to an insufficiency OF
food and munitions. or in the event ot
n seuarate peace. some seventy German
divisions. or close upon $4,000 men
and the bulk Of the Austrian army
would be released for service on the
western front against the Italians.