The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1917-05-03
Will Garry Flag to Fighting
Front For Moral Effect 1t
Will Have
NO PREPARATIONS NOW
TO SEND LARGE ARMY
Regular Army to Remain to
Aid In Training Army Soon
To Be Called-Great Force
Will Eventually Be Sent

Washington, May 2.-President
Wilson and General Joffre conferred
at length toda&eyer- America. co
operation In military activities in
France. NO announcement was made
after the conference. Everything in
dicated, however, that a small group
, of American troops, probably drawn
/ from the national guard. would be
sent within a month TO France.
This decision has been reached on
account of the moral effect OF having
American troops at the French front.
| 1t would say more eloquently than
oral or written pledges. officials be-
lieve, that the United States is in and
in TO stay. The French and British
commissioners are said to be highly
pleased with this prospect
After the French marshals call at
the White House it was learned at the
war department that the British gov
ernment would be asked the loan of
transports to send the American
troops to the continent
Transports which have been used
for taking Canadian forces 10 Eng
land probably will be loaned the
United States.
TOuT bTiSauCS SuGy So
II was predicted unoficially by Of
ficers Of the general staff that prob
ably no more than four brigades of
Americans would be sent abroad with
in the next two months. These would
go in at least two groups. Officials
1 said national guard troops could be
| spared more easily at this time than
units OF the regular army. The army
command and non-commissioned Of
| ficers would be employed In organiz-
ing and drilling the recruits who are
| now arriving at army posts and which
would be assembled in concentration
camps when application begins OF the
new army selective CONSUMPTION meas
ure
The guard is already quite pre-
pared for the expedition in the opin-
| ion OF war department officials. The
! pick of the militia most likely will be
sent. The militia service on the
Mexican border last summer gave the
! men and officers an experience which
| it is believed has prepared them for 4
campaign,
No Preparation to Send Large Army.
Officials said tonight that no actual
| preparations had been begun for send
| ing any large bodies of men TO France.
Much is to be done IN recruiting and
lar army and in oranizing new units.
| The presence at the French front
OF even a small body OF American SOL
diers Is expected TO be the beginning
| of vast American army to support
the French and British lines, and
American representation which would
grow as the war spirit and war
preparations in this country gain mo-
| mentum.
Secretary of War Baker, when ask =
| ed this afternoon whether the nation
al guard will be the first TO go, made
the following statement
THE questions to be determined
| are how can the United States best
that is most efficiently and most rapid
iy-aid in Europe. As the form OF
effort is determined upon, so far as
consistent with probabilities Of the
case, it will be announced. Prior to
such announcement OF intentions.
speculations and statements of sup
posed intention on the part of the
government, are. of course. entirely
uninformed