The Seattle star. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1899-1947, 1917-07-20


fedsrallzed militia would DO In
France within the next few
months.
Cargo ships srs Just 40 important
~ transports. - the amount OF
supplies that must b taken 70
France for an army OF any consld-
srable sire 10 tremendous.
OF course. II would be moro than
folly 10 send troops 70 Europe any
faster than they can be supplied
with food. munitions. transport OF
every character and the thousand
and one things that 20 20 make up
the complete equipment OF a mod
ern army.
Working 20 Send Troops
Tho war department. from the
secretary down. 10 working with nj.
most superhuman energy TO over
como what At times seem insur-
mountable obstacles To land an ef-
feetive fighting force In France at
the earliest possible moment
Up to n few weeks ago II was
not thought good strategy To send
moro American soldiers 10 France
this year than was necessary 10
evidence our coed faith to our al
lies and for moral effect on Ger.
many.
The allies had about given up all
hope OF landing the knockout blow
on Germany this year
Russia's ability to renew an OF.
fensive on tho eastern front was
doubted. and IL was thought Amer
lea could best contribute to the
final overthrow OF the kaiser by
diverting all possible shipping 10
the feeding OF her allies and sup
plying them with necessary war
material. while training her armies
here.
sIsv Drive 10 Reason
Suddenly Russia. contrary 10 Ell
pectstions. gathered herself to-
gether and began 20 strike. Then
came we'll authenticated rumors of
great dissatisfaction and unrest
among the people OF Germany.
The possibility OF defeating
Germany THIS YEAR again
claimed the attention OF the al
He'd strateoists. and II was de-
eIded 20 press the enemy on ev.
cry front and Try to force . de-
cIsion.
II In not too much 20 say that
the allies hope the German people
are suffic. lily dIsheartencd 80
that six months pounding on all
fronts will convince them they are
doomed 70 certain defeat. and
cause them TO turn against their
rulers.
Under those suddenly changed
conditions. II was decided that
America could best contribute 10
the end sought by adding to the
allies strength on the western
front as large an army a. possible.
delivered rs soon as possible.
The reason for this is only partly
The bigger reason IL to
prove 10 the German people that
their rulers lied 10 them when they
told them America would fight only
with her dollars. and could not
send more than a handful OF sol
diers TO Europe 10 less than two
years.
When the news filters into Ger
many that shipload after shipload
OF American soldiers are landing In !
France year and a half before |
the kaiser and Won Hindenburg |
said they could, IL Is going TO be /
pretty hard 10 restore the morale |
Of the German people-at least this /
Is the reasoning Of the allied STRAIT
EXISTS and statesmen. and II seems
both rational and logical.
May Send 100000
While II 10 impossible TO get
any figures from the war de-
psrtment. Il 10 probable there
will be 100000 American sol.
diers In France before the snow
flies. II 10 POSSIBLE there
will be twice that number.
The Pershing expedition In mere
~ the advance guard. Porshing
has half a division. about 5000
men. This will be made a whole
after which division OF
militia will follow and be followed
by n division OF regulars, and 80 on.