The Carlisle independent., 1917-05-10
AMERICA WILL BE SENDING TROOPS TO EUROPE BEFORE
 MANY WEEKS.
WILL CROSS IN ATTACHMENTS
Preliminary Training of Four Months Needed by Absolutely Green Men The Rest They Will Get Back of the Lines.
By EDWARD B. CLARK.

every army man, whether an enemy or friend, knows it. It cannot be a secret to anybody except the unsophis- ticated civilian.
 Ii anyone expects to see troops raised in June delay their departure for Europe until the following spring, expectation will be disappointed. Our troops will receive a large part of their training just back of the lines both on Is nc thought that American soldiers are to confine their activities solely to the fields in France.
 There are 50,0o0 American soldiers ready today for the final training with in sound of the firing in Europe. Two months in such places as the British troops trained for the fight will pre- pare at least two American divisions for actual conflict. The men compris- ing these divisions know all the pre- liminary game.
 Men with military knowledge appre- ciate the fact that if green troops are given years training in America be-
 
 have overstayed their time by half a year. Military lessons learned during the present war and in part during pre- vious wars, if they are put to servlce as they will be, will result in the quick dispatch of a small but effective or ganization to the European battlefields, added to from time to time by other increments as they are prepared for the final training for battle.
 Would Not Send All at Once. that the United States intends to raise a million men and to send them across the water all at once, thereby inviting sea disaster on huge scale and de- laying the participation of American troops in the battle game until it may be too late for them to be of saving service.
 From time to time during the next year, if war shall continue, the coun- try can expect to see detachments of American troops sent successively across the water under convoy. Many of the men who will enter the service have seen previous military training They will be ready for the last train ing back of the lines far in advance of the men who never before nave toted q rifle or executed a squad right"
 Can Supply the Ammunition.
 There is the matter, of course, of the supply of troops and it may be said that if we send men over we are in a condition to keep the Timber chests and the caisSons of the artillery filled with shells and the belts of the infan- try and of the machine guns filled with cartridges. The United States is in condition today to supply the neces- sary ammunition, and more of it as the need arises to a considerable force of men.
 If 50000 troops go to Europe within a month, as is likely, they will not want for supplies of every kind so long as the lanes of approach can be kept open, and this our navy unques- tionably can attend to.
 Prior to the sending of a second expedition there will be ample time to provide it's equipment and a continu- ous flow of ammunition. Our factories are in good shape, not only to supply quickly American needs but allied needs When the men are ready they will go and 1t will not take as long to make them ready as some people seem to believe.
 Absolutely green troops must be taught ''the school of the soldier" obedience, self-reliance, guard duty, company and battalion drill before they are sent aboard, but this can be done in four months time. With supplementary training of from two to three months under semi-battle condi- tions in France or with the Russians ready for the fighting line and in less time than most Americans seem to think is to be needed to give them their preliminary drills in this country. The man who enlists now will get into Eur ope long before he has any idea will be the case.
 First Line of Defense.
 Coast guard ships of Uncle Sam out on the lonely seas are pa- trolling their ports and doing senti- nel duty for the United States. In a way these cutters of the old revenue service form first line of defense for the battleships, the cruisers, and the destroyers, and for the cities of these United States.
 The cutters not only are sentinels, but they are fighters. Of course they cannot contend with the great ships of an enemy's navy, nor with the smaller armored craft, but they can do valiant service against submarines. More over, with their wireless they can flash instant signals of warning to all the warships near shore, to all the navy yards and to all the coast service sta tions of the home land.
 Nobody knows just where the rev. l..