The Daily Missoulian. [volume] (Missoula, Mont.) 1904-1961, 1917-05-19

to General Pershing's expedition:
The Announcement.
"The president has directed an
expeditionary force Of approx
mately one division Of regular
troop sunder command Of General
John J. Pershng to proceed to
France at as early date as pos
sible.
General Pershing and staff will
precede the troops abroad.
st is requested that no details
or speculations with regard to the
mobilization Of this command,
dates Of departure or other in
formation be carried by the press,
other than the official bulletins,
given out by the war department.
relating thereto"
General pcrshing has been in Wash
ington some days. He was summoned
from the southern department, which
was under his command until tonight's
order was ISSUED.
The man who led the expedition in
to Mexico and handled the difficult
task with such Judgment and skin as
to win the complete confidence of the
president and his advisors, has worked
hard on plans for the expedition to
France. He has been in daily confer
cnce with Secretary Baker. Major Cen
eral Bliss. acting chief of staff; with
department officials. cooperating In
the preparation OF forces he will lead
against the Germans. and also with
Lieutenant General Bridges. head of
nCt h. Ip,,t tNl, t,,tX
sion and a veteran of the battle fields
Of France.
No information that either French
or British officers have been able to
furnish has been lacking and there Is
every Indication that the regular forces
which will compose the evolutionary
division. are being selected with the
greatest Of care
Censorship Tight.
No inkling of the plans for that di
vision have been allowed to leak out.
| It Is known however, that orders have
| already gone forward to officers OF
| tried Judgment and long experience
notifying thief to prepare for foreign
| service.
Tho war in Europe has developed
| many phases of battle not heretofore
known in military science. Artillery
has decided the fate OF many battles
and every army has doubled and
thcblcd It's guns both in size and num-
! hcr For this reason 1t was Thought
| likely that the cXpcditionary forces
would include a disrroportionatc mum
hcr or artillery troops and h" backed
by a solid wall of guns when 1t comes
to grips with the enemy.
Will Be Over $4,000.
Thc number Of men In the cXpe-
1itipnarv force has not been disclosed.
4 division at war strength. however.
totals more than $4,000 men of all arms
and the approximate division of the
war departments probably will exceed
that figure.
Roosevelt Offer Turned Down.
In his explanation Of his reasons for
not availinE himself of the so-called
Roosevelt amendment to the army bill,
Mr. Wilson has brought out sharply
tn" points made against that amend :
mcnt by army officers. Many officers
who ar" warm admirers of the former
president have condemned his pro
uoSal to raise a volunteer army corps
or division on the ground that 1t would
, drain the regular service of men vi.
. tally needed to train the millions thai
must be whipped into fighting trim il
all too biicr a time
The list of regular officers Mr.
Roosevelt desired to take with hin
has been the subject Of much specula
| ton and comment 1t has been regarde,
as virtually certain that Major Gen
4 cral Leonard Wood. was the forme
presidents selection for supreme com
mand of the force.
Hard Task for General Wood.
I Under the plans of the war depart
II mrnt General Wood, by reason of hi
n great experience in mobilization prob
lens. his unfailing energy and en-
q thusiasm. has been assigned the hard
II est task of any general officer. He Wi
direct as commander OF the south
t. eastern department, the mobilizatio
+ and training of Il divisions. or NOR
than 800, 900 men, among Whoi
=" without question, will be those VIII
will first be selected to follow Genera
Pcrshing's forces to France.