Eagle River review. [volume] (Eagle River, Wis.) 1890-1927, 1917-06-15
JoFFRE'S APPEAL FOR TROOPS
ALTERED THE SCHEME OF
THE GENERAL STAFF.
LONG DELAY NOT NECESSARY
Indications Are That America Will
Be Represented on the Fighting
Line Far in Advance Of the Date
Originally Set.
BY EDWARD 3. CLARK.

this country until an enormous force
was trained and ready to send to Eu-
rope virtually in one great expedition.
sent together, but the plan was to get
them over there as nearly as possible
IN q bunch.
This planning of the army authori-
ties, so far as the military chiefs
could do it, definitely was fixed upon.
Most people, however, probably will
remember the recall which was
sounded by American authority on
the request made by General Joffre
for the dispatch of an immediate
force to Europe.
1t may have been President Wilson
who finally decided the question of
the wisdom of sending General Perish
ing's division to the other side. I'm
questionably General JOtfre's plea
made a great impression upon Presi-
dent Wilson. Pershing's force is to
go, and it seems now to be extremely
likely that other original plans of the
war department may go the way just
slS ILLS III 81 pan ALGAS SSOlAC IL
When General Pershing's division
reaches Europe, or rather after it has
been there short time, it will be
found to be serviceable i'll way that
Is not all sentiment. There have been
some vaporings about a force for sen
timental purposes. If "Black Jack"
PerShing thought he was being sent
to Europe as lollipop with senti-
mental feather in his hat he probably
would quit the army.
Original Plans Altered.
The government of the United
| States has allowed newspapers to tell
| how many men there are to be in
Pershing's outfit, and that it is intend
| ed to send the troops as quickly as
| possible. So it becomes proper, be-
cause the intention to dispatch a force
marks complete change of original
plan, for one to say a word about how
the general staff's original plans were
shell riddled and to say something al
so concerning what effect the change
may have on the future.
No one knows, of course, and no
one would say il he did know, just
when other expeditionary forces are
to be sent to Europe. The departure
of Pershing's force will not be chrOn-
icled. When it arrives safely on the
other side the world will know about
it, and not before. The same veil of
secrecy will be thrown about the de-
parture of other forces in the future.
Out of the general field of the plan
ming, however, one or two things may
be picked FOR proper comment and ex-
PLANTATION.
If the Origina. plan had been ad-
hered to American troops, except for
some few engineer attachments,
would not have sent to Europe for
many months. A long time will
elapse anyway before big force is
on the fighting line, but it can be said
that the United States is in much bet
ter condition than it was thought to
be to send considerable forces of
troops to Europe earlier than was the
expectation.
The French military officers appar-
emily made an impression on the
mind of the war department when it
told of the intensive training possibili-
ties lust back of the French lines.
General Bridges of the British army
in a public address, told of men who
! never having seen a rifle, were made
ready for the fighting line with eleven
| weeks intensive training.
Training Won't Take So Long.
Everything that has developed with
in the last few weeks tends to show
| that America will be represented on
the fighting front of Europe consid-
| cradle time in advance of the date or
iginally set for it's participation in ac-
| tual hostilities. There are units of
| the National Guard which Frenchmen
have said need only the short train
| ing back of the lines to make them tit
for the fight. Our regulars, with less
training than would be necessary for
| the Guard, will be in condition quick
| ~ to go into the trenches.
1t is not going to take year to
train the recruits for service. Today
IuGTG are III AAOAJ lAAOOSanAo VI
young men who after only three
months instruction, will be made jul
| nior officers Of the national army,
whose duty it will be to instruct re-
cruits. If the regular officers Of the
United States army can make officers
| out of green men in three months, is
| It logical to suppose that it is going
to take much longer time to fit the
| enlisted men for the intensive train
| ing camps back Of the line in France.
Camps Will Be Schools.
| The war departm has not yet Sc
| lected sites for all the training camps.
Gen. Leonard Wood is to have Is Of
| them under his directing and disci-
| plinary control. There were those
| who thought that If General Wood
| was to be removed from New York.
| he should have been sent to Boston
as the place second in Importance.
! Brig. Gen. Clarence r. Edwards COM