New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-05-20
Tardieu Tells
How America Can
Best Aid Allies
New High Commissioner to
u. S. Explains Needs
of France

Paris, April 10. -"What would be
the best description of a fighting force
for America TO send at once to take
its place with the armies Of France
and England on the Western 'front.'"
put this question to NJ. Andre Tar
dieu, the new High Commissioner TO
the United States appointed by France
to coordinate the efforts of America
and the European Allies. He is to
have under his direction the French
military and naval missions to Amer
lea, as well as the industrial ard iinan-
cial missions and the purchasing COM
missions. He has been a lecturer in
the French High School OF War and
has seen two years of active service at
the front.
Special units" he replied. Amer
lea should be able to send us in a short
time many batteries of heavy artillery,
fully equipped and with thoroughly
trained officers and crews. She could
send aviation squadrons, with trained
pilots, and she could send automobile
conveys with their drivers"
"And infantry for the trenches?" ]
asked.
81 have heard it said that an Amer
lean army will. arrive too late" he re.
piled; "but who can fix the date Of
peace? Who can say that an Amer
lean reinforcement of 100000 men or
more in 1918 would not be of inestima-
bic value, would not turn the tide of
victory? The formation of an Amer
lean army recruited, equipped and in
structed like the English army is not
only desirable but absolutely neces-
ssry, and the military missions we have
sent and are sending to our new allies
will give them the benefit of all our
experience, so that they can be pre-
pared at the earliest possible date"
Stars and Stripes Needed
There is no question in the mind Of
any ono in France of the ACCESSIBILITY
and desirabilty of the Stars and
battle front. There is a great deal of
sentiment aDOuL the lnouBHt, anu luci (
is a thorough realization of the moral
effect of the appearance of the Amer
lean flag in line. The only question
that arises is as to the most practical
way for American troops to be en-
ployed with the least loss of time.
Little is known here about how thor
oughly equipped and how well trained
the American regular army is for mod
ern warfare, but it is not believed that
the regular army would be sent over at
once. II then comes down to volun-
teers. and from the English experience
and their own experience. French mil
itary men believe that for American
volunteer infantry to come at once to
Franco would mean only that they
would have to undergo training behind
the lines here instead Of at home.
The best solution offered Is com.
bination of several ideas. 1t is to send
heavy artillery at the earliest possible
date. This would put American troops
Immediately onto the firing line-put
the Stars and Stripes on the battle
front. Meantime let volunteer infan-
try be training at home, and after
say, four months of training in Amer
ics. they could come to France for fin
ishing touches before going into the
trenches.
In NJ. Tardieu's idea the things Amer
lea can supply quickest are aeroplanes.
"These can be furnished almost i'm
medately," he said, "but for the help
to be efficacious there are two condi-