The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1917-05-03
U. s. WILL SEND ARMY TO FRANCE, NATION PROMISES
Allies Need of Food and Supplies to Be Met First,
 Washington Hears.

washington, May 3.-The Quesuon z. sending an early detachment of American troops to France now rests definitely on the possibility of pro- ts1ring shipping to transport them.
 The French mission has been as- sassed that their desire for a division tS carry the American flag at the front will be granted as soon as the Allies need for food and supplies will permit sufficient transport space to , carry them This is understood to mean that it will not be long before the detachment goes.
 In large sense the Governments promise to send the American unit places the actual determination or the time in the hands of the British, since the United States is acting in com plete cooperation with the British goyernrnent in the shipping program. Great Britain has been directing the allied shipping interests. and is best quslified, through her organization and the information at her disposal to say where and how much tonnage can be spared from transporting food and supplies to carry troops and their baggage. The case as 1t now shapes up is practically this:
 The United States has indicated its entirc readiness to enter into the war in whatever ways will best contribute to it's quick ending. The Allies all need food, steel, oil. coal railway roll ing stock. and the ships to carry them in. fss XSs
 France through her mission, has expressed her profound belief that an early detachment of American troops would also greatly strengtnen the Allies strategically far out of pro portion to the technical disadvantages of sending thein.f The United States has now shown it's willingness to agree to this arrangement In spite of the opposition of the general staff of the army to the policy, chiefly. it is to be assumed, out of deference to the experienced Judgment of Marshal Joffre and his associates. The United States has at it's disposal. however, only a limited amount of shipping, which can not be; materially increas- ed in volume until next Fall. when the wooden shipbuilding program be- gins to produce results. The Amer ican government therefore now says to it's allies In effect;
 we are ready to give you both the supplies and the mem, 1t is for. you who know your own needs best to say for which our limited amount of tonnage can most advantageously be used.s
 The dificuities can best be realized when it is recalled that the amount of tonnage to be transported with Q fully equipped force of 10000 men would approximate 100000 tons. The great emphasfs which has been placed on the menace to Europes food supply caused by submarine rAvages, both by z American officials and by the Men1-f bers of the visiting missions, makes the transportation o1 these troops very serious matter, therefore. Sec retary Lansing gave further cause for anxiety over the shipping situation when he announced gravely yesterday afternoon that i've might as well wake up to the fact that the situation is serious"
 ally made here is that the troops might be carried over in very small z detachments on ships which are en- gagged in transporting supplies for Europe without disrupting the supply system as much as the plan of taking separate vessels for transporting troops exclusively.
 It is generally believed that in spite of the difficulties some way out of the d1nemA will be round to give France the early detachment she wants. The French mission has made it clear that they believe the presence of the troops on the lighting line will be worth all its costs to the Allies cause s M
 M. yiyiani and M. Hovelacque of the French mission took luncheon with President Wilson yesterday, and it is believed that the troop question came up again for discussion between them. Marshal Joffre, accompanied by CoI,i Spencer Cosby. attached to the mission as aid, who acted as inter- preter. later called. on the Pres- } dent after taking luncheon at the British Embassy and remained with him for an hour. It b thought that both M viyiani and Marshal Joffre expressed again Frances desire that the American division be sent.
 What troops will have the honor o1 going first remains still a matter o1 speculation. From what can be learn ed now there seems little Likelihood that Colonel Roosevelt is in the pres ent plans for the detachment, al. though it is. probable that the ques- ton as to who will go has not beer formulated with any definiteness ..l.--