The sun., 1917-05-20
BAKER FOUGHT
JOFFRE'S PLAN
Secretary Overruled by the
President OH Sending
Army to France.
STAFF AGAINST SCHEME
Wilson Made Decision Con-
trary to Views of His Mill
tary Advisers.
STAFF AGAINST SCHEME

WASHINGTON, May 13.-President
Wilson's decision to send American
troops led by Major-Gen. Pershing to
France at once is a result Of the advice
given by N. v!viani and Marshal Jof-
fire.. The President is believed to have
overruled the opinion of Secretary
Baker, which was based on the views
OF the majority Of the General STAFF.
The position which the President took
before the French commission arrived
here was that this country should first
train and equip force OF approximately
l.500,0 men before considering send
ing any troops to Europe. This was
the idea OF the General staff and had
the full Endorsement OF Secretary Baker.
who pleaded the cause OF the STAFF
officers at the White House. In re-
sponse to intimations that American
troops might form an early expedition
airy force to France II was made clear
at the White House for a long time that
the President was going to be guided
by the professional opinion OF his mill
tary advisers
! When the news first leaked out that
/ Marshal Joffre Intended to ask this
! Government to send troops at once II
| caused a profound sensation at the
War Department. Secretary Baker and
| the STAFF officers did not at first credit
! tho report. I, was believed that the
/ President would stand by the War De-
partment.
The principal reasons for opposition
to Marshal Joffre idea were that the
sending of troops now would cripple
the machinery for raising large army
oy taking away the officers needed here
20 train men. Il was also argued that
small force would oe Of no practical
benefit to the Entente fighting line
But Marshal Joffre emphasized the ex-
treme Importance Of dramatic or psy-
Geological effect AZ this critical 1uncture
il, the war situation.
Marsha. Joffre said the plan OF At
tempting 10 send a large force all at once
was impracticable. II would take fiv'
months to get half a million men over
ne pointed out. and the training whicl
the men would get here would not o'
/ maarablc to the intensive traininl
which they could get near the firing line
IL general, Marshal Joffre's ideas on al
important points wer. 6iametrically op
posed TO tae General staff views. so muci
so that the French commission requested
the newspaper men who talked will
Marshal Jofrre TO suppress the interview
out OF consideration fo- the feelings o
the War Department officials.
Since then Marshal Jotfrrs VIEWS hav
gained weigh. among Staf officers Tn
American puhiic's royal reception TO tn
hero of the Marnc may rave had some
thing 20 do with il. Ma jor-Gen. Scott
CHE OF STAFF. Topped to Marshal Jofsre'
point of view and the majority OF tn
General staff were further disconcerte
BY other converts 20 Marshal Joffre
Secretary Baker is understood to hav
remained true TO tho views OF his profes
sional advisers until re saw that II
President mind was made w TO foilo'
the advice of tre French commission.
is now known thai before Marshal Joffr
left here for his western trip re la
positive assurances from .hc Whit
House that an American force would b
, sent TO France rs soon as arrangement
could be made.