Grand Forks herald. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1916-1955, 1917-05-19
PEIRSHINC TO
LEAD FIRST
.. ARMY ABROAD
Big Force to be Sent to
France as Soon as
Possible.
Officers Already Notified to
be Ready for Foreign
Service.

WA0A3Il8 SVht Xh@ys W. I0Dlu0IS
Wilson last night signed the war army
bill passed by Congress. issued n proc
lamation setting June 8 as the select
i've draft registration day and ordered
that a division Of regular troops COM
manded by Major General John j.
Pershing be sent to France at the
earliest practicable date.
This Is the answer Of America to
Frances plea that the Stars and
front without delay to hearten the
soldiers battling there with concrete
evidence that a powerful ally has
come to their support against Ger
man aggression.
Following 10 the text Of the tcrse
announcement OF the war department
as to General Pershing's expedition:
1.-THE president Inns directed an
e~xpedidonsry force Of approxi-
troops under command of Gcner-
al John j. Pershing to proceed to
France at as early a date az pos
"General Pershing and stan
will procede the troops abroad.
ut is requested that no details
or specslatdOns with regard to
the mobilization of this ROM
mand, dates Of departure " other
AIsAOIA1H0tAUAA Nv w ~>
press, other than the Official bull
tetlns given out by the war de-
partment relating thereto"
General Pershing has heen In
Washington some days. He was sum-
moned from the southern department
which was under his command until
tonight'a order vas issued.
Pcrshing Well Equipped.
The man who led the expedition in
- NE>vaoo ~~d honH(aJ <ha S{Naouvk
task with such Judgment and skill as
to win the complete confidence Of
the president and his advisors has
worked hard on plans for the expedi-
ton to France. He has been in daily
conference with Secretary Baker.
Major General Bliss. acting chief of
the staff; with department officials
cooperating in the preparation Of
the forces he will lead against the
General Bridges. head Of the military
section Of the British mission and a
veteran Of the %battlefelds Of France.
No information hat 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 expe-
dictionary division are being selected
| with greatest care.
SVultN@ho IAAsSAuy
No inkling Of the plans for that
division have been allowed to leak
out. 1t ia known. however, that or
ders have already gone forward to
officers of tried Judgment and Ions
experience notifying them to prepare
for foreign service.
The war In Europe has developed
many new phases of battle rot here
tofore known in military science
| A nt111oxxy hoe Aoc1AoH tho fato ~ rnon1
battles and every army has doubled
and trebled it's runs. both in size and
number. For this. q 1t was
thought likely that the expeditionary
forces would include a disproportion-
ate number Of artillery troops and he
backed by a solid wall Of guns when
1t comes to grips with the ne1ny
The number OF men in the expedi-
tionary force has not been disclosed
totals more than $4,000 men of all
arms and the approximate" division
of the war departments statement
probably will exceed that figure. i
Why Roosevelt Doesn't Go.
In his explanation OF his reason,
for not availing himself of the SO.
called Roosevelt amendment to the
sharply the points made against thai
amendment by the army officers
Many officers who are warm admirers
Of the former president. have con.
demned his proposal to raise a volun-
teer army corps or division on the
ground that 1t would drain the reg.
ular service of men vitality needed tc
train the millions that must be
whipped into fighting trim in all toe
brief a time.
The list Of regular officers Mr.,
Roosevelt desired to take with him
has been the subject of much specu-
lation and comment. 1t has been re-
garded as virtually certain that Major
General Leonard Wood was the form.
or presidents selection for supreme
command Of the force.
Gen. Wood Has q Huge Task.
Under the plans Of the war depart.
mont. General Wood by reason Of his
great experience in mobilization prob.
lens. his unfailing energy and en-.
thusiasm, has been assigned the hard.
est task OF any general officer. He
will direct. a. commander Of the
southeastern department. the mobiliz.
alton and training Of twelve divisions
or more than 100000 men. amone
whom without question will be those
who will be first selected to follow
General Pernhing's forces to France
" r. - ------