New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-05-19
Expedition of $4,000
Will Go "As Soon
as Possible"
Guard To Be Called
Out by Midsummer
President Starts the
Machinery for Draft
ing 1000, 900 Men
From III. Tribune Bureau

on lAe irOunc bolcAsi
Washington, May ls.-President Will
son tonight directed that division OF
United States regulars. under command
of Major General Pcrshing, proceed
to France and cooperate with the An
glo-French forces as soon as possible.
At the same time he announced that
he would not avail himself Of Colonel
Roosevelts offer to raise a division or
more of volunteers Of more than con-
scription age.
The President, afte- signing the
selcctve army draft bill tonight, ap-
rointed June as the day upon which
the young men Of the country between
the ages Of twcnty-onc and thirty
must present themselves for reEistra-
tion.
The drafted army will not be as
scmbled until early fall, but long be-
fore that American regulars will be in
the trenches. The immediate sending
Of the division of regulars is the Prcsi-
dents reply to Marshal Jofre's re-
quest that the American flag be carried
to the battle front by American SOL
dicrs with all possible speed.
The army law which the President
signed tonight provides for an ulti-
mate force of more than 100000 men
backing up the troops now about TO
stsrt for the front.
The Presidents proclamation sets in
motion the machinery which will enroll
and select from 100000 young men
between the ages Of twenty-one and
thirty.
Pershing Expedition Announced
Following Is the text OF the ferse On.
nouncement Of the War Department %
to General Pershing's expedition:
The President has directed an cx-
peditionary force of approximately
one division Of regular troops. under
command Of General John J. Per-
shing, to proceed TO France at ss
early date as practicable. General
Pershing and staff will precede the
troops abroad.
1t is requested that no details or
speculations with regard to the mo-
biization Of this command, dates Of
departure or other items, be carried
by the press, other than the oficial
bulletins given out by the War De-
partment relating thereto.
The number Of men in the expedi-
tionary force has not been disclosed.
A division at war strength, however, to-
tails more than $4,000 men Of all arms,
and the Approximate" division Of the
War Departments statement probably
will exceed that figure.
General Pershing has been in Wash
ington for several days. He was per-
sonally summoned by Secretary Baker
from the Southern Department. which
was under his command until to-night's
order was issued.
Worked Hard on Plans
The man who led the expedition int
Mexico and handled his dificult task
with such judgment and skill - 70
win for him the complete confidence Of
the President and his advisers, mas
worked hard on plans for the expedi-
t;on TO France. He has been in daily
conference with Secretary Baker, Ms!of
General Bliss, acting chief Of stan, win
denartment officials cooperating IN the
nrenaratioi. OF the forces he VIII ieaa
a.ainst the Germans. and also WIN
lieutenant General Bridges. head o.
,ho military section OF the BRUSH
s.;..;or and veteran OF the ba't'e-
fields of France.
Nothing that either French or bri,-
ish officers have been able 70 i1rnsn
in the way Of Information h9, peen
licking. and .hcre "a every ina caV'n
that the regular forces which WI ec'n.
nose the expeditionary division arc
being selected with greatest care.
No inkling Of the plans for shas
division have been permitted to get out
I, ia known. however, that orders
have already gone forward to ofieers
Of tried judgment and long experience
notifying them to prepare -or foreign
service.
The war in Europe has developed
many new phases Of battle not here
tofore known in military science. Ar
tillery has decided the fate Of meuy
battles. and every army has doubles
and trebied its guns. both in size sne
number. For this reason IL was thoueht
likely that the expsditionsry forces
would include a disproportionate mum
b.r of artillery troops and be baeksd
by a solid wall Of guns when 1t comes
to grips with the enemy.
Why Troops Are Going
The sending of the division Of regu.
lars to France, against the desire Of
the General STAFF. which wished 10 wait
until at least half q million men were
ready, is the result of three influences.
One was the French commission.
Marshal Joffrc and other members ef
the commission have conducted . sys.
tematic campaign. both through ave.
nues Of publicity IN in private con-
ferences, with q view - getting Ameri-
can troops in the trenches as soon "a
| possible. Their great desire Was 10 get
the American people into the var, and
into the war spirit. They dreaded =