Pierre weekly free press. (Pierre, S.D.) 1889-19??, 1917-05-24
VICTIM
OF GERMANY
AIDED FIRST
Fighting General May Take
Regulars to Help Hold All
Q. }elgium That
Is Free.
TO DRAFT ENTIRE GUARD
Legislation to Increase Army
and Navy Strength Will Be
Hurried Supplies for
Expedition Rushed.
DRAFT ENTIRE GUARD

Washington. d. c.. May 2l-Ameri-
can troops when they go to the Euro
pean battle front may take places to
buttress the little Belgian line, SO te-
naciously holding fast to n strip on
the extreme west-af of Belgium that.
escaped the German invaders.
The war department today had no
announcement to d to its terse bull
letin of last night, which merely said
Mai. Gen. Pershing would e n dt-
| vision OF regular abroad AT as early
a date as is practicable"
But President Wilson'S statement <
| planning his reasons for not accepting
Mt this time Colonel Rocsevelt's offer
of a division contained Il phrase which
has attracted much attention inc sug-
gested the possibility that American
troops may SO to Bel9ium-to help
right the wrongs which turned tho
world against Germany.
The president explained that the reg
ular army officers whom Colonel
Roosevelt wanted to take with his di-
vision We're needed for, the much moro
pressing and necessary duty of train
ing regular troops TO be put in the
field in France and Belgium as fast
as they can be got ready"
Rush Supplies for Army.
So far as is known that was the first
official mention of putting American
troops in Belgium and the sentimental
value Of sending troops bearing the
American flag TO the violated soil of
the little country in whose behalf aii
humanity has been aroused has been
recognized quickly.
With the army bill now out of tho
way the navy bill will be put through
soon increasing it's strength from $1,000
to 100000 and the marine corps from
ii. 900 to $4,000.
All military advisers have agreed that
additional training within sound of ths
guns at the front must be given to
forces taken to france before they
took their places il, the line. The reg :
ulars of the e~Npeditionary force are
certain to have that training. In piac-
ing new divisions in the line of battle.
Great Britain has followed the practice
of accustoming the men gradually to
the work before them. The first 100000
of the Kitchiner army was put in with
each battalion thanked by veteran
British or French troops until it found
itself.
Pershins to Select Site.
Presumably General Pershing will
select. in conference with French and
British officials when he reaches the
scene of action, the location for tho
the line to Which American troops will
later be assigned will also be deter
mined then. The first expedition prob
ably, also will pave the wa Cor tho
armies that are to follow 1t as soon al
they are ready.
a minimum of a2a,oo0 fighting men
will be brought to the colcrs under
t. .ose$ orders, supplenenting the 20, 900
regulars who will be under arms by
June 15. 1t is from these forces that the
first armies to join General Pershing
at the front will he drawn, TO be fol
lowed within a few months ~ waves
from the selective draft armies. the first
500, 900 of whom will be modified Sep
TENDER 1.
General persling and his staff will
go to Europe ahead OF his troops at as
early a date as practicable. He was
automatically relieved OF his command
OF the southern department by tho
presidents orders designating him to
command the troops TO be sent to
Europe.
1t is requested that no details or spec
ulations with reference to the mobiltza
tion OF this command, dates OF de.
parture or other items be carried by
the press, other than the official bull
letins given out by the war department,
relating thereto.
Washington. ID. c.. May at-General
Pershing holds the rank OF major gen.
eral. 1t is aid IN good authority, how
ever, that he may be made lieutenant
general. Thise would be possible under
existing law. The need for 1t is found
? Ill Tie IdCL lid a. MittJOI SSHSlA AOtOAu
Pershing would be outranked by many
foreign officers. Furthermore, the fac
that Pershing goes as head Of the frs
expedition means that he would doubt,
less command he entire force Of thu
new American army, once 1t Is or
French soil.
The possibility that the title OF gen.
eral, which was held by Grant may b.
revived, is suggested.
Washington. May PA regiment o
marines commanded by Col. Charles A
Doyan and composed of veterans OF &C
tive service in Haiti. Santo Domingo
and Cuba, will accompany the arm,
division to be sent to France unde
Major General Pershing.
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