Arizona republican., 1917-05-01
WITH PRESIDENT
RESTS DECISION
OF BIC QUESTION
Republican A. p. Leased Wlre1

WASHINGTON, April 30.-With the
judgment of the French war mission
and the American army general staff
seemingly in conflict as to when Amer
lean troops should be sent to France,
particular interest attached to a con-
ference at the White House today be-
tween President Wilson and Rene vi
viani, head of the French mission.
Decision rests with the president.
through his constitutional function as
commander-in- chief of the United
States army. 1t was generally assumed
that the views of the French officials
disclosed in Marshal Joffres statement
yesterday advising that American forces
be sent to the battle front soon were
formally presented to Mr.. Wilson dur
ing the conference.
No information as to that discussion
was given out, however, and no admin
istration official would comment upon
the statement of the great French
soldier.
Upon that subject l have no COM
ment to Make was the reply with
which Secretary Baker met questions.
There is no question however, that
the general staff disapproves any sug-
gestion that American forces be sent
abroad until they are fully trained and
equipped with the exception of final
touches to be given behind the battle
lines That has been made evident by
testimony given by many staff officers
before congressional committees with
in the, last two years and by the ad-
ministration selection draft bill. under
whose provisions no element of toe
army, regular, national guard or con-
script would be ready for service for
many months.
80 lar as volunteers are concerned
/ there has been no indication that the
administration would favor the pro-
I posai that separate provisional VOL
| unteer army be raised for early service
in France. The administration meas
| ure did not include any such provision,
! although the request of Colonel Roose-
Welt to organize a division for imme-
date duty abroad was on file at the war
department when the bill was framed
Stripped of all military pros and
cons, the proposal made by Marshal
Joffre and apparently supported by all
members of the French mission. IS
understood here as providing that a
small force of American troops. pos
slbly division numbering from Is Geo
to $4,000 men, be sent at the earliest
possible moment to French soil for the
sentimental effect its presence would
have both upon the French and Ger
mans. Admittedly no American force
that will be available for months could
greatly influence the military situation
py force of arms, ana so virtually the
only effect would be the moral influ-
ence on the minds of the French peo-
pie, on the one hand, and the German
soldiers on the other.
On the other hand stands the often
repeated military precept of the general
staff that no man can be considered fit
1or even defensive warfare until he has
mad more than one year of intensive
training. For offensive operations, the
staff has held with the military ex-
perts of other nations that two full
years of discipline would be required
On one point there is complete
, agreement between Marshal Joffre
! and the American officers; both be-
lleve that any force sent to France.
large or small, must be given additional
training on French soil behind the bat
, tie lines before it should take it's place
in the trenches.
There is reason to believe that the
arguments of the French commission
erS nave been presented directly to
American officers during the confer
ence mere. These talks have been con-
1idential, but from the general trend OF
the more public utterances of all mem
an undercurrent of feeling is thrilling
france with the belief that May, June
and July will see great events on the
battle front and that this feeling
prompts much of the French desire
that American troops by their presence
: Will swell the wave of French enthusi.
| asm during these critical months.
l Since it is the psychological effec
that is sought; troops with no NOR,
training than the border hardened ma.
e tlonal guard units would serve tn,
. purpose in the French view French
OFFICERS believe that with brief addi
uonal training within sound of tn,
Z guns at the front-possibly five week.
:, of the intensive last touch which tn,
S French have trained is necessary be
fore troops go into action-such mer
could be made ready to take Their
places by the sides of the veteran
e French and British regiments.
In reaching a decision President
Continued on Page Two)