South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1917-05-03
Actual Fighting by Americans
Will be Appreciated Be-
cause of Allies Heavy
Losses. Officials Say.
PROPOSE EXPEDITION
TO TRAIN BEHIND LINES
French and British Experts
Tell Authorities Fighting
on West Front Cost
10000 Soldiers.
InternationaI News Service

International News Service:
WASHINGTON. May 3.-Senti-
ment for the sending TO the battle
front i'm France as soon as possible
of an American expedition continued
today to increase in official quarters.
II is believed certain that the as
sembling of the initial units will
soon be authorized. Just when such
an expedition would go forward and
how. must remain a military secret.
So must the units that viii be given
the honor, although IL Is considered
almost certain that the regular army
will contribute the greater part
In connection with the series of
meetings that are going on here be-
tween the visiting French and Brit
ish army experts and the officers Of
the general STAFF, a correct line on
the appalling losses that are being
suffered in the intensive fighting has
been gained. As an instance the
staff was told that during the fort
nights fighting. ending last sunday
at midnight. the French losses In
killed. wounded and captured tOtaled
1l1.0 while the British losses on
the comparatively small sector over
which they are lighting. was $1,000.
a total for the entente on the west
front of $4,000. II was asserted
that the German losses exceeded this
figure, inasmuch as their great series
Of counter attacks we're launched 80
massed formation. which permitted
the allied artillery 10 simply EXTERN
mate certain units
Must Till Gaps.
Because Of these great losses and
the necessity for filling the gaps in
the line the participation in the ao-
tual fighting by the American troops
will be greatly appreciated, the
French and British officers say. They
declare also that in view OF the
shortage Of transports, the across
seas movement will Of necessity have
TO be in small shipments 10 provide
for successful conveys. The plans
that the general staff now have be
fore them on which recommendationE
shortly Will be made 10 the president.
through Sec'v o. War Baker are as
follows.
That an initial expedition COM
manded by Gen. Hugh J.. Scott now
chief Of staff. be made up and sent
forward 10 train for actual services
behind the French lines. then taking5
over certain transport sections and
finally moving into place in the
trenches This force would be
large as could be secured by draw
ing on all available trained men 4
the regulars and the ultra crack or
CARNATIONS OF the national guards
But inasmuch as most OF the regula
national guard organizations har
been decimated bv discharges o.
married men since their return from
the border. and are now even "a
below peace strength. 81; IS NOT be
heyad many such Hnits would "a
available
Nav Train Ofiiocrs
Selection of 100 officers above IN
rank OF captain 20 send 90 the Brit
ish and French fronts 20 have aetus
experience on the firing line So TIA
they could be qualified On latter "a
war problems and later act a. in
structOrs. To this objection
raised that these officers are greatid
needed for TIE new armies soon
be organized under the draft plan
One or both OF the above plan
probably win be approved hv IA
general staff
The question OF officers for th
new army has been solved To se
cure majors % replace the major
who will be promoted % higher rani
all captains in the regular army an,
certain present first lieutenants ar
20 be promoted 10 the rank n major
The places OF the captains viii b
filed by the commissi onins OF "a
graduates OF West Point nov serfin
as first and second reutenants. =
the rank % captain.