The sun., 1917-05-02
President Believed to Have
Been Won Over by Viyiani
and JOffre.
CONFERS WITH BAKER
Secretary of War Sends
Him Data on the Nations
Military Power.
CONSIDERS NEW FACTORS
Questions of When and How
Soldiers Are to BE Sent Are
Still Undecided.
CONSIDERS NEW FACTORS

WASHINGTON, May 1.-The United
States stands ready to send an army to
Europe whenever the Allies deem it
wise to divert the necessary shipping
from transporting food to transporting
men.
1t became known definitely to-day
that the Government has offered the
Allies troops, but has suggested that
the alarming shortage of world ship
ping may make it impractical to send
them at once. In spite of objections
Of the General Staff to putting any
American forces on the firing line be-
fore the great war army has been
raised and trained the Administration
has determined that the small con-
tingent earnestly desired by France
for moral effect shall be sent as soon
as possible. The general belief here IL
that the way soon will be found.
President Asks for Data.
Whether the force first to carry the
Stars and Stripes into battle in France
shall be made UP Of regulars or
National Guardsmen, or both. has not
been worked out.
Tho amount of tonnage that would
be required for transport is usually
put at about twenty tons per man in
a fully equipped force. For the regu
lar American unit Of $4,000 men nearly
half a million tons therefore would b.
,l,t
seized German tonnage in American
waters IL remains for the Allies to
, figure out II they can afford to diver,
that amount of shipping.
The President after to-day'S Cabinet
meeting is understood to have directed
Secretary Baker 10 submit to him data
from the War Department showing
how soon division or eXpeditionary
force could he ready to leave for
France, the General Staff's opinion OF
It's requirements, how long it would
take to reach its destination and when
it would he ready for actual service
against the enemy.
The President also discussed with
Secretary Baker, who remained
closeted with him after tho Cabinet
meeting. the opinions which NJ
Niviani and Marshal Juffre have ad-
vanccd as u the desirahility OF an
American eXpeditionarN force at an
| early date to France
| Idea Gains Favor with wilson.
| So far as known the President ha,
| not Yet disclosed the policy he will
pursue. He has followed his charac-
tn,s i-ti - IL,
sides and getting opinions from all
COMPETENT TO express them before max
ing known his own Views. but il ~
/ generally assumed III official circles to-
night that the project OF an American
! force to France il rapidly gaining
favor with the President
/ There are several new factors in tho
situation which have been given much
! weight by the President. Among these
| are:
THE appeal of the French mission for
! American troops.
! The opinion OF Marshal Joffre that
their despatch would lac of decided i'm
mediate military Importance
| The contention Of some of his az
N.sers that public opinion and the ira
ditions OF the country demand that the
American flag be seen on the battle
slclu d' ulllSl tIle tilcnY with whom
this nation is wasHg war.
May send Railroad Workers.
In their conferences the French COM
missioners have asked II IL would he pos
sihle for the United States to send to
France in the near future from 1000 to
10000 railway lahorers, foremen and en-
gineers 10 lay ! 500 miles OF track Thcv
have also said France needs about I o)0
motor ambuiarcoe n rep,ensh her bat
tered stock and a large number Of am
! bulanCe drivers.
The American conferecs are informed
that the sending Of the desired number
Of railroad men would release almost
division of Frenchmcn who. trained for
war under compulsory military service.
could be transferred immediately To-
military duty and their places would be
taken by Americans.
This matter probably WI be col =
sidered in conferences between the
Frenchmen, Daniel Willard. president Of
the Baltimore and ONO Railroad ant
chairman of the advisory commission o.
the Council OF National Defence
Reasons Fundn sound.
In connection with the appeals or NJ
Niviani and Marshal Joffrc it should be
said al once that the President, despite
! all ch.yalrous considerations, would nor
be in any way Influenced Dy any col
elderat!ous rLaer than those indicating
real benefit 70 the cause Of democracy.
which Is now the paramount issue
But NJ Niviani ard Marshal Joffre
have both advanced reasons whicn are
: sad to appeal to the President as fun
damentally sound. They want an Amer
lean force in France first because. they
! say. II will cement the cooperation OF
: tho United States with tile Entente /.
second. because Il will have an Inspiring
effect on the troops OF the Entente. and
. third. because II VIII be "A signal to Prus
sian autocracy that the beginning of the
end OF the war is al hand.
ii Very important other considerations
are interviewer In the plan. For e<-