Grand Forks herald. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1916-1955, 1917-05-01
GENER STAFF
AGAINST PLAN
TO SEND ARMY
Wilson to Decide Whether
U. S. Shall Send Force to
Front in France.

Washington, May with the
Judgment of the French war mission
and the Americantarm general staff
seemingly in conflict as to when
American troops should be sent to
France, particular interest attaches to
a conference at the White House Mon
day between President Wilson AMI
Rene Viviani, head of the French mis-
sion.
Decision rests with the president,
through his position as commander
in-chief of the United States army. II
was generally assumed that the views
of the French officials disclosed in
Marshal .Joffre's statement Sunday,
advising hat American forces be sent
to the battle front soon. We're. formal
ly presented to Mr.. Wilson during the
conference.
No information as to that discus
sion was given out. however. and no
administration official would COM
ment upon the statement of the great
French soldier.
Staff Objects.
There is no question, however. that
the general staff disapproves any sug-
gestion that American forces he sem
abroad until they are fully trained and
equipped for the task before them
with the exception of final touches tc
be given behind the battle lines. That
has been made evident by testimony
given by many staff officers before
congressional committees within the
last two years. and by the a%dninistln-
tive selective draft bill under whose
provisions no element of the arlny
regular, national guard or conscript
would be ready for service for many
months.
So far as volunteers are concerned
there has been no indication that the
administration would favor the pro
posal that q separate provisional vol
unteer army be raised for early ser
vice in France. The administration
measure did not include any such pro
vision. although the request of Colone
Roosevelt to organize a division To-
immediate duty abroad was on file a
the war department hen the bill wa,
framed.
Sentimental Effect
Stripped Of all military pros and
cons the proposal made by Marsha
| Joffre, and apparently supported b!
all members of the French mission, j
understood here as providing for :
| small force of American troops, posi-
bly, a division numbering from, 1906
to $4,000 men, be sent at h earlies
| possible moment to French soil 70,
the sentimental effect its presence
would have both upon the French ant
the Germans.
Admittedly. no American force tina
will be available for months coult
greatly influence the military situation
by force of arms. and so virtually thu
only effect would be the moral influ
ence on the minds of the French PEG
pie on the one hand and the German
soldiers IN the other.
On the other hand stands the oft
repeated military precept Of the gen
eral staff that no man can be consid'
cred fit for even defensive warfare
until he has had more than one yea
Of intensive training. For offensive
operations, the staff has held that two
full years Of discipline would be re
Quired.
Must Have Training.
On one point there is complet.
agreement between Marshal Joffr'
lieve that any force sem to France
large or small. must be given addition
al training behind the battle lines be
fore 1t should take its place in tn,
trenches.
There Is reason to believe that tn,
arguments of the French commission
ers have been presented directly t,
American officers during the confer
ences here. These talks have bee,
confidential. but from the genera
trend of the more public uttsrances o
all members Of the mission it IL gath
cred that an undercurrent Of feeling
is thrilling France with the belief tina
| May. June and July will see grea
events. N the battle front. and tina
this feeling prompts much OF tn,
French desire that American troops
by their presence. swell the wave 0
cal months.