New Iberia enterprise and independent observer. (New Iberia, La.) 1902-1944, 1918-10-26

we had the foundation of a great
fighting force. but that we were
lacking in the essential elements
of command.
The British Army wanted to
take charge of our forces and
mix our units with British units
Or else allow us to keep our
units intact, but under British
staff command. The French
Army wanted us to fight with the
French under French command ;
this was in the days before there
was unity of action under Foch--
condition which General PERISH
ing, as history will show, played
no small part in bringing about.
But during the whole of this
trying time General Pershing
maintained one position-that the
forces of the United States must
remain American under Ameri-
can command. He was "always
willing to utilize his troops to
their best advantage, but he was
ripid in his insistence that the
Stars and Stripes, in the final
period of the war, should fly over
American soldiers. and that these
American soldiers should play
their part under American Off
GERS" Mr.. Green continues:
Gradually it dawned upon the
understanding of the military
powers of our allies that the mil
itarv establishment Of the United
States as related to command
was not such a tardy establish
ment after all We had given 20
the Allied Powers against Ger
mahv collection of officers who
had seen warfare and studied
warfare. We had sifted in con-
glomeration of men who were in
telligent to start with and were
willing to learn. We were land
ing in France in our reserve officer
forces thousands upon thousands
of young men who had acquired
in few months of intensive train
ing war-knowledge Of a superior
kind, based upon American intel
ligence and adaptability.
Our officers went to schools in
which French and British officers
were instruct tors, and soon the
scholars were on a par with their
teachers. But still we had done
very little fighting. We were in
the try-out stage. One man
watching our growth was sure Of
us. That was General Pershing.
Came the German advance IN
March--that swift, overwhelming
rush which threatened to cut the
Allied forces in two, reach the
Channel ports, touch the Atlantic
coast at the mouth of the Seine,
and isolate France from England.
General Pershing promptly Of
fered soldiers to meet the emerg-
ency, and the 1st Division Of the
old regular Army was sent to
Picardy to hold a sector Of the
line below Amiens.
The LIST Division was the vet
eran unit of our forces. It had
been the first in the trenches. But
the cautious French military pow
err would not allow it to launch an
offensive-and the American pol
icy is always to be on the often
siveuntil that day in May when |
we went across No Mans Land
and took Cantigny. At that time |
The LIST Division had been in train
ng almost six months.
Always under French direction
Dut American command, the
units had preserved
heir identity. During the winter
he I'd Division, which includes
he wonderful 9Th and 9th Ma
ines, the 26th Division, from
New England, and the AID Di-
Tinion-the famous Rainbow out
it, including the old New York
'9th-had been in training in the
ranches. They were ready.
Then happened the miracle ,of
his war. Hostilities had devel-
ped so rapidly that the veteran
livisions-always, mind. under
American command had made
rood and they needed support.
And what came to their support
The Sd Division of the old reg
lar Army. which, to use the ex-
'ression of its grizzled CON-
Iovnro1 n,aEr,or e 4Lnl