The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1918-05-13
TROOPS WILL NOT
BE RUSHED into
Line AS FAST AS
THEY ARELANDED
Decision Is Finally Made
Between Two Schools
Of Strategy
tBy Associated rress.)

(By Associated xress.)
Washington. May 13.-The decision
not to use the American army in
France until 1t has been built up
| 10 proportions of a complete and
| mighty force, first disclosed TO the
public in last nights dispatches from
ottawa, based on adVices from the
war committee of the British cabi-
net. follows a long period of con-
sideration between two schools OF
military strategists. which have been
| contending ever since the German
drive began as to the most effective
manner to use the American forces.
From the best information that
can be gathered here. one school OF
! strategy has contended for using
| the American forces in the battle
line as fast as they arrive and for
| conducting a continuous counter of
fensive with the hope Of ending tbs
war in 1918.
! The other it is understood. has
favored using the American forces
very little, holding it back until fully
organized with all the necessary
compliments Of heavy artillery, air
! craft and other appurtenances and
| then striking a mighty blow in con-
junction with the British and French
which would smash the German
| lines and bring a decision.
No Official Comment.
There were no official expressions
available on the subject today. The
| knowledge that such a plan was be-
| ing considered has been very closely
held by the few who have known 1t.
1t Is certain that it has been the
subject of exchanges between the
American. British and French gov
ernments. and undoubtedly has been
discussed at Versailles.
There Is just one indication that
| the difference Of opinion between the
two schools of strategists might
have had reflection in the recent
British crisis, in which General
Maurice, differing with Premier
Lloyd George, made a public an
nouncement which led to his re
| tirement. There is. however. moth
| ing more than chain Of circum-
| stances to support this view and for
military reasons 1t may not be pur-
| sued for a full discussion.
The one thing that seems certain,
! however, 1t that the business of rush
ing American troops and equipment
than retarded.
Cal All of Class I.
Some officials in touch with the
program OF the draft have recently
| predicted that every available man
| in class 1 would be called to the col
| ors during the summer Roughly,
this means more than 100000 in
addition to more than 1000, 900 who
| at the present rate of progress either
will be in France, in camp in this
country or under orders to move to
| cantonments on May 1S, the first an
| ntversary OF the passage Of the draft
law.
The confidence of the British mill
| tarY authorities that they can hold
| their line until American aid arrives.
| in full force. or at least exact such
| a heavy toll of German life in falling
back that the actual advantage al
| ways will be with the allied armies.
| is very gratifying to military eI-
perts here. Some of them are not
in full accord with the reported new
| plan OF making practically no use OF
| the American army until it reaches
| its full strength.
The announcement from Ottawa.
| displaced all other questions in dis
cussion today about the war depart
| ment. II the plan Of brigading Amer
| lean troops with French and British
| divisions is to be abandoned, as the
| statement indicates, high officers
| here profess not to know It, The
movement Of infantry and machine
| gun units to carry out the former
| project meanwhile has not been in-
| teTrupted.
Pleased at Change.
American army officers, however
make no secret that they welconae
| the change suggested. The decision
| to brigade American units with the
| allied armies for operations. as well
as for training, was accepted only
/ because it appeared to be the only
| way to meet the pressing cry for
man power as the German offensive
| was at its height in the first phase.
It was distasteful to American off,
| GERS because it meant submerging
| the units and possibly loss of In
| itiative and dash among the Ameri-
can forces upon which officers have
been relying in hoping they would be
able to turn the scale against the
F., Germans.
The war cabinet statement is re-
garded as highly encouraging In the
| sense that 1t indicates that British
military opinion regards the German
| attack as having passed its MAKE
mum power. Officers here have not
| held that view. AS to its statements
in regard to American troops dis
/ positions, however, the announce
ment is regarded not clear.
For one thing, it speaks Of the en-
tente as having reached a new pol-
Icy on American aid. The Versailles
council. or General Foch, supreme
commander, would be more logical
sources for such announcements as
the British war cabinet is only oraa
member of the group, 1t is said. On
| the whole, American officers are IN
clined not to attempt to interpret
/ but to await official information.
Reading Has No Word.
Washington, May 13.--Lord Read
ling, the British ambassador, In a
statement here today declared that
the announcement coming by way
Iof Ottawa that the American army
would not be fully utilized on ths
western front until developed To lie
full strength, was directly opposite
1 to information he had received from
| the British war cabinet and that he
was in the dark as TO its meaning
The ambassadors statement added
/ to the puzzle In which American of-
ficerB found themselves today on
reading the announcement from CT
taWa. Confidential information
reaching here recently indicated that
/ such a plan as outlined from Ottawa
! was under discussion.