The Laurens advertiser. (Laurens, S.C.) 1885-1973, 1918-04-03
AMERICAN TROOPS
TO Be RUSHED over
Niles Call For Men 10 be
Answered.
TO MERGE WITH
ALLIED FORCES


portatinn Perfected. Says Report.
Washington, April 2.-Thc an
nownccmcn; from London that Amori-
can army units a!e to be Drigaded
wi'h British ana French organiza-
tons was interpreted by army officers
hcla today as indicating that the Unit
"a states government is readr to
'htust aside al question Of national
pride in placing American man-pow-
er at the immediate disposal Of the
allies.
The plan was decided on at confer
once sbctween Secretary Baker and
General Bliss and Pershing and Brit
!sh and French officials. So far as
known, the war department had not
been officially informed of it today.
Details of the method to be follow
Cd are not available and presumably
Will be arranged by General Pershing.
There was every indication, however.
that American troops now in training
her" are to be rushed across, regard.
less If their proficiency and fed into
tho French and British machines.
oriGinally as battalion or larger units.
The British statement carefully
noes that the national aspect of Gen
cr2l Hershings army is not to be i'm
paired. The building up of that pure
r. American war machine will pro
2eod as rapidly as possible. To sup
pl"mcnt that effort. however, other
American units will be fed to the
:IoHt through the French and British
lines 20 meet the present emergency.
ARRANGEMENTS for the transporta-
lion Of these additional forces the
British statement said. are now be-
ing complcted."
TINS was regarded here as an indi-
cation that the full extent of British
'raon ship capacity is to be devoted TO
kN- forward American units, and
iM@rYos, it is said, the early delivery
IL Europe Of at least double Inc
.iN'No1n man-powcr that could have
ho'n forwarded in the same time 9th
aywlse.
il was noted that the statement
uoin.ol out that the American forces
mel&5l With the British and French
ar2 10 No withdrawn when their train
iNa IS completed and General Per-
sizing wishes to withdraw them to
Null up the American army"
To many officers here however, the
picture presented after active opera
tions Is one Of Frcnch-!Amercan and
British American units Of the French
end Hlitish armies, in which, the in
divilual soldiers will be so intermiXed
that Il will be impossible to withdraw
them without dsinegrating the di-
visions or brigadcs.
whatever efforts may be made to
keen purely American unit in
veteran division OF one Of the armies,
Officers say, the cxiccnccs Of conflict
and 1hc problem Of replacing losses
Viii lead to the creation ultimately Of
composite battaliCnS rather than OF
divisions, composed OF French and
American or British and American
units complete merging Of the
men is as certain. it, is believed, as is
he complete merging OF the regular
army. national army and national
guard units in the American army.
There is no practical way to avoid
jt o"c"rs say, without impairing the
oficicncy Of the entire force
Thtro arc many officers who believe
t'iS % 10 the only practical solution
Of ire transportation and supply
imo'lcms If American military power
Is % he made Immediately available
20 20, nc German onslaught.