Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1916-1918, 1918-05-14
bAkER.SAYS
AMERICANS
ARE NOT TO
WITHDRA
Ambassador Reading Also
Denies Report of Supreme
Councils Decision To De-
pend On French And Brit
ish' To Stop Huns Drive.
OPPOSITE IS TRUE
OFFICIALS. DECLARE

Washington, D. c., May 49,
Lord Reading. the British ambas-
sador, in a statement here today
declared that an announcement
coming by way Of Ottawa, that
the American army would not bs
fully utilized on the western front
until developed to it's full strength
was directly opposite to lnSorma-
British war cabinet and that he
was In the dark as to - mean
ing.
The ambassadors statement
added to the puzzle IN which i
American officers found them
selves today on re3dins the an
nouneement from Ottawa. Cont
DENTAL information reaching here.
recently Indicated that such Z
plan as outlined from ottawa was
under discussion.
Washington, D. c., May l3. Secres
tary Baker today added his formal
denial to that OF Lord Reading regard-s
ing statements as to the diSpOsittQn OF
American forces in France HeN lid
the facts are directly opposed to oAs
statements. and that American troOpe
afv being 5selA actively ia battle and |
"in such way as meets with the ap-tI
proval OF Generals Foch and Perish \
ing"
The secretary dictated the following
statement: "a
The statement purporting to come
from Ottawa SENS to say that Amert-s
can forces in France will not be used
actively for the present. but, will be
conserved until they constitute large
and Independent American army.
AMERICANS At FRONT
"The facts are exactly otherwise
American troops in France are beinG
used actively in battle and in the
trenches and while all Of the plans Of
the war department look to the devel
opment Of the American army as such
and to the creation OF a distinctly
American army, yet the various ele.
ments OF it now in France are beine
used freely in the general cause and
such ways as are deemed most effect
i've in accordance with General Per
shing's action in placing all our forces
at the disposal of the British and
French commanders and OF the su-
preme commander"
Mr.. Baker added that he had no In
formation as to the source of the
Ottawa dispatch.
READING DOUBTS REPORT
Lord Reading. the British ambassa,
dor, authorized the following state
ment: i
The statement attributed to the
British war cabinet to the effect that
the allies are so confident that having
been given the choice Of q small imme-
diate American army for defense or
waiting till they are reinforced by q
complete, powerful, safe supporting
American army, they have chosen the
latter, is diametrically opposed to all
information received by men from the
British war cabinet and to all the re-
quests which I have been asked by
them to make to the United States ad-
ministration.
II am quite in the dark as to the or
igin Of the statement. At present al
can say is that I am convinced that
the document has not been issued with
the knowledge OF the prime minister
or of the British war cabinet"
STORY COMES FROM OTTAWA
The reported decision not to-
use the American army in France
until it had been built up to
proportions Of a complete and mighty
force. disclosed to the public in dis
patches from Ottawa based on advices
from the war committee Of the British
cabinet, follows long period OF con-
sideration between two schools OF mil
itary strategists which have been con-
tending ever since the German drive
began as to the most effective manner.
to use the American forces.
From the best information that CAP
be gathered here, one school Of stra-
tegy has contended for using the
American forces in the battle line ~
fast as they arrive and for conduct
ing a continuous counter offensive
with the hope OF ending the war in
1918.
WAIT FOR FULL STRENGTH
The other it is understood, has IA
'yored using the American forces very
little. holding 1t back until fully or.
ganized with alk the necessary COM
pliments of heavy artillery, aircraft
and other appurtenances and then
striking mighty blow In conjunction