The Washington herald., 1918-04-02
GEN. PERSHING
ORGANIZES Big
FIGHTING unit
First u. S. Army Corps in
France Probably Includes
Rainbow Division.
is RESERVE FORCE
Gen: Bliss Aids Allies in
Forming Plans for
Battle.

Gen. Pershing has organized the
First Army Corps of the Expedition
ary Forces. according to advises re.
ceived by the War Department. fne
First Corps is now acting in concert
with the French against the left
flank of the German offensive.
An American army corps consists OF
from two to six divisions. For mill
tary reasons it is improper to give
the exact strength OF the First Corps,
As a division consists OF approximate
ly $500 men it is no secret that Gen.
Pershing has assigned more han two
divisions to the corps. The corps Is
under the command of a widely known
general who formerly commanded one
OF the divisions of which the corps
is made up. 1t is understood that the
American forces are being sent into
action in two columns.
Act Under Gen. Foch.
Although under the direction OF
Gen. Foch, orders to the columns
will be sent through Gen. Pershing,
who is I'm close touch with the new
general headquarters established by
the French generalissimo. Gen.
! Bliss is aiding in the formation of
| the allies defensive and offensive
programs.
The divisions making up the First
Army Corps are known here. but
the War, Department as yet has not
identified them. There is every rea-
70 hoIinUa hof 90
of the corps is the famous Rainbow
Division. made up of National
Guardsmen from every State in the
Union. This division was among the
first to arrive in France and has
| finished its training course back OF
| the lines. Although some experts
have held that National Guard units
would not present the fighting
| strength possessed by national army
divisions, 1t is stated on good au-
| thority that the men of the Rain
bow Division acquitted themselves SO
well in the training camps Of France
that they were included in the role
of the First Corps.
Heavy Casualties Expected.
The entrance of the corps to the
open field fighting zone will result in
the heaviest casualty list since this
country entered the war. For this
reason. IL for no other. the use of the
Rainbow Division at this time is con-
sidered a wise step. 1t is pointed out
that the war will be brought home to
the nation as a whole more vividly II
| the first causualty lists name men
from every section of the country.
But inasmuch as the news of losses
by any community is concealed from
the general public through the pub
lication of names without addresses
it is also pointed out that National
Guard units will not be used in the
opening efforts of the American
forces unless those units are in every
way the equal of the regulars and the
national army men.
The exact part which the Ameri.
can forces will play in the French
offensive Is not known. Army Off.
GERS here believe the corps will
either take over part of the trench
lines held by the French in order
to relieve the latter for service or
the fighting front, or that they will
be moved to the Picardy battle
field to support the French counter
offensive blows. The majority oi
the army officers are inclined to the
belief that the Americans will bt
used as reserves, but will be rush.
ed against the Germans in the event
the French counter drives force the
invaders to fall back on any con.
siderable front.