New-York tribune., 1918-02-07
France Can Supply
Guns to u. S. Till
July, Says Tardieu
High Commissioner Urges
Continuance of Raw
Material Export


materials from the United States, vii
be able to supply the American army
on her soil with sufficient artillery for
100000 men by July l, according to the
statement made last night by Ardrc
Iardicu, French High Commissioner, at
dinner of the French Alliance at the
Plaza Hotel.
IN speaking Of the American troops
now IN France. NJ. Tardieu also assert
ca 1hat there were considerably more
'here now than we had in our entire
army at the outbreak of the war. At
mat time the army numbered about
1000
The French High Commissioner was
most optimistic in his review of what
america had done for the aid Of
France since the nation entered the
war He praised the manner in which
AVIATION had advanced here, and also
was enthusiastic over the spirit of CO.
operation with France which prevailed
IN the various departments at Wash
1ngtOn.
Jusserand Lauds is
M. Jules j. Jusscrand French Am
Dassador to the United States. was the
1lrst speaker and was introduced bv
Charles A. Downcr. president of the
New York Chapter Of the French ALI
ahce, and toastmaster at the dinner.
ne praised the determination of the
Allies to continue the war until France
received again the custody of her lost
provinces of Alsace and Lorraine. He
aiso termed the Germans past masters
IN .'.nt nc art OF distorting history"
lhsy nave, proved this" he asserted,
by the way they have written of Prus,
s1an rule in the lost provinces"
w. Jusserand also paid tribute to the
States. ''''00
"The friends of the days of Washing
ton and Lafayctte,'' he said. ARE now.
despite the changes Of the world.
TRENDS and allies once more in the
war for human liberty. The soldiers
OF retain and Pershing are now fra
ternizlng and fighting together as did
SneIr ioreiathers when the United
States fought for liberty in 1776."
Following the French Ambassador.
NJ. Tardieu was introduced
Tardieus Address
NJ. Tardieu said
Nv e have IN the line about $4,000
guns OF every calibre, and every day
more than 100000 shells are turned
out by our factories. To get those
guns, to produce those shells, we
created an industry which did not
exist before the war and which has
enabled us not only to arm ourselves
but also to arm our allies.
The adoption without any modifica-
ton OF our various types of guns
would certainly have saved some time
10 the benefit OF American production.
and some delays may be the consc-
quence of the Improvements YOU are
looking for, always. and rightly at
that, aiming at better results.
But, as we have agreed, it is under
stood that you should supply and
transport TO France the necessary raw
materials, we will, under such condi-
t'ons, be able, in France, to deliver TO
you before July l enough guns thor
oughly to equip twenty of your divi-
sions. The situation, therefore. is
completely safe in that respect
Alludlng to the raising Of the Ns-
tlonal Army, NJ. Tardieu declared that
mo event of wider import has ever
taken place since the beginning Of the
war He continues:
mus your government, with a clear
and courageous view, has given YOU
ne strength Of numbers. the first con
N'i.loi VI NM lidlN power. In Aprll,
1917, you had 1924 officers and 2O2.-
$40 men. You have now 10000 Off
GERS and 100000 men, and the number
of your men in France at the present
moment is notably in excess of the
establishment of your army nine
months ago"
France, he said. has taken "everv
necessary measure" SO that America
can complete, in France, the training
begun here. Regarding aviation, Amer
lcan development had been 'beyond all
expectation" he declared He outlined
how America had helped the Entente
also financially and with shipping. food
and fuel-aid which he described ne
Immense and conclusive"
War Board Lauded
Money was the first aid needed bv
the Allies. NJ. Tardieu went on. sav-
ing: But it was not sufficient. Indeed
for lack of general organization of
production. the United States and the
Allies would have competed with each
other in every factory, and sterility
would have resulted from this ANARCHY.
But in this respect | may state-and
no one can be better informed than the
representative of one of the Allied
countries-that the centralized organi-
zation realized for the Allies by the
War Industries Board and the War
Purchasing Commission is excellent in