The Washington times., 1918-01-24

make England's mistake of seeking
to send men to France before they
| were properly trained. Experience
gained by Kitchener IN his first army
| OF q million was taken carefully to
heart. So the American general STAN
planned TO At the army of the United
States gradually into the whole situa-
tion with the least disturbance to the
allied war machine. In other words,
the United States did not go into the
war to take charge of its management
at once. but to help the allies. What
4 ever Great Britain and France wish
cd America to do, that was Americas
earnest desire to accomplish. So the
War Department proceeded on the
theory Of training most of Its men
8 In the United States during the hrst
4 year and Of sending them abroad
when they had been thoroughly train
ed and equipped. This ntted with
the English idea, for II meant least
! disorganization TO their plans. But
1 military events on the western front
The morale Of the French people was
none too good.
J0Rrs Causes Change.
Marshal Jorfre and n vivIani came
from France to urge the sending Of
American troops at once. What Mar
shall Joffre said in an interview with
the Washington correspondents sub
sequently censored by his own star
officers was in effect that France
wanted troops and wanted them right
/ away. He told the American general
| stan the same thing. To comply with
his request meant an entire change
In plan. But since American entered
the war to help the allies. the Presi-
dent did not hesitate, but made the
decision. He ordered General Perish
/ ing to France with a small number
of troops. Still there was no serious
| embarrassment to previous plans.
4, But tonnage began to grow short.
German submarines were again ac-
tive. The French urged that men be
sent continuously, as many men as
| the ships would carry.
But they are not ready-they
haven't the training" said our Of
hcers in effect
Never mind that" answered the
French. Wen give you what you
lack, we will give you artillery, and
your men can be better trained In
France anyway under the eye of our
Instructors who have had two years
OF experience"
So again the United States assent
ed and changed her plans.
What did this mean to the supply
organization7
Entire Change Of PIan.
II meant that all the equipment
which IL had been intended to furnish
to the national army and national
guard had to be suddenly taken over
for the use OF General Pershing's
forces. In other words. the men who
went to France had to be given q six
months reserve supply OF uniforms
and overcoats. This reserve supply
would not have been necessary had
they stayed in the United States for |
training. but sending II Immediately
to France deprived the troops who |
were left behind OF the equipment |
with which they were to be trained. |
Contracts for clothing for the British |
and French troops could not, of |
course, be interfered with. Secretary
Baker knew there would be a short |
age OF clothing and rifles for the men |
In American cantonments. So did |
President Wilson. A decision had to |
be made. II was made in favor of the |
men needed In France. This was
some months ago.
But the American draft army might |
oetteT nave oeen kept at nome, you |
will say? When the change OF plan |
occurred, the selectIve service act |
was In operation. To have stopped |
In the middle would have been dIsas- |
trous. As Il was the men were
gradually called into service In incre- |
ments not entirely because the can
tonments were not completed but be
cause equipment wasn't available.
The War Department concentrated |
Its attention on supplying the needs |
OF the men in France. That was what |
the Secretary of War meant by "inI |
tial rush needs" for, while II was
regrettRble that the men in the United |
States didn't have rifles and equip
ment, they could not be provided with |
them overnight when the French |
change In plan necessitated taking |
away this supply for use by the ex |
peditionary forces.
When the President OF the United |
states stands squRrely behind the |
Secretary OF War, and says the coun |
try some day will learn the truth, he |
IL not merely making an extravaSan'
statement to defend his Secretary of |
War. He Is basing his statement or
q Get OF facts with which the public |
cannot vet be acquainted but which |