The Watertown news. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1917-1919, 1918-04-03
u. s. BUR|ES PRIDE
TO HELP ALLIES
Army Units to Be Merged With
French and British as Aid
to Unity.
every MAN AVAILABLE TO GO
Allies Troop Ships to Rush AmerI.
can Forces to Great Battle in
France-Untrained to Be
Mixed With Veterans.

Washington, April 3.-The announce
ment from London that American
army units are to brigaded with Brit
fsh and French organizations was In
terpreted by army officers here as in
dlcating that the United States govern
ment is ready to thrust aside all ques-
t1ons of national pride in placing
American man power at the immedi-
ate disposal Of the allies.
The plan was decided on at confer
ences between Secretary Baker. Gen.
eral Bliss, General Pershing and Brit
ish and French officials. So far as
known the war department had not
been officially Informed Of 1t.
To Rush Troops in Training.
Details of the method to be follow
ed are not available, and presumably
will be arranged by General Pershing
There was every indication, however
that American troops now in training
here are to be rushed across regard
less Of their proficiency.
The British statement carefully
notes that the national aspect Of Gen.
paired. The building up OF that pure
ly American war machine will proceed
as rapidly as possible. To supplement
that effort, however, other American
units will be fed to the front through
the French and British lines to meet
the present emergency.
Arrangements for the transporta-
tion of these additional forces" the
British statement said, "are now being
completed"
-- British Ships May Be Used.
This was regarded as an indication
that the full extent of British troop
ship capacity is to be devoted to TAX
ing forward American units and In
sures, 1t is said, the early delivery in
Europe of at least double the Ameri-
can man power that could have been
forwarded In the same time otherwise
1t was noted that the statement
pointed out that the American forces
merged with the British and French
are to be withdrawn when their train
ing is completed, "and General Per-
shing wishes to withdraw them to build
up the American army" To many Off
GERS here, however, the picture pre-
sented after active operations Is one of
French-American and British-Ameri-
can units Of the French and British
armies, in which the individual SOL
diers will be so intermixed that it will
be impossible to withdraw them with
out disintegrating the divisions or brig
AIDES.
Whatever efforts may be made to
keep purely American unit In a vet
eran division of one of the other arm
les, officers say, the exigencies of con-
flict, and the problem of replacing
losses will lead to the creation ulti-
mately of composite battaions rather
than of divisions, composed Of French
and American or British and American
units.
Complete Merging of Armies.
A complete merging of the men Is as
certain, 1t Is believed, as is the merg-
ing of regular army, National army
and National Guard units in the Ameri-
can army. There is no practical way
to avoid it, officers say, without i'm
pairing the efficiency of the entire
force.
There are many officers who believe
this to be the only practical solution
Of the transportation and supply prob
lens, If American military power is to
be made Immediately available to repeI
the German onslaught.