Evening journal., 1918-05-14
PERSHING'S 5 MEN ARE
GOING TO Front
War Secretary Says OF Of
tawa Tale, "Facts Are
Exactly Otherwise"
ORIGIN OF REPORT
IS MYSTERIOUS

WASHINGTON, May ii-Gen. Perish
ing's troops are being and viii con
tinue 10 be used IN the pattlehclds' or
France as fast as they can hc made
ready for service. and they arc not he
ing held back until the American army
Is developed 90 fun strength, as re-
ported yesterday in statement from
London by way OF ottawa.
Both Secretary Of War Baker and tho
Earl OF Reading British Ambassador
10 the United states. denied the state
mont. Curiously enough no one hero
seems able 10 undersiaqd why the state
ment was made or just where 81 came
from 10 Is credited as emanating from
the War Committee OF the British
Cabinet" Neither Mr. Baker nor Lord
Reading knows of any such commit
Tee. There is something peculiarly
mysterious about the matter which
Nill be investigated hy the British and
American Governments
Secretary Baker authorized this an
nouncement
THE statement made I'M the morning
papers purporting To- come from ottawa
seems TO say that The American forces
IN France win not be used actively for
the present. but viii be conserved until
they constitute a larger and indepen-
dent American army.
THE facts are exactly otherwise. The
American troops In France are now be
Ing used actively I'm battle and In the
trenches While an Of the plans m the
War Department look 20 the develop
meDt Of the American army as such and
the creation OF a distnclivcly American
ola nN D.
now I'm France are being used In such
way as are deemed most effective in ac-
cordance with General pershlng's action
IN placing an our forces at the disposal
OF the British and French commanders
and the supreme commander
Lord Hoadiug said:
"Thc statement attributed 90 the Brit.
ish War Cabinet 90 the effect that tho
Allies arc so confident that having Neer
given the choice OF q small immediate
American army for defense or waiting
t.U they are REINFORCED by a com
plctc. powerful self-supporling Ameri
can army they have chosen the latter
is diametrically opposed TO an lnforma
ton received by me from the British
War Cabinet and 20 all the requests
which 7 have been asked by them &
mike TO the United states Adminlstra
ton
81 am quite in the dark as 10 the orr
gin OF that statement 40 present all
can say is that am convinced that IN
document has not been issued with IN
knowledge Of the Prime Minister or IN
British War Cabinet
I'm view OF these statements intercs
Is at once centred on the origin Of th
announcement
The fact that there is. so far as on
cials here know. no "War Committee q
the British Cabinet naturally ha
aroused some misgivings about th
statement and has greatly puzzled of
Goals here and at the British Embassy
But aside from this the announce
ment does not sound Ike an author
tatiVe statement from the British Coy
ernment, 10 is explained even assuu
ing the possibility OF change OF pla
whereby its basic facts were correct.
lt fairly gushes in over aptimistl
predictions quite al variance wit
everything which has come from Oh
British War ONCE 10 speaks Of Gel
man reserves being exhausted, Of Gel
many and her allies "on the verge
duarreling," and describes the preseI
stage Of the fighting as a onal failuI
OF Germany's offensive.
Premier Lloyd George specifically hs
warned against over optimism. Noti
ing is more dangerous. he Indicate
than TO avoid facing facts and TO b'
lieye the task over too soon.