The Brattleboro daily reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1913-1955, 1918-01-05
READY
FOR ''OVER THERE"
Fighters to Be Sent Across
in Large Numbers as
Soon as Possible
MAY BE NEEDED TO
STEM GERMAN RUSH
Offensive on Western Front
May Require Pershing's Troops to
Help Hold Allied Lines-Hope to Win
War This Year.

WASHINGTON, Jan. Everything
is being done to speed up the equip
ment and training of the American
fighting forces, with a view to rush
ing troops to France in the LARGEST pos.
Sible numbers.
'.When will America have 100000
men in Francc?' is a question that
has not been answered. 1t cannot be
said the war department has a definite
schedule to transport given number
of men i'll a specified time. If there
was any schedule at the beginning if
has been exceeded, for the forces now
under Gen. Pershing are much larger
than army experts here had believed
it would be possible to send across the
Atlantic since the arrival of the Amer
lean commander.
As Gen. Pershing 5 force increases the
transport problem expands in proper
ton Every additional division sent
across means that more ships must be
provided to maintain the line of sup
plies.
Major Gen. John F. Morrison, recent
| " returned from France, has been
placed in charge Of all training camps
| Oh this side and will coordinate the
training of American troops III 80 far
as ii can be handled from central
point He will have as assistants Off
/ GERS who have been to France and have
made a first hand study of conditions
and training methods back of the Brit
| ish and French lines.
Secretary Of War Baker said today
that every division commander has now
/ been sent to France to study modern
war methods on the ground. Many of
| them have returned. In addition. sew
cral British and French officers have
come to this country TO assist in the
training of American troops in all
branches of the service
Mr.. Baker would make no comment
on a published report that members of
the snecial mission headed by Col f.
VI. House are convinced the United
state and the Allies will win or lose
tae war this year. High military cx
perts here hope to see the war ended
this year by distinctive victory fol
the Allied cause.
Keen interest was manifested in tho
statement of Major Gen. F. r. Mau
rice. Chief Director of Military Oper
ations for Great Britain, that a bis
German offensive on the western from
appears certain While unframed O
half-trained troops will not he sacri
, feed needles@'y by Gen. Pershing, h
can be depended upon to throw a larg
army into the breach from the force
now in training in France if necessary
!. Major Gen. Robert l.. Billiard. VIII
Is understood to be the choice of Gen
PcrShing for command of the first I'll
VISION sent TO France, succeeding Naio
Gen. William l.. Sibert. is tiftv-si.
years of age. He was graduated fror
West Point in 1885, and served con
! Stantly with troops until the Spanish
! American War. A native Of Alabama
he was commissioned as Colonel of tn
. Sd Alabama Infantry on Aug. g. 1895
and served until March 20. 1899. O
Aug. 2 following, he accepted a CON
| mission as Colonel of the Both Volur
teer Infantry, from which he was hon
orably discharged May 6, 1901. revert
ING to the regular army with the ran
or MAJOR. lie served with Gen. Persf
my IN suhduing the Moros in the i
n land of Mindanao in the Philippine.
. and wa1 one Of the regimental con
manderS Of the American expeditio
t, sent into Mexico following the viii
raid.
d Major Gen. Charles T. Menoher. VIII
/ Is to command the Rainbow Division
! was born In Pennsylvania fiftv-fiv
J. years ago. He has served CONSTANT
with artillery since his graduation fror
West Point III 1856. During the Spar
lsh War he gerved as First Lieutenan
e ct the 9th Field Artillery. Like Ger
n Billiard, he served ON thc border durin
n the Mexican troubles recently, con
handing the 9TH Field Artillery at For