New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1918-04-04
Every Effort To Be Centred
on Getting Men to the
Battle Front
Military Measures
Get Right of Way
Marine Corps Recruits Of
fered Pershing for Inn
mediate Service
staff Correspondence

W ADJ Inv YIN, Aprll ID ne fIeSl-
dents war cabinet, composed Of the
heads of all the agencies vitality in
volved in Americas war programme, at
its weekly meeting to-day at the White
House took decisive measures for rush
ing more men and supplies to Europe
in response to the call of the Allies.
Acting Secretary of War Crowell pre-
scented to the President comprehen-
sive report on the status of all the men
in training in the military camps of
men that could be called to the colors
through the selectivc draft act. Secrc-
tary of the Navy Daniels, Chairman
Hurley of the Shipping Board, and Di-
rector General McAdoo reported on the
facilities for movement of troops. Food
Administrator Hoover laid before the
meeting what could be expected in food
supplies.
While no statement was forthcoming
at the conclusion of the meeting, men,
bers of the war cabinet insisted that
nothing would interfere with the gov
ernment's plans for speedily increasing
Americas active participation in the
war zone
Priority for Military Bills
BY special rule agreed on by the
House Military Affairs Committee to-
day military bills are to be given pri-
GRITTY over all other measures. All mill
tary measures suggested by the War
Department to expand the armed forces
of the nation are to have privileged
status, according to the decision Of the
rules committee, which was addressed
by Representative Kahn, ranking Re-
! publican member Of the House Military
Affairs Committee. This action is cX-
rected to be followed quickly by the
passage Of all measures amending the
selectivo draft law which will facili-
tate the calling out of upward Of 500,-
600 men.
While the War Department has not
been informed on details regarding the
hrigadlng Of American regiments with
British and French units it is assumed
| that President Wilson has been made
fully acquainted with the extent to
! which the new arrangement will affect
the status and identity of American
troops.
Chief Need Is Men
In Entente quarters it was declared
to-day that the supreme need Of the
British and French is men and more
men. The Allied armies, it was stated,
/ have sufficient guns and munitions, and
/ n at avail q h10 tOp Of
ping shall be devoted to the transpor-
| tation Of troops from America. The
/ United States, it was asserted. possesses
! all the men needed, and it is possible
to get them to France in time, provided
every effort is made now to ship them
over.
1t was held that nothing counts now
except to throw every man into the
fight where he can accomplish the best
results, regardless Of who commands
! MIN or with what particular country he
serves.
1t was suggested in an important
quarter to-day that one effect of the
filling up OF British gaps with Ameri-
can soldiers might be to temper any OPP
/ fighting under foreign commander. 1t
was believed that the promptness with
I which the United States acquicsced in
the Allies proposal to incorporate in
their armies all the available American
+ troops already in France, together with
others as rapidly as they can be trans
ported, will have a very beneficial eff
feet upon the British mind
TO Resume Identity
1t was also pointed out that, later
/ American divisions will be reformed.
and that even should they lose their
identity now, they eventually will take
/ form and DOSItiOn a national ,r,,,,
hghtlng as unit, the present plan Of
using them to reinforce the shattered
British brlgades being d temporary and
necessary eXpedient. It is not believed
however, that the Allied armies will
! ever revert to the discarded plan of in
/ dependent national armies, operating
without supreme commander in chief.
1t being taken for granted that the idea
OF generalissimo has come to stay,
and that even should General Foch
| recently appointed to that office. ever
be displaced. another generalissimo will
be appointed
Military authorities here have su-
preme confidence in General Foch. how
ever, and believe his strategy will soon
er or later be great, determining fac
tor not only in the issue of the present
battle on The Western front, but affect
ing the decisions OF the war.
Marine Recruits Offered
1t developed to-day that the Marine
Corps has placed at the disposal of the
War Department every man who hns
passed the preliminary tests applied TO
all recruits at the big training camps
at Quantico, Va; Paris Island. S {
/ and Mare Island, California. While M
figures are available, it is known that
fully 80 per cent of the men in train.
ing as fighters Of the sea" arc sufn-
GENTLY skilled as soldiers to take their
places IN the trenches shortly after
I arrival in France.
The General Staff has cabled Cen
eral Pcrshing, placing the marines at
his disposal and urging an Immediate
decision on the number of mon desired
infantry and artillery units have heen
organized and are in high state of
peri cctlon' 1t was asserted at marine
headquarters to-day.