The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1918-04-07
CELEBRATING
LIBERTY DAY
IN LONDON
Reciprocal News Service,
From l3 Queen Anne's Gate,
London.
BY X. WALTER.

London, April O.-Wh hle PreSi-
Dent Wilson is making his anniyer-
Bary speech at Baltimore a great
London gathering, invited by the
lord mayor, will be celebrating the
same event at the Mansion House.
1t will be the most enthusiastic
Anglo-American meeting ever held
in London. There was rejoicing
year ago but nothing to compare
with the sentiment aroused by Am
erica's decision to send her men
into the battle, without waiting for
their ultimate organization as a
great American army, as units of
the allied forces under the command
pt General Foch.
Intervention meant much, actual
participation in the fighting means
infinitely more. A battalion today
is worth a brigade tomorrow. More
over the decision has deeply touch
ed the British public, who realize
with what natural pride Americans
watch the growth OF their own
Drmy and very few OF them know
That the present plan was discussed
IN Washington year ago and even
at that time found favor in high
places, although not in the army de-
partment, as being the most direct
means OF making Germany feel the
weight of American manpowcr and
as the most practical manner for
completing the battle training of the
American expeditionary force.
AS matter of personal observa-
ton, the Americans who are taking
their points in the battle line are
picked men of hawless physique and
have had considerably more training
than thousands of Englishmen who
fought nobly in the smaller but not
less desperate battles of the past
years. They are spoken of as COM
pletlng their training, but in reg
imental sense they are fully trained
men, and all that is lacking is the
high school education which their
officers can not receive until their
units form part of the brigade and
the brigade part OF q division. They
will get this higher education now
under experienced brigadiers and
divisional commanders, and when
General Pershing sees fit to with
draw them for the formation of the
new American divisions he will be
able to make use Of those divisions
without further training. In this
way American manpower is being
utilized without further delay, and
General Pershing's task of building
up a great American army is being
facilitated. Meanwhile America
could have done nothing better cal
culated to arouse the admiration
and confidence of the other fighting
democracies than to trust her men
10 their own experienced leaders.
particularly at this critical moment
OF the war. 1t is noble and appro-
pirate celebration OF the anniver-
sary and should go far to satisfy
the impatience of the American
people, OF which many echoes have
reached ME recently.
The situation today is full Of pro-
mise, but battles of this nature are
not decided in a day nor even in 4
month. 1t may be many weeks be-
fore We shall know the results of
the dispositions which are now being
made by General Foch.
General Foch is a shrewd and far
sighted strategist. He was virtually
in command of the operations in
northern France which saved Calais
IN 1914 and is credited with having
persuaded the retreating Belgians to
hold the line OF the Ypres by force
OF arms for several days instead of
prematurely flooding that area.
which would have thrown the whole
strength OF the advancing German
armies against feebly defended
section OF the line to the south Of
them, the delay thus giving valuable
time for the British contemptibles
coming roundabout from the battle
OF the Aisne to fill the gap. His
part in the victory of The Marne
was second only to that of Joffre.
England is putting her millions at
his disposal with implicit confidence
n his ability TO outwit the giant
Hindenburg,