The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1918-05-16
ALLIED ARMY
FOR PERSHING
He Will Probably Soon Com
mand French and British
Troops.
UNDER BRIG.ADlNG PLAN
When American Soldiers Pre-
dominate He Will Then
Get Control.
UNDER BRlGADING PLAN

WASHINGTON. May la--Gen. Pershing
probably soon will be commanding
French and British troops as the process
Of briEading American units with their
allies on the western front goes Toward.
AZ IL exemplifyins the unity OF com
mand and action into which the United
States and it's cobelligcrents have en-
tered. 1t became known here to-day that
whenever American troops predom:nate
in the brigaded divisions as the process
goes on these divisions under present
plans will be turned over to Gen Per-
shng's command.
This plan would accomplish several
things which the military authorities
regard as very desirable II would
rapidly increase the size OF the American
fighting command on the battle line. X
would contribute tremendously TO tne
spr.t OF unity and concerted effort. Al
the same time instead of holding large
numbers of American troops behind the
lines While training. the plan would sur
round them with seasoned veterans ana
under actual battle conditions school
them to be rebrigaded later with fresh
American troops coming to France.
In this way the efficiency OF the BRIT
ish and French forces is expected TO be
increased and the work OF building UP
a great. fully trained and completely
equipped fighting force in France ~
expected to be fastened.
Foch Com nds Italians.
In addition to this. as illustrative OF
the unity Of command under which Gen
Foch directs all the allied armies, II
was stated officially here to-day that
roch commands the Italian troops in
France and Belgium. There has been no
ouest ion that Foch commanded the ltal-
ian troops in France and ii mad been
supposed that. considering the Italian
front as part OF the western battle lne
under II decision reached at the Ner-
saiIles conference. f'och's authority en-
tended there,
For the first time. however II was an
uounced unreservedly that General
Foch's supreme commend extended &c
Italy.
II was announced also that Italy, be-
sides now sending troops to France II
numbers equal to those being sent IRON
the United states has on her iiGhtint
line n larger army. more perfectly
eoupped. than she had before the grca
Austrian drive. This may he eNplana
tory Of the apparent eauanimity will
which the allied leaders face recurren
reports of new drive on the ItaliaI
front
The information that the brigaded al
lied divisions in the west probably vii
be placed under the command Of Gen
pershing when the numbers of Ameri
can troops contained in them prcdomi
nate was taken to mean that the sam'
principle would operate when the pre-
dominating numbers were French ol
British
High Onicer's Opinions.
As giving the view OF the allied mill
tary experts on this plan, a high office
! in the service OF one OF the Powers a
! war with Germany to-day gave thcs
opinions to the Associated Press
"IFrom the news received and from tn
| knowledge of conditions as they wer
! when I recently left France | cannot be
! lieve that the situation 10 so completed
| in hand as to warrant any slackeninl
off in the rushing over OF American
! troops.
! Even should this supposltion b
| correct il would be a GREAT militar
error to work on such q thesis Their
| has been no more insidious propaganda
than that which tends TO scduce pop
ulay opinion in the Entente countrie
! into n false sense Of security. Wha
| is being written to-day about the Ger
mans having used up all their reserve
and having staked their all on vc
/ tory or defeat has been written almos
literally word for word at every crisi
since the beginning OF the war. TIL
! ros,,lt has often been to DELAY Drepa "A
ton and to procrastinate in the carry