Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1918-12-08

the operations of the American expe-
dictionary force under his command.
This report from Gen. Pershing was
included as an appendix to the annual
report of the Secretary of War.
Following the reduction OF the
Marine salient, Gen. Pershing says,
1--WE could look forward to the con-
eentration of our divisions IN our
own zone" Then, beginning with the
operations against the st. Mlhiel sa-
linnt, he recounts the experiences of
the lst American Army. under MS
command, organized August ~.
"Put Out of Business"
From that time on the Americans
dealt blow after blow. from St Minlei,
then on the Meuse-Argonne front ana
east of the Meuse to Sedan-bloWs
which put an end to Germanys mill
tary prowess and virtually put the
Germans out of business, to use
slang phrase.
ton of the American operations to
those of the allies, of the strength OF
the American expeditionary force, ana
concludes with tributes to many speci-
fled branches of the service;
Gen. Pershing's report follows: ,e
November 20, 1918.
"My Dear Mr.. Secretary:
I'm response to your request, l nave
the honor to submit this brlef sum
mary of the organization ana opera
force from May IS, 1917, until the
signing of the armistice November
ii, 1915 Pursuant to your 1nstruc-
lions, Immediately upon receiving my
orders / selected a small stan ana
proceeded to Europe in order to Pc
come familiar with conditions at the
earliest possible moment.
THE warmth of our reception IN
England and France was only equaled
by the readiness of the commanders
in chief of the veteran armies OF the
allies and their stats to place their
experience at our disposal. In consul
tation with them the most effective
means of cooperation of EFFORT was
considered. With French and Brit
ish armies at their maximum
strength. and all EFFORTS to dlspossess
the enemy from his firmly intrenched
positions in Belgium and France fall
ed, it was necessary TO plan for an
American force adequate to turn the
scale in favor of the allies. Taking
account of the strength of the central
powers at that time. the immensely
of the problem which confronted us
could hardly be overestimated. The
first requisite being an organization
that could give intelligent direction
to effort, the formation of gen.
eral staff occupied my early atten-
tion.
General staff.
"A we'll organized general staff
through which the commander exer-
cises his functions is essential to
successful modern army. However
capable our division. our battalion.
and our companies as such. success
would be impossible without thor
oughly co-ordinated endeavor. gen.
eral staff broadly organized and
listed in our Army. Under the COM
mander-in-chief, this staff must car
ry out the policy and direct the de-
tails of administration, supply, prep
aration. and operations of the Army
as whole. with all special branches
and bureaus subject to its control.
AS models to aid US we had the vet
eran French general staff and the ex-
perience of the British who had SIM
ilaTy formed an organization to
meet the demands of a great army.
By selecting from each the features
best adapted to our basic organiza-
lion. and fortified by our own early
experience in the war. the develop
ment of our great general staff sys-
tenn was completed.
The general staff Is naturally di-
vided into five groups. each with it's
chief. who is an assistant to the chief
of the general staff. G. / is in charge
OF organization and equipment of
troops, requirements, tonnage, prior
ity of overseas shipment, the auxil-
larry welfare association and cognate
subjects; q. has censorship, enemy
Intelligence, gathering and dissent
Dating information, preparation of
maps. and all similar subjects; G. 3 is
charged with all strategic studies and
plans. movement of troops. and the
SnnprviSinn of combat
Eo-ordinates important questions of
supply. construction, transport ar
engagements for combat, and Of the
operations of the service of supply,
and of hespitalization and the evacu-
alton of the sick and wounded: G. S
supervises the various schools and
has general direction and co-ordina-
tion of education and training.
The first chief of staff was Col.
fnow Maj. GEM James G. Harbord,
Maj. Gen. James w. McAndrew. To
these officers, to the deputy chief of
staff and to the assistant chiefs of
STAFF. who. as heads of sections, aided
them, great credit is due for the re-
suits obtained not only in perfect
in applying correct principles to the
multiplicity of problems that have
arisen.
Organization and Training.
"After a thorough consideration of
allied organizations it was decided
that our combat division should con-
sist of four regiments of infantry Of
5000 men. with three battalions to
a regiment and four companies of
80 men each to a battalion. and of an
artillery brigade of three regiments.
a nachine-gun battalion. an engineer
regiment. trench mortar battery.
a signal battalion. wagon trains and
the headquarters STATS and military
police. These. with medical and other
units. made total of over $4,000 men,
or practically double the size of
French or German division. Each
corps would normally consist of six
divisions-four combat and one depot
md one replacement division-and also
two regiments of cavalry. and each
army of from three to five corps.
With four divisions fully trained.
corps could take over an American
sector with two divisions in line and
Two in reserve. with the depot and re-
placement divisions prepared to fill
the gaps in the ranks.
Our purpose was to prepare an in
tegral American force which should
he able to take the offensive in every
respect. Accordingly. the develop
Inent OF q self-reliant infantry by
thorough drill in the use of the rifle
and In the tactics of open warfare
was always uppermost. The plan of
training after arrival in France al
climatfzatfon and instruction in small
units from battalions down. q second
month In quiet trench sectors by bat
TALON and a third month after il
came out of the trenches when 1t
should be trained as complete divi-