The Lancaster news. [volume] (Lancaster, S.C.) 1905-current, 1918-05-17
Echo of Political CONTROVERSY
Precipitated By Incident of
General Maurice.
is PROMPTLY REPUDIATED
American Troops Will Continue
to Be Used in Battle as Cen
eral FOch Determines Best
For Allies.

Washington, May 16.-American
officers are inclined to characterize
reports from London via Ottawa
that American troops would not be
used until a complete and powerful
American army had been developed
in France as an echo of the political.
controversy precipitated in EnglandS
by the incident of General Maurice.
They could see no other explanation
since the statement attributed to the
war committee" of the British war
cabinet was promptly repudiated by
Lord Reading, British ambassador
here, and later declared by Secretar,
Baker in formal statement to a
at absolute variance with the W
as known here
Lord Readings statement sai2e
was confident no such announcements
had been issued with the kno tn.
Of Premier Lloyd George, az
that the views OF the British <er,
exactly opposite. Secretary Baker
said American troops were now be-
ing used in battle and would con-
tinue to be used as the supreme
commander, General Foch, deemed
best.
Inquiry at the various bureaus of
the war department showed that the
expedited movement of men to
France is proceeding as planned af-
ter the announcement that American
units would be brigaded with France
and English divisions for Immediate
operations as well as training. y -
Question Has Been Raised. M
In view of these developments.
is felt that an explanation mu
come from the British capital. II
known that some question as to tn
way in which an American aid >isNto
be employed has been raised in Lon,
don, some officials were feeling that
the use OF American troops should be,
restricted at this time in favor of
American supplies; while others
dwelt upon the urgent need of man
power as the first consideration.
Since the decision to scatter
American battalions or regiments in
allied forces was made only because
OF the cry for manpower from boih
the British and French governments
when the German onslaught was bal
tering the lines in Flanders ana
Picardy, officials here were inclined
to find the tone of the announcement
now attributed to the war cabinet
distasteful. The whole American
program in France has been subject
TO revision by reason OF that decis-
ION, the effect of which was to set
aside national pride and the ambi-
tions of American officers of high
rank in order to furnish immediate
aid. Such sacrifices were not view
ed lightly, it is held, or to be accept
ed or rejected at the whim of the mo-
ment in London or elsewhere.
Mystery OF Reports Origin.
Just how this report may relate to
the recent political crisis in England
American officers do not undertake
to say. They have a strong feeling
that English politics is behind the
mystery, however, and look to the
British government to correct
promptly any misapprehension there
may be about the need for AmMcan
aid x
There are some other Questions
agitating officials here which the OF
tawa report served to bring to light
For one thing, American army Off
GERS for the most part are convinced
that the American army Will never
reach its highest efficiency under
either the French or British army
systems. The relation between the
officers and men In each army are
things peculiar to each army. They
cannot be transposed from one to
he other. e
In the opinion of many officers
here. the time Is fast oaching
when American officers m tho
other side will be relied UPON for the
training of the American army. rath-
en- than veterans of trench warfare