Tulsa daily world. [volume] (Tulsa, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1905-1919, 1918-05-14

TO- WASHINGTON, May l3-Ameri-
can Officers were inclined tonight to
characterize reports from London
via Ottawa that American troops
would not he used until a complete
and powerful American army had
been developed In France as an echo
OF the political controversy pre-,
tIted ia England by the incident OF
General Maurice.
They could see no other explnna-
ton since the statement attribute.
to the war committee" OF the Brit
ish war cabinet was promptly re-
pudiated by Lord Reading. British
Ambassador here. and later declared
by Secretary Baker In a formal stat,
ment to be AT absolute variance with
the facts as known here. Lord Read
ing's statement said he was conf
dent no such announcement had
been issued with the knowledge OF
Premier Lloyd George, adding that
the views OF the British government
which he was transmitting were ex-
actly opposite. Secretary Baker said
American troops were now being
used in battle and would continue
to be used as the supreme COM
mander, General Foch deemed best
Moving as Planned.
INQUIRY at the various bureaus OF
the war department showed that the
movement Of men to France Is pro-
ceeding as planned after the an
nouncement that American units
would be brigaded with French and
British divisions for immediate OPP
erations as we'll as training.
In view OF these developments II
was felt that an explanation must
come from the British capital. 1t is
known that some question as to the
way in which American aid to be
employed has been raised in Lon
don, some officials there 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 Amer
lean battalionE or regiments In allied
forces was made only because of the
cry for man power from the British
and French governments when the
German onslaught was battering the
lines in Flanders and Picardy, Of
ficials here were inclined to find the
tone of the announcement now at
tributed to the war cabinet distaste-
full
Program Revised.
The whole American program IN
France has been subject to revision
by reason OF that decision, the ef-
feet Of which was toxsA aside ma
tional pride and the Ambitions OF
American officers Of high rank On
order to furnish immediate aid
Such sacrifices are not to be viewed
lightly, 1t Is held, or to be accepted
or rejected at the whim of the
moment in London or elsewhere.
Just how this report may relate
to the recent political crisis in Eng
land. American officers do not
undertake to say. They have a
strong feeling that English politics
are behind the mystery. however,
and look to the British government
20 correct promptly any misappre-
hension there may be about the
need for American aid.
There are some other questions
agitating officials here which the
ottawa report served to bring to
light For one thing American army
officers for the most part are con
vinced that the American army will
never reach its highest efficiency
under either the French or British
army systems. The relations be
tween the officers and men in each
army are things peculiar TO each
army. They cannot be transposed
from one to the other.