Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1918-05-14
AMERICAN OFFICIAL DlsPLEAsED
OVER REPORT SENT OUT
FROM OTTAWA.
EXPLANATION OF ARMY REPORT
DUE FROM GREAT BRITAIN
Washington Officials Find Report Of
Decision Of British War Cabinet Dis
tasteful - Secretary Baker Makes
Flat Denial of Statement That
American Troops Will Not Be Used
a. Present.

Washington, May 14.-American Of
ticens are inclined to characterize re-
ports from London via Ottawa that
American troops would not be used
until complete and powerful Amer
lean army had been developed In
France as an echo of the political con-
troversy precipitated in England by
the incident of General Maurice.
They could see no other explanation.
since the statement attributed to the
war scommittee" of the British war
cabinet was promptly repudiated by
Lord Reading, British ambassador here
and later declared by Secretary Baker
in a formal statement to be at absolute
variance with the facts as known here.
Await an Explanation.
In view of these developments it 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 is to be employed
had been raised in London. some Of
ficials there feeling that the use of
American troops should be restricted
at this time in favor of American sup
plies, while others dwelt upon the urg-
ent need of man power as the first
consideration.
Since the decision to scatter Amer
lean battalions or regiments in allied
forces was made only because Of the
cry for man power from both the Brit
ism and French governments when the
German onslaught was battering the
lines in Flanders and Picardy. officials
here were inclined to find the tone OF
the announcement now attributed to
the war cabinet distasteful.
U. S. Program Changed.
The whole American program III
France has been subject to revision by
reason Of that decision. tn" effect OF
which was to set aside national pride
and the ambitions of American officers
Of high rank in order to furnish imme-
date aid. Such sacrifices are not to
be viewed lightly. it is held. or to be
accepted or rejected at the within Of the
moment in London or elsewhere.
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 gov
eminent to correct promptly any mis-
apprehension there may be about the
need for American aid.
Other Questions Raised.
There are some other questions asi-
tating officials here, which the Ottawa
report served to bring to light. For
one thing. American army officers 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
relations between the officers and men
in each army are things peculiar to
each army They can not be trans
posed from one to the other.
In the opinion Of many officers here
the time is fast approaching when
American officers on the other side
should be relied upon for the training
Of the American army rather than
veterans Of trench warfare from the
French and British services.
New Tactics Urged.
Men who are most insistent~ on this
point of view believe trench warfare
has produced nothing as yet which
justifies the abandonment Of all other
theories of military operations for high
specialization in trench actions.
II America Is to contribute largely
to the ultimate defeat of the German
army, they hold she must contribute