New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1919-12-14
american Commander in
Report on War Declares
u. S. Successes Forced
Foe to Plea for Armistice
General Tells Just What
Happened From Day He
Put Foot on French Soil

antmating every American soldier, +"
says General Pershing, referring to the
ase-Argonne battle, that made it
impossible for the enemy to maintain
the struggle until 1919"
Iwenty-tw American and four
shinx, had engaged and decisively
beaten forty-seven German divisions,
representing 25 per cent Of the enemy's
entire divisional strength on the West
/ ern front. Of the enemy divisions.
twenty had been drawn from the
French front and one from the British
front. Of the twenty-five American
divisions twelve had at various times
during this period September &c to
november IL, 1879 been engaged on
! Army had suffered loss of about IT.,
600 ia killed and wounded; it had cap
tured $4,000 prisoners, BAT cannon,
$500 machine guns and large guam
titles OF material"
With the American army holding the
heights dominating Sedan, the report
said, and the German line of commune
cations definitely sundered. "recogniz-
ing that nothing but cessation of
nostl!1tles could save his armies from
complete disaster, he appealed for an
Immediate armistice November g."
Of0wth OF Army Detailed
General Pershing's report follows in
detail the growth Of the American over
seas forces from the date Of his depar-
ture with small staff May %, 1917,
until 1t numbered more than 1000, 900
men. Every step Of organization, every
conference with the Allied generals
and the important decisions reached
Fare recorded.
The document, comprising a pam
phlet of about 100 pages, or $4,000
words, is divided into three sections:
period of Organization" Operations
ministration."
Summarizing the military situation
which existed in the spring Of 1917,
when the United States aligned itself
IN the five months ending June 80.
1917, German submarines had accom-
plished the destruction Of more than
!, S.25o,ooO tons of Allied shipping. Dur
ing three years Germany had seen
practically all Of her offensives except
Verdun crowned with success. Her
battle lines were held on foreign soil
and she had withstood every attack
since the Marne. The German General
stan could foresee now the complete
elimination of Russia. the possibility
Of defeating Italy before the end Of
the year and, finally. the campaign of
1913 against the French and British
on the Western front which might ter
inmate the war.
Allies Were DISCOURAGED
Financial problems of the Allies were
difficult. supplies were becoming ex-
hausted and their armies had suffered
tremendous losses. Disbursement ex-
listed not only among the civil popula-
ton but throughout the armies as we'll. "
Within one month Of his arrival, Cen
eral Pershing recommended definitely
that 1,00O, 600 men should be in France
before May, 1918, it being evident that
"a force of one million is tho smallest
unit which in modern war will be COM
plete, well balanced and Independent
fighting organization" Plans for the
future, the recommendation added
Should be based on three times this
force"
The general was equally specific In
choosing the ground for American oper-
atoms. He says:
essential to make plans for striking the
enemy where definite military decision
could be gained. While the Allied armies
had endeavored to maintain the often.
sive, the British. in order to guard the
Channel ports, were committed to opera.
tions In Flanders and the French to the
portion Of the front protecting Paris
Both lacked troops to operate elsewhere
on large scale.
Central France Meaaced
ITO tho east the great fortified dis
trict east Of Verdun and around Metz
menaced central France, protected tn.
most exposed portion Of the Germar
line OF communications, that between
Mofy nd ca II
iron region, from which the enemy OBJ.
tanned the greater part Of the iron re.
quired for munitions and material
The coal fields east Of Meta were alst
covered by these same defcnses.
deep advance east Of Metz. or tn,
capture. Of the Briey region, by threat
ening the invasion Of rich German ter
ritory in the Moselle Valley and tn,
Saat Basin, thus curtailing her suppl,
Of coal and iron. would have q decisive
eject In forcing = withdrawal Of Cor
man troops from northern France. TIL,
military and economic situation Of tn,
enemy, Therefore, indicated Lorrain,
- the held promising tho most fruit
ful results for the employment Of ou
armies"
American arms drew hrst blood, tn,
report shows, at Passchendsele Ridge
November s to 10, 1917, when the III
500 ANSVAS JV4uCO buc OEltl$n IN g sue
cessful attack which was part Of ,
general operation designed Ito hinde
the German conquest Of Russia and I,
prevent, If possible, an attack on Italy
or in the Near East"
\ Soon afterward, however, came th,
collapse of Russia and the Italia,
dSbacle at Caporetto. with the result
That the enemy's legions began t,
gather thickly in France. Allied com
manders viewed the situation will
frank apprehension. General Per
shtn1'e report indicates and the pres
sure for an accelerated movement OF
American divisions was felt from al
sides. At the same time came the sug
gestion that American units be brig.
AIDED with French and British in or
der that no time be wasted in train.
ing. In this connection the general re.
ports:
my conclusion was that. although
the morals Of the German people and Of
the armies was better than it had been
for two years. only an untoward com
bination Of circumstances could give
the enemy decisive victory beford
American support as recommended
could be made effective, provided the
Allies secured unity of action. How
ever, = situation might arise which
would necesgitate the temporary use of
Ill American troops in the units of our
allies tor the defensive, but nothing in
the situation justified the rclinquish-