The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1919-12-15
AMERICAN ARMY
REALLY WON VAR
Is What Gen Pershing Intimates AL
though He Does Not Say So
in Those Words.

Washington, d. c., Dec. l5.--General
Pershing, in his special report to Sec
rotary Baker, on the operations of the
American army in France, says in eff
feet, although not in terms, that the
American army won the war.
1T was this spirit of determination
animating every American soldier, -
says General Pershing referring to the
Mouse -Argonne battle, "that made it
impossible for the enemy to maintain
the struggle until 1919"
Twenty American and four
French divisions" says General Per-
shing, had engaged and decisiyely
beaten AZ German divisions, represent
ing % per cent of the enemy's entire
divisional strength on the western
front. OF the enemy divisions, 20 had
been drawn from the French front and
one from the British front OF the 20
American divisions IL had at various
times during this period tSept. 20 TO
Nov. IL, 1919 been engaged on other
fronts than our own. The first army
had suffered loss of about III 900, in
killed and wounded; it had captured
10000 prisoners, SAT cannon, 5000 ma
chine guns and large quantities of ma
terial.'
With the American army holding the
heights dominating Sedan, the report
said, and the German line of communi.
cations definitely sundered recognizing
that nothing but cessation of hostilities
could save his armies from complete
disaster, he appealed for an immediate
armistice Nov. g."
General Pershings report follows in
detail the growth of the American
overseas forces from the date of his de-
parture with a small staff May 2S, 1917,
until it numbered more than 1000 900
men. Every step of organization, every
conference with the allied generals and
the important decisions reached are re-
corded
The document, comprising a pamph
let of about 100 pages, or $4,000 words,
is divided into three sections: Period
OF Organization, Operations" and
supply, Combinations and Admins
tration.'
Summarizing the military situation
which existed in the spring of 1917,
when the United States aligned itself
with the allies, General Pershing said !.
In the five months ending June 30,
1917, German submarines had accom-
plished the destruction of more than
3,250,000 tons of allied shipping Dur
ing three years Germany had seen prac
tieally all her offensiyes except Verdun
crowned with success. Her battle lines
were held on foreign soil and she had
withstood every attack since the Marine
The German general staff could foresee
now the complete elimination of Russia,
the possibility of defeating Italy be-
fore the end Of the year and, finally,
the campaign Of 1918 against the
French and British on the western
front which might terminate the war.
Financial problems of the allies
We're difficult, supplies were becoming
exhausted and their armies had suf-
fered tremendous losses. Discourage
ment existed not only among the civil
population but throughout the armies
as we'll"
Within one month of his arrival, Cen
eral Pershing recommended definitely
that 100000 men should be in France
before May, 1918, it being evident that
"a force of 100000 is the smallest
unit which in modern war will be a
complete, well balanced and independ-
ent fighting organization. Plans for
the future, the recommendation added,
SHOULD be based on three times this
force.