The Washington times., 1919-12-14

cally reNealed Dy the nnal report or
General Persing, commander of Amer
icas armies in Europe. The report
was made public today.
An army on the western front of at
least 100000 men was only one
phase. The first 1000, 900 of this gil
gantic force was in France and prep
arations were already launched for
another 100000 when Germany col
lapsed.
Throughout the report emphasis
was laid on the fact that this armys
mission was offensive. and it's tactics
were to be American in character and
! CARED out under the American nag.
American cooperation was extended
to the allies at al ltimes, but General
Pershing forcibly stated that Amer
lean prestige was at al ltimes to be
represented by an American army
General Pershing pointed out that
the English and French had been
fighting for three years and that our
reception was remarkable. He also
pointed out that we had a year in
which to organized our effort. and
that allied support and cooperation
never wavered during this time.
Array OF 1,0oo0ooo.
1t was revealed that General
Pershing on his arrival in France
cabled back that our plan should con-
template 100000 men in France by
the following May. This, he declared,
is the smallest unit which In modern
| war will be a complete, well-balanced,
and independent fighting organiza-
tion.
AS early as his first request for
/, 100000 men General Pershing in
dicated thatn an offensive by Ameri-
can armies was to be planned for 1913,
and throughout the initial stages of
our effort this idea was never lost
sight of.
The idea of offensive training and
action was not in accord with the
plans and organization of the other
allies it was indicated. General Per-
after three years of bitter trench
war, with it's limited objects of at
tack and defense, had caused the al
lies to pin their efforts to training
for the trenches and the idea of open
warfare was lost githof for the
time.
The situation at the time of
Americas entry into the war was
grave for the allies. Hhe parade of
the First Division in Paris. on July 4
was a material stimulant to French
morale, as an evidence of Americas s
physical entry into the war. Efforts
were argued to get more American
troops over. but in December 1917.
there were but 116,665 American
troops in France and only ono di-
vision had appeared on the front,
Stimu!ent to French.
The result was disappointment on
the part of the allies, and renewal
of the request that our troops be linn
tied to trench training, and be ANAL
gamated with British and French
troops, said the report.
General Pershing said:
my conclusion was that although
the morale Of the German people and
of the armies was better than 1t had
been for two years, only an untoward
combinatioD Of circumstances could
give the enemy a decisive victory be-
fore American support, as recon-
mended could be made effective pro-
vided the allies s-cured unity of ac-
tion."
Secretary Bakers report has shown
that General Pershing had received
very definite orders which supported
him in his purpose.
In defending his position General
Pershing pointed out that while Ger
many was converting her most ag-
gressive troops into shock divisions
the allies were still limiting their
training to trench war. He pointed
out that our troops were being taught
open war, and therefore nothing but
the sheerest necessity would bring
about such an amalgamation.
The German offensive Of 1918
caused a temporary alteration of plan
so that combat troops were given
priority and an arrangement made
wheI eby allied troops would he SUD
ported by American reinforcements,
but General Pershing won his point
for an independent American army
as soon as the situation permitted
The project of supreme command
was supported by General Psrshing
and was an outcome of the tense al
lied situa:ion.
First Indepeaient Operation.
On May %, 1918. :he first :rdepend-
ent American operation took place
when the First. American Division,
relieving two French divisions, as
saulted the heights of Cantigny.
French support OF guns aad tanks
had to be withdrawn before the
operation was completed because ut
German pressure and the Germans
counter-attacked violently, which
General Pershing pointed out gave
the American attack at Csntigny a
seeming tactical Importance entirely
out of proportion to the numbers in
volved" He called attention 10 the
excellent effect the operatro nnsd in
raising allied hopes and depressing
German morale.
The Germans had encouraged their
troops in the belief that the offensive
in July would terminate the war,
General Pershing said, and, acordcing-
ly they fought desperately. During
the operations of June and July oc-
CURED the memorable action of Bel
leau Wood, Bouresche, Chateau
Thierry and scissors, which caused
the Germans to feel the full weight
OF Americas fighting force. II was
in the fighting about scissors that the
First and Second American divisions.
acting as a separhead for Foch's
thrdust, cut into the face of the Marne
salient so deeply that the Germans
eventually cleared out.
due to the magnificent flash and
upower displayed on the field of Sois-