The Lexington intelligencer. [volume] (Lexington, Mo.) 1901-1949, 1920-01-09
PAGE

France up 20 six divisions aud that
any shipping In excess of that re-
quIred for these troops be utilized to
transport troops necessary TO make
these divisions complete.
THAT the American personnel Of
the artillery OF these divisions and
such corps troops rs may he required
to build up American corps organiza-
tions follow ~immediately thereafter.
and that American artillery personnel
be trained with French materinl and
Join its proper divisions as snon as
thoroughly trained.
THAT il Is contemplated American
divisions and corps when trained and
organized shall be utilized under the
American commander In chief in an
American group.
That the American commander in
chief shall allot American troops 10
the French or British for training or
train them with American units at bis
discretion. with the understanding
that troops already Transported by
British shipping or included In the six
divisions mentioned are to be trained
with the British army"
AT a meeting OF the supreme war
council held at Abbeville May I and
2. an urgent appeal came from both
French and Italian representatives for
American requirements or units to
serve with their armies. The follow
Ing agreement was reached, commit
ting the council to an independent
american army and providing for the
Immediate shipment OF certain troops:
Under American Flag.
1T Is the opinion OF the supreme
war council that, In order to carry the
war to a successful conclusion. an
American army should be formed as
early as possible under Its own flag.
In order to meet the present emer-
gency II Is agreed that American
troops should be brought to France
as rapidly as allied transportation ga
cillties will permit. and that, as far as
consistent with the necessity Of build
ing up an American army. preference
will be given to infantry and machine
gun units for training and service
with French and British armies"
The next offensive OF the enemy was
made between the Olse and Berry-au-
Bac against the French Instead Of
against the British. as was generally
expected. and II came as u complete
surprise. The initial Aisne attack,
covering a front Of thirty-hye kilo-
meters, mel with remarkable success,
as The German armies advanced no less
than fifty kIlometers In four days. On
reaching the Marine that river was
used as a defensive flank and the Ger
man advance was directly towards
Paris. During the first days Of June
something akin to 4 panic seized the
city, and IL was estimated that ] 100000
people left during the spring Of 1918.
Such extensive priority had already
been given 10 the transport Of Ameri-
can infantry and machine gunners that
the troops OF those ~categories which
haR received ever partial training in
the United States were practically ex-
hausted. Moreover. the strain on our
services Of supply made 1t essential
that early relief be afforded BY increas-
ing Its personnel. The final agreement
was cabled 10 the war department on
June 3. as follows:
The following recommendations are
made on the assumption that at least
$4,000 men can be transported In each
Of the months Of June and July by the
employment Of combined British and
American tonnage. We recommend:
For the month Of June: Absolute
priority shall be given to the trans
p~ortatiOn Of 10000 combatant troops,
25,40O men for the service Of the rail-
ways, the balance TO be troops Of
categorles TO be determined by the
commandments American expedi-
tionary forces.
"For the month Of July: Absolute
priority for the shipment Of 10000
cOmbatant troops, the balance to con-
sist Of troops to be designated by the
cOmmander-in-ehief American expedi-
tionary forces.
"We recognize that the combatant
troops to be dispatched In July may
have to include troops which have had
Insufficient training, bur we consider
the present emergency is such as to
Justify a temporary and exceptional
departure by the United States from
sound principles OF training. especially
as a similar curse is being followed
by FrSuce and Great Britain.
"Signe6 FOCH.
MN Nnn