The Washington times., 1920-01-11
Pershing Vigorously D MES
: Yank Lives Were Sacrificed
When Armistice Was Signed
Leader of A. E. F. Asserts He Ordered Cessation
of Hostilities With Every Division Immedi-
f, ately Upon Learning of Agreement.

knowing that the chances strongly
favored termination OF the hostil'
tiles before that date.
"If the French worked on that
basis, why couldn't the American com
mand have done as muchY From July
Is TO the armistice, the allies attacked
in accordance with general plan.
This plan contemplated attacks from
just east OF the Moselle to the sea
Prom a point just east OF the
Moselle to Switzerland the allies were
unable, prior to the armistice, to con-
centrate the necessary means for an
attack. Thus the French troops hold
ing the lines east OF the Moselle took
no part in the reduction OF the st.
Mihiel salient or In the subsequent
operations OF the second army. Early
in November the allied commander
in-chief decided that the allies were
In a position to concentrate sufficient
troops for an attack east OF the
Moselle.
These plans called for the employ
ment of approximately twenty French
divisions supported on the left by six
American divisions. On November IL
the necessary movements Of concen-
tration OF both French and American
troops were under way. but none OF
them were in position.
Captain Livermore appears to be un-
der the impression that on November
IL General Mangin was in command
OF the French troops on the right of
the 92nd Division. and that that divi-
sion was scheduled to attack on the
immediate left of the French op No
vember ii. Both these impressions
are wrong.
General Mangin would have COM
manded the French attack of the 14th.
but on the 11th none of his troops
were in line; and General Gerard COM
manded the army on the right OF the
92nd Division. The plans for the at
tack Of the 14th contemplated placing
two American divisions, the 3rd and
29th. in first line on the right Of the
92nd Division and did not contem-
except in the way of following up to
keep touch with the advance OF the
left of the Bird and .29th American
divisions.
Resents Implications.
"On November IL parts Of the
French. British and Belgian lines. as
well as parts of the American line.
attacked and advanced. The impli-
cation that the Americans were tho
only troops which advanced or at
tackled on November IL is wholly err
roneous.
with reference to your question
as to whether 1t was true that the
French were as regardless of the
wastage Of men win the armstice in
sight as we were," l must say that
think the language used appears to
contain implications which are un-
warranted. Neither the French nor
the Americans were regardless Of the
wastage of men on November IL or
at any other time.
Neither on November II nor at
any other time were American lives
needlessly wasted because some Of our
officers were not as considerate OF
their men as the French were; nor
were American lives needlessly vast
ed for any other cause. unless 1t be
that we had not adequately prepared
for war in time of peace.
an 1918 the French had been ex-
hausted by four years of war. and it
is true that nearly all Of our divis-
ion attacked with more dash, en-
thusiasm and courage than any but
a very few of the best French divis-
ions, but this superiority of practical
ly all of our divisions was not due
to lack of consideration Of his men
by any American officer"