Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1920-01-29
Planned an American Army.

the supreme war council, and | at once
conferred on the terms of this note.
with the result that the secretary rec
commended to the president that joint
note No. 18 be approved in the follow
ing sense:
'sThe purpose Of the American gov
eminent is to render the fullest CO.
operation and aid, and therefore the
recommendation of the military rep
resentatives with regard to the pref
erentiaI transportation of American
infantry and machine gun units in
the present emergency is approved.
Such units, when transported, will be
under the direction Of the command
er In chief Of the American eXpedi-
tionary forces, and will be assigned
for training and use by him in his dis
erection. He will use these and all
other military forces Of the United
States under his command in such
manner as to render the greatest mill
tary assistance, keeping In mind al
WAYS the determination of this gov
erpment to have its varied military
training and the military situation per-
mits, into an Independent American
army, acting In concert with the
armies of Great Britain and France,
and all arrangements made by him
for their temporary training and
service will be made with that end in
view"
British Losses Heavy.
The battle line in the vicinity of
Amiens had hardly stabilized when,
on April 9, the Germans made anoth-
er successful attack against the Brit
fish lines on a front Of some 40 kilo-
meters in the vicinity of Armentieres
and along the Lys river. AS result
Of it's being included in salient form
ed by the German advance, Passchen-
haele ridge, the capture Of which had
cost so dearly in 1917, was evacuated
by the British On April II.
The losses had been heavy and the
British were unable to replace them
entirely. They were, therefore, max
ing extraordinary efforts to increase
the shipping available for our troops.
On April 81, l went to London to
clear I'D certain questions concerning
the rate Of shipment and to reach the
further agreement provided for in the
April Z conference The result Of this
london agreement was cabled to
Washington April "a, as follows:
"That only the infantry, machine
guns. engineers and signal troops Of
American divisions and hrigade~ be
sent over in British and Amerir"''
shipping during May for tranin2 II!
service with the British arm:
France up to six divisions ana that
any shipping in excess Of that re-
CURED 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 as may be required
TO build up American corps organiza-
lions follow Immediately thereafter,
and that American artillery personnel
be trained with French material and
JOAI 10 PAOPOi NAfAoAOAo as SOOh as
thoroughly trained.
THAT it 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 to
the French Or British for training or
train them with American units at his
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 meeting Of the supreme war
council held at Abbevi.le May l 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.
ut is the opinion of the supreme
war council that in order to carry the
war to successful conclusion, an
American army should be formed as
early as possible under it's own flag.
In order to meet the present emer-
gency it is agreed that American
troops should be brought to France
as rapidly as allied transportation ia
cilities 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 Disc and Berry-au-
Bac against the French instead Of
against the British, as was generally
expected, and it came as a complete
surprise. The initial Aisne attack,
covering a front Of thirty-five kilo-
meters, met with remarkable success,