Little Falls herald. [volume] (Little Falls, Morrison County, Minn.) 1889-1950, 1920-01-30

LITTLE
as the lowest we should think sf and
$ts placed no higher because the limit
OF available transportation would not
seem to warrant It. fz} r. i. i.s*3 \.
"A study Of transportation facili-
ties shows sufficient American ton
mage to bring over this number Of
troops. but to do so there must be a
reduction in the tonnage allotted to
other than army needs. The use of
shipping for commercial purposes
must be curtafled as much as posi-
BILE. The allies are very weak and
we must come to their relief this year,
1918. The year after may be too late.
1t Is very doubtful If they can hold
on until 1919 unless we give them q
lot Of support this year. It is there
fore strongly recommended that a
complete readjustment of transporta-
ton be made and that the needs of
the war department as set forth above
be regarded as Immediate"
In the latter part of January joint
note No. II, presented by the military
representatives with the supreme war
council. was approved by the council.
This note concluded that France would
be safe during 1918 only under certain
conditions, namely:
"That the strength Of the British
and French troops in France are con-
tinuously kept up to theix present
total strength and that they receive
the expected re-enforcements Of not
less than two American divisions per
MONTH"
The first German offensive Of 1918,
beginning March 81, overran all re-
sistance during the initial period Of
the attack. The offensive made such
inroads upon French and British re-
serves that defeat stared them In the
face unless the new American troops
should prove more Immediately
available than even the most optimis-
tic had dared to hope. On March
n the military representatives with
the supreme war council prepared
their joint note No. 10. This note re-
peated the previously quoted state
ment from joint note No. IL, and
continued:
'The battle which is developing at
the present moment in France, and
which can extend to the other thea
tiers of operations. may very quickly
place the allied armies In serious
situation from the point of view Of eff.
fectives.
"The military representatives are Of
the opinion that it is highly desirable
that the American government should
assist the allied armies as soon ds
possible by permitting in principle the
temporary service Of American units
In allied army corps and divisions.
Such re-enforcements must, however,
be obtained from other units than
those American divisions which are
now operating with the French, and
the units so temporarily employed must
eventually be returned to the Ameri-
can army.
1.-THE military representatives are Of
the opinion that from the present time,
In execution Of the foregoing, and I'M.
til otherwise directed by the supreme
war council only American infantry
and machine gun units, organized as
that government may decide, be
brought to France, and that all agree
ments or conventions hitherto made in
conflict with this decision be modified
accordingly"
Planned an American Army.
The secretary of war, who was in
France at the time; General Bliss, the
American military representative with
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:'
1.-THE 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
erential 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 expelli-
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
fmanner as to render the greatest mill
tary assistance, keeping In mind al.
ways the determination of this gov
eminent to have its varied military
forces collected as speedily as their
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