Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1922-06-03
HOW THE ALLIES SOUGHT TO
MANAGE THE AMERICAN ARMY

A series Oh dFL1CleS puUIlSIlSu III
the Saturday Evening Post gives
some extraordinary facts in regard
to the management of the army ex-
peditionary forces conscrlpted in the
United States and sent overseas to
| overwhelm Germany. Sir Philip
Gibbs has written several books on
the inside history, from a British
viewpoint, about what must be, told,
and again, More that must be told "
own the latter book, and it gave
me thrills-whethe of indignation
or comfort, I will not here define.
After the 1916 election, when Presi-
dent Wilson was reelected preSl-
dent, the mothers Of America took
to themselves the satisfaction that
he had kept us out of war and would
continue to keep us out of entan-
Cling alliances with foreign nations.
I will not review what really hap
pened at this time. The official rec
ords now go to prove that England
and France kept up an incessant ap-
peal for the assistance of the United
States. They also show conclusive
ly that both aimed to put American
soldiers into SerVice-under the COM
mand of English and French gen.
erals. That controversy became heat
ed as the exciting days rolled along.
The British knew they never could
use Canadian troops in such man
ner, They could conscript the Cana
dams and did conscript them, but
10 fiY.iIo q
| line they were differed by the com
manders who were chosen in Cana
da before they sailed for Europe.
| 1t is now fully demonstrated that
| the British government fully intend
ed to rest a large number of British
divisions and fill up the ranks with
American boys. Our troops were to
be in reality recruits to fill up the
| thinned British columns. Our boys
were said to be trained at home be.
fore they were transported to Liver.
| pool and Brest, but the allies were
| clamoring for them, and the plain
| intent to absorb them into British
divisions is fully exposed and Of
| ficially stated; and in one place, we
| discover, they demanded these un
| trained service men to be pushed on
| to the battle front.
In May and June, 1918, this en-.
| deavor was particularly urgent. Or.
ders were issued on May 2 by the
| Eighth French army to withdraw
the Twenty eighth division of the
Americans from one sector for serv.
ice in another, without giving such
information to General Pershing.
The latter sent the following note to
the chief of the French military mis-
sion: "1nasmuch as to the final de-
cision as to the American divisions
| to be sent to the battle front must
| be made from these headquarters
(American) it is suggested that in
the future I be informed as to the
proposals of the French command
before any action is taken"
| Readers of the County Home Col.
umn do you see where our American
boys were to be made common fod
der on foreign soil without any plan
being allowed as to what they were
really made to do?
When the Germans had reached
the Marine, there were 30O 900 Amer
lean troops in Frence. They were
arriving at the rate of 10000 pei
! day.
In face of this established fact
both the British and French com
manders were beseiging Washington
! to send over every man in America
who had any sort of military train
| ing. Pershing opposed this PROPOSE
ton. Mr.. Lloyd George said if So,
| 600 trained men were to be left in
the United States only raw troops
would be sent over seas. General
Pershing replied, But in July there
will be left in the United States
none except troops of one or two
months standing"
General Foch said, "They should
bring over all available men, leav
ing only a certain number of in
| structors."
M. Clemenceau added, "For the
| first time I understand today thai
| the United States of America is short
of men," He said he was terribly
disappointed.
do not forget that nearly 10000
more service men were drafted in
May, 1919.
Pershing said: IT cannot agree K
bring our American troops of only
one months training. They coulc
not be used for fighting"
| Clemenceau remarked, But thu
! German will not postpone his at
| tacks."
Pershing replied, "Untrainet
troops cannot be relied on to fight.
My space is filled out at this time
There is much more of this matter
our people were kept in the dark
1t 1t now coming out. Let us de
mand full information.
Automobile Tragedies
Somebody remarked in my hear
ing few days ago that automobile.
killed more people than the rail
roads. If the newspapers give u
the data correctly, it is a foregon
conclusion. Some indignant bystand
ers have been heard to say, "Thes,
reckless drivers should be given tn,
limit of the law on manslaughter.
But it is painfully evident tina
the courts are nearly pCwerles.
| Wba0 If coY3oc RI n cboIu6o1up M