The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1929-05-09
PERSHING-FOCH
A. {. F. CLASH
IS Laid BARE
American Generals Firm
Stand Kept U. S. Forces
as Separate Unit.
Baked FRENCH EDICT
Yankee Leader Insisted on
Keeping Army Intact and
Proved Wisdom.
BUT-uifcd Press

WASHINGTON, May 9. - The
struggle Of General John J. Pershing
to preserve the national identity of
American troops he led in France is
described officially in a monograph,
The Genesis of the American First
Amy" published by the army war
college today.
That Pershing's resistance to pro-
posals for keeping the American
troops scattered among the French
and British armies on the western
front was supported by President
Wilson and the war department is
shown amply. Opposition to any
such plan has expressed EMPHATIC
ally in the first instructions Secre-
tary OF War Baker gave Pershing
upon his assumption, May 2, 1917, Of
his duties as commandment
Of the American Expeditionary
forces.
In military operations against the
imperial German government, you
are directed to cooperate with the
forces Of the other countries en-
plOye dagainSt the enemy; but in SO
doing the underlying idea must be
kept in view that the forces of tie
United States are a separate and
distinct component of the combined
forces, the identity Of which must be
preserved"
Pershing Stands Firm
General Pershin's sympathy with
this official policy and the tenacity
with which he adhered to it
throughout led to conflicts Of opin-
ion with commanders of theallied
armies, the monograph reveals.
Tehy eliminated in a decisive in
terval between the American gen.
eral and Marshal Foch, then gener-
aliSsimo Of all armies on the west
ern front when the latter called on
Pershing Aug. 80, 1918, at Ligny-en-
BarrOis.
Foch outlined his plan for a big
offensive west of the Mouse toward
NIezierres in the vicinity of Arr
gone forest. Pershing was in agree
ment with the general plan, but OBJ
iected strenuOusly to the allied y
chiefs plan for dispensing various
units of the American forces, part
of them to be attached to the French
second army.
FOch Given Decided Answer
The two officers were far from
agreement when the marshal turned
to Pershing and bluntly asked:
do you wish to go to the battIe?"
mostly assuredly, but as an
American army" was Pershing's i'm
mediate reply. "Give me a sector,
anywhere you decide, and 1 will take
it over at once
Foch objected, arguing that the
American army was incomplete and
too inexperienced to operate as an
individual unit. In the end, how
ever, he capitulated and General
PerShing at the head Of the Ameri-
can First army, was given command
Of the front from Port-sur- Seille
westward to include the Argonne
forest-a distance of about ninety
miles
The final agreement to this effect
complied with General Pershing's
wishes and placed upon the United
States responsibility for a consider
able portion of the western front
Pledge Dramatically Kept
Pershing's willingness and ability
to cooperate with the allies was
proved dramatically soon after the
Germans began series Of
tremendous attacks in March, 1918,
according to the monograph. Pro-
ceeding to Clermont on March %,
the American commander found
Foch in conference with Premier
Clemenceau and General Petain.
Grasping Foch's hand, Pershing told
him the Americans stood ready and
anxious TO do their part in the
fighting and that he would welcome
suggestions.
Deeply touched, Foch quickly took
PerShing'S army and led him across
the lawn to CIemenceau and Petain,
who were talking while they stood
on a gravel walk under cedar
tree. There Pershing repeated in
FrenUh the offer he made to Foch.
Offers American Forces
81 came" he said, "to tell you that
the American people would consider
it a great honor that our troops
should be engaged in the present
mighty battle I ask this of you in
my name and theirs.
There is no question at the
moment except fighting. Infantry,
artillery, aviation, all that we have
is yours. Do with it as you choose.
Other forces are coming as numer-
Gus as shall be necessary"
The offer was accepted with alac-
rity and on the following day the
American First division, then in
the sector north Of Toul, was made
available for immediate combat
duty.