Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-02-25

1 mlnOS OF the allies. HTlIIle MILLS
ter Lloyd George, reverting to losses, said
that before the great German attack
in May he had been informed positively
the Germans had only 100000 replace
ments left and that now, after the
most violent fighting, in which 1t was
reported the Germans had suffered
very heavy losses, they still had more
than 800 900 requirements.
| The allies also had SOC, 900, but 1t was
! now commended, he said, that the Brit
ish Army was on the decline, while
that Of the enemy was not.
Mr., Lloyd George asked if that could
be cleared up, to which Gen. Foch re-
piled that it was because the enemy
managed better, and he went on to
say that Germany, with a population
of 68, 000, 900, could maintain 204 divi-
sions while Great Britain, with 49,
900 900 inhabitants, could keep up only
43. It had been stated that the British
counted on keeping up So divisions, but
! that 10 of them would be practically
American.
Discussion Reaches ImpaSse.
Then, in response to a further ques-
ton by Mr.. Lloyd George, Gen. Foch
said he could not pretend to say where
Germany procured her requirements;
possibly it might be from prisoners re-
turned from Russia.
After further argument on discrep-
ancies of various figures and insistence
by Gen. Foch that the number Of divi-
sions be maintained, the consideration
! of the transportation of American
troops in June and July was resumed.
| The discussion having reached an i'm
paSse, 1t was suggested that Lord Mil
ner, British war minister, Gen. Foch
and I should undertake to draw up a
| program.
In the consideration of the question
by US the point Of my contention was
won when Gen. Weygand, who was
Foch's principal adviser, remarked that
| it would be as well TO leave the new
drafts to be trained at home a month
or % longer.
Although my arguments had failed
to make any impression on Gen.
Foch, he at once approved Weygand's
suggestion.
Agreement on United States Troops.
with this out Of the way we soon
drew up the agreement embodied in
| the following cablegram sent to Wash
/ ington June 2:
"A. For June-First, absolute pri-
ority shall be given the transportation
| of 10000 combatant troops wiz: six
| divisions without artillery, ammunition
| trains or supply trains, amounting to
| 10000 men and $4,000 requirements
for combat troops); second. 25.4o0 men
| for the service OF railways, OF which
| 3,400 have been asked by the French
minister Of transportation; third, the
balance to be troops of categories to
| be determined by the commander In
chief, American expeditionary forces.
"B. For July-First, absolute pri-
GRITTY for the shipment Of 100000 COM
Blatant troops of the nature defined
above, four divisions minus artillery,
ETC., etc., amounting to $4,000 men plus
| Sc, 900 requirements; second, the bal
ance Of the 250, 900 to consist Of troops
| to be designated by the commander in
] chief, American expeditionary forces.
I &C. 1t is agreed that If available
| tonnage in either month allows the
transportation of a larger number of
men than 100000 the excess tonnage
Of combat troops as defined above.
ID. We recognize that the COM
blatant troops to be dispatched in July
| may have to include troops with in
sufficient training, but we consider the
| present emergency to justify tempo
rary and exceptional departure by the
United States from sound principles
Of training, especially as a similar
course is being followed by France and
(sisned "FoCH.
"MILNER,
"PERSHING."
Didn't Reveal Anxiety.
The prime ministers cabled Presi-
! dent Wilson, expressing their thanks
! for the promptness of American aid
| in the present emergency.
While they declared there was great
@nv 81 ktan 1.afVl lCrfH kan
numerical inferiority Of the allies could
soon be remedied by the addition of
American troops, their statement did
not convey the extreme apprehension
| that prevailed. The cable said:
The prime ministers Of France.
| Italy and Great Britain desire to send
the following message to the President
of the United States
I'VE desire TO express our warmest
| thanks TO President Wilson for the re-
markable promptness with which
American aid, in excess of what at one
| time seemed practicable, has been rem
| dered to the allies during the past
month to meet great emergency.
The crisis, however, still continues.
Gen. Foch has presented to us state
ment of the utmost gravity, which
points out that the numerical superb
ority of the enemy in France is very
heavy, and that as there is no possi-
| bility of the British and French in
creasing the number Of their divisions
| ION the contrary, they are put to ex-
| IRENE straits to keep them up there is
a great danger of the war being lost
unless the numerical inferioTity of the
| allies can be remedied as rapidly as
| possible by the advent OF American
| troops.
Wanted Infantry First.
He therefore urges with the utmost
| insistence that the maximum possible
number of infantry and machine gun
ners, in which respect the shortage of
| men on the side Of the allies is most
marked, should continue TO be shipped
from America in June and July to avert
the immediate danger of an allied de-
| feat in the present campaign owing to
the allied reserves being exhausted be-
fore those of the enemy.
I'm addition to this. and looking to
the future, he represents that it is i'm
possible to foresee ultimate victory in
the war unless America is able to pro-
vide such an Army as will enable the
| allies ultimately TO establish numerical
! superiority. He places the total Ameri-
can force required for this at no less
than 100 divisions, and urges the con-
tinuous raising of fresh American levies,
which, in his opinion, should not be
less than 10000 month, with a view
to establishing q total American force
OF 100 divisions at as early a date as
this can possibly be done.
| 1--WE are satisfied that Gen FOch