The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1931-08-07

means of attaining it is different from
yours.
america declared war independ-
emily of the allies. and she must face
it as soon as possible with power
full army. There is one capital point
TO which | wish to call your attention.
That is the Importance to the morale
of our soldiers Of fighting under our
own flag.
america is already anxious to
know where her army is. The Ger
mans have once more started
strong campaign of propaganda in
the United States, the purpose of
which is TO insinuate that the allies
have so little confidence in the Amer
lean troops that they are obliged to
distribute them among their own divi-
sions.
Tells of American Pride.
THE American soldier is as proud
as any other, and the time will soon
come when our troops, as well as our
government, will ask to fight as an
| autonomous army under the Ameri-
can high command.
Il understand that in Prime Min
lister Lloyd Georges proposal we shall
| have TO examine the situation again
in June before deciding for July.
THAT is all that | can agree TO at
| present to show my desire for solidar-
ity with the cause of the allies"
Lloyd George had previously taken
| up revised program submitted by
myself and after some discussion he
| proposed that:
America give US 10000 infantry
men and machine gunners in May
| the same number in June, with sup
| plement of $4,000 infantrymen and
| machine gunners if we 'scrape togeth-
| err the tonnage TO transport them"
He further proposed that the situa-
ton be examined again in June be-
fore deciding whether there was rea-
son to extend TO July the program de-
| cided upon for May and June. He
| then called on the council to accept
| his plan.
Inasmuch as the proposal submitted
by Lloyd George contemplated the
shipment of the numbers mentioned
| in British tonnage, leaving American
shipping entirely free for US to use
as we should decide, an agreement
was soon reached, substantially as
set forth in the following cablegram
to the secretary of war:
Following agreement adopted by
! supreme war council May 2 at Able
vile. Will cable more in detail later:
1T is the opinion of the supreme war
council that, to carry the war to
successful conclusion, an American
army should be formed as early as
possible under it's own commander
and under it's own flag. (Then it was
thought the war would run to 1919
In order to meet the present
emergency 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
building up an American army pref
erence be given to infantry and ma
chine-gun units for training and Serv-
ice with French and British armies;
with the understanding that such in
fantry and machine-gun units are to
be withdrawn and united with their
own artillery and auxiliary troops
into divisions and corps at the dis
erection of the American commander
in chief after consultation with the
commander in chief of the allied
armies in France
1T is also agreed that during May
preference should be given to the
transportation OF infantry and ma
chine-gun units of six divisions, and
that any excess tonnage shall be de-
voted to bringing over such troops
as may be determined by the Amer
lean commander in chief.
June Shipment Up to Pershing.
1T is further agreed that this pro-
gram shall be continued during June
upon condition that the British gov
eminent shall furnish transportation
for a minimum of 10000 men in May
and 10000 men in June, with the
understanding that the first six divi-
I SiOIlS VI LuldHliy Shall 80 u Lue Dill
ish for training and service, and that
troops sent over in June shall be al
located for training and service as
the American commander in chief
may determine.
1T is also further agreed that if
the British government shall trans
port an excess of 10000 men in June
such excess shall be infantry and
machine-gun units, and that early in
June there shall be a new review of
the situation to determine further ac-
ton"
As stated in a cable from the Sec
rotary of war, received May u, this
agreement provided less priority for
infantry and machine-gun units than
recommended by the supreme war
council. 1t was certainly much more
favorable to the ultimate formation of
an American army than we had rea-
son to expect in view of the recon-
mendations contained in note No. Is
of the military representatives, which,
as we have seen. had been practically
approved by the President. In the
excitement over our agreement with
the British the full purport of this
commitment was not emphasized by
the allies during the discussion.
Pooling of Supplies.
Another matter. taken up informal
ly with the prime ministers after the
conference. was that of pooling allied
supplies. | explained its advantages
and emphasized the saving in tonnage