Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-02-03
HAD TOLD HOUSE
OF ATTACK PLANS
Russian Officers Want to
Join Our Forces, but
Services Found to Be
Impracticable.
LARGE party including Col. E,
NJ House. the American dele


went by special train from Paris De-
cember 4, 1917, to our training area,
stopping at my Chaumont headquarters
en- route.
on the train I had an interesting
conversation with Lord Northcliffe, OF
the British Air Board, regarding the
formation of an American Army and It's
transportation overseas. Lord North
cliffe thought his government should
do more to help with shipping. but
(. like most Englishmen he believed it best
for us to send our men for service with
the British. He argued in favor OF
proposal that Mr.. Lloyd George had
recently made to Mr.. House that we
should incorporate in their units any
infantry that we might not be able to
organize Immediately into complete d.
visions of our own.
ut is all very well,'' said, "to make
such an appeal to us, but 1t is I'M
possible to ignore our National view
point. The people themselves would
not approve, even though the President
and his advisers should lean that way.
We cannot permit our men TO serve
under another nag except in an ex-
IRENE emergency, and then only tempo
rarily."
Wanted Army as Unit.
I also insisted that we could con-
tribute more largely to allied success
by the use of the American Army as
unit.
Continuing, I said that there was
nothing vaingloriouS in our attitude
but that no people with a grain OF
national pride would consent to fur
nish men to build up the army of an
other nation. I pointed out that mis-
understandings and determinations
would inevitably follow any reverse by
such q mixed force, and that his govern
ment had used none of its colonials
In any such way.
had not considered the subject from
our point of view, for, at the conclu-
sion of the conversation, he very frank
" said that We were perfectly right
After that, so far as I am aware, he
became a CONSTANT advocate of the
formation of an American Army.
In another conversation, Mr.. House
asked my views of the proposal above
referred to which had been sent to hin
by Mr.. Lloyd George about putting om
men into their armies. The memo.
ed to Lord Reading for delivery to Mr.
House, with note by Mr.. Lloyd George
as follows:
I'D December, 1917.
my dear r.
"The C. I. C. S. (chief Of the i'm.
perial general staff is very anxious
you should place the incloSed before
Col. House. 1 entirely concur and urge
ats acceptance We shall be hard press.
ed to hold our own and keep Italy
standing during 1918. Our man-powel
Is pretty well exhausted. We can only
cali up men of 1880 and boys Of II
France is~done. The American soldiers
will not be ready to fight as an army
J anti late in 1918. Our experience prove.
that meanwhile We must keep the fight
going. Even half-trained American
companies or battalions would fighi
well If mixed with or year veterans
Beg H. to consider this fayorably
Yours, ID. L. c."
Nature of Enclosure.
Enclosure: The first part sets forth
.Germany's probable course, Russian de-
lection, allied shortage of man-power
and time required for American divi-
sions TO become available, and continues:
Would America, therefore, be ready
20 help In another way, as temporary
measure? When she first came into
the war we hoped she might send some
men for inclusion in the British armies
as being clearly the quickest way OF
helping, but for reasons We quite under
stand she preferred to retain her nation
al identity No doubt she still desires tc
do 50. but over and above the prepare
ton OF her divisions and without inter
3ertng with 1t, would it be possible
for her to provide a company of infan-
try to replace British company in such
a number of British battalions as Amer
lea could bring over men?
Even 100 such companies would bt
he afoe NFafR
fio-l would, OF course, be given to the
companies. and II they desired they
could later on be recalled and posted
70 the American divisions. 1t is thought
that this mingling of American anC
British troops would establish a close
and cordial feeling between the two
armies, and would also give the Amer
acan troops useful training. II this
system Is not possible, would America
md a battalion to replace a British
battalion in as many brigades as posi-.
pie?
There would be no irrsuperablt
difficulty in meeting American wishes
IN any such matters as discipline, ra.
tons and general maintenance Thu
only difficulty is American national sen.
timent, which we quite understand Or
the other hand, the system suggested Is
clearly one which would the most rapid.
~ afford much needed help during, per.
haps, the most critical period Of tn,
war"
Pershing Hits Fault Finders.
told Mr.. House that it would no
DO at all and gave him my reason:
and my opinion as TO what the re.
suit would be. This was, in fact, &
revival OF the plan put forward BY
the Balfour mission. 1t never received
support from any Americans except q
Jew individuals, including some officer,
who were disposed to criticize generally
the management of our interests sir
France, and who for their own ulterioi
purposes, sought to gain the favorable
opinion and receive the acclaim of the
allies. But Mr.. House and all other
npstanding, loyal Americans were from
the start strongly in favor OF building
I'D our own Army.
About this time Mr.. House told ms
that Petain had criticized the American
sdeas of training and also that Louis
Aoucheur, minister of munitions, haC
spoken about the rise in prices caused
BY American purchases. Mr.. HOUSE
wisely suggested TO these gentlemen
be said, that matters of this kinC
were for me to settle.
called without delay on NJ. CIemen.
keau and told him OF the reports anG
explained my understanding about train.
Eng agreements with Petain and alsG
ke steps that had previously beer
Aken by the Purchasing Board, in Co
Operation with his own bureaus, to pre-
anVak aha rfnA fsa vaqirmn sa1an fMHN