Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-02-18

more serious situation unless increased
numbers were put in training without
delay. Supplementing the suggestion
had made verbally to Secretary Baker.
the following cable was sent April 81.
included, Also reference to the num-
bers of partially trained men in divi-
sions then arriving:
Wanted 100000 Men.
Regard it most imperative that there
be no delay in calling out a new draft
and the entire Summer season devoted
to instruction and training, so new
troops may be thoroughly and systemat-
ically trained without disturbing or
CARNATIONS when formed. Believe Ger
man offensive will be stopped, but allied
aggressive must be undertaken as
early as possible thereafter, and Aneri-
can forces must be in position to throw
in their full weight. Recommend that
call be- issued at once for at least
one million and half men"
A reply. dated May 2. concluded:
'Impracticable to draft one million
and half at one time. Draft already
called will fill all divisions now organ
lied and all other troops for second and
third phases Question of organizing
new divisions under consideration. We
now have troops of all classes under
training in replacement camps"
With reference to the German attack
at Seicheprey on the 26th Division the
night Of April 20-21. mentioned at the
beginning of this chapter, that point was
the focus of German raid covering a
three-kilometer front extending west
from the Bots de Remieres. 1t came
during a heavy fog and was complete
surprise to our troops, VINO were con-
siderably outnumbered. Seicheprey was
taken by the enemy, but cooperation
was re-established throughout the d.
vision and the original front was re-
captured on the following day.
In this affair We lost l officer, 80 en-
listed men killed. IL officers, 176 en-
listed men, wounded; 80 officers, 2l1 en-
listed men, gassed, and officers, 1872 en-
listed men missing and prisoners. The
losses of the enemy in killed and wound
ed were reported as even greater.
Artillery and Airplanes.
MY diary notes the following:
Paris. Tuesday, April 80. 1918. Con-
greSs has wisely passed an act providing
for indemnity to allies for damage by
! Our troops abroad.
"On Sunday took up with Jordon, OF
the ordnance, the subject of heavy guns
froM French. and with Foulois their
production of airplanes. Gen. Crozier,
back from Italy. favors sending Amer
lean troops there. Left for Chaumont
in evening.
Maj. Gems. John L. Hines and
Brewster called yesterday, and Martin
Egan came for confidential conference"
We were never quite certain OF OBJ
tanning airpaneS and heavy artillery
from the allies, as material and expert
labor for their manufacture were never
fully up to requirements. Notwlth-
standing their frequent promises, the
cancellation by the French of our early
contract for airplanes created an I'M
certainty that made it difficult to plan
either for the training OF our aviation
personnel or their participation in
operations. So far we had received no
planes from home and none from the
French except a few for training pur-
poses.
My conference with Gen. Foulois was
based on proposition purporting to ad-
vocate closer cooperation with the
French emanating from their minister
of munitions, M. Loucheur. and con-
tanned in a letter from the underSecre-
tary for aeronautics.
The minister suggested that the
French should increase their output OF
airplane bodies of various types and
that we should confine ourselves to the
production of Liberty engines and pos
sibly also undertake the manufacture Of
particular type Of motor, which they
recommended. Analysis OF the proposal
showed that, il adopted, we should have
to abandon our plans for the manufac-
ture of planes at home and furnish the
French additional raw material and
probably expert labor.
Suggestion Is Rejected.
We were always keen for cooperation
that would advance the common cause
but production under this plan would
not have been fastened. Moreover, the
proposition was decidedly advantage
Gus to the French. Our experience so
far had not been such as to give con-
fidence in their fulfillment of an agree
ment of this sort, so the suggestion was
politely rejected.
few days later British air repre-
sentative also sought joint cooperation
with us. The proposal he made was
that we should limit our construction,
other than for training purposes. to
long-range strategic bombing aircraft
and the manufacture Of Liberty engines
and that the British would supply us
aircraft for purely American operations