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

course and according to their
efficiency"
Pershing-"I would like to have the
conditions under which these units
are to be employed determined now
and to fix the time during which tbs
regiments and brigades will be used
separately"
Foch-"Make your proposition on
that subject"
1 then explained the details Of the
system that was being followed where
our divisions were in training with the
French. and the plan agreed upon with
the British. l added that it was fully
understood that If an emergency should
arise while our troops were in training
they would go into battle as part of the
divisions with which they were serving
Gen. Foch then said: II do not doubt
the excellency of the method, but II
the crisis through which we are passing
I return to the decision of the SUI
preme War Council and I ask you to
transport during May, June and July
only infantry and machine gun units.
Will you consent?"
Pershing-"No, do not consent. ]
propose for one month to ship nothing
but infantry and machine gun units
and after that the other arms and
service of the rear troops to cores
pond"
Calls on Gen. Bliss.
Foch-"If you adopt the plan ]
propose you would have by July 81
100000 more American infantry"
PerShing-"You said just now that
even artillerymen, which would be
joined with our infantry to complete
our divisions. Then why not consent
to transport our artillery personnel
along with our infantry"
Foch-"I repeat that 1t Is the in
fantry Of which we have the greatest
need at this time. I would like To
have Gen. Bliss tell US the consider
atoms which led to the decision taken
by the Supreme War Council al
Versailles"
Bliss-"The collective note recon-
mended to the United States to ssnC
only infantry until the Supreme War
Council should give instructions to the
contrary. The Government of the
United States. in conformity with this
note and with the recommendation OF
Secretary Baker, consented TO this plan
AS far as the employment of the units
on the front is concerned. the question
should be decided by Gen. Pershing
according to agreement with the COM
mander-in-chief to whose army they
may be attached"
Pershing-"I have been discussing
this question of training our units for
the last eight, months, first with Gen
Petain and then with Marshal Haig
The method agreed upon leads naturally
to the formation Of cons .ituted Ameri-
can divisions"
Gen. Foch said he wished to see
American divisions constituted and an
possible, but that the policy he was
advocating would have made it impos-
sible to form an American Army with
out serious delay, If ever. Continuing
he said:
May Be Too Late.
But do not forget that we are In the
midst of hard battle. II we do not
take steps to prevent the disaster which
is threatened at present the American
Army may arrive in France to find the
British pushed into the sea and the
French driven back behind the Loire,
while it tries in vain to organize on
lost battlefelds over the graves of allied
soldiers"
He was assured that 1t was fully un-
derStood that If an emergency should
arise while our troops were in training
with the British or French they would
60 into the battle and do their part.
then gave him the numbers to be
shipped during May and told him that
it had been agreed between the Brit
ish and ourselves to consider the ques-
ton for June later. 1 informed him
that the British shipping authorities
now thought it would be possible within
hn o. N,nv 1rrt N
France 100000 men.
He was surprised to learn that ship
ping enough had been found to bring
over so many and, while insisting that
we continue the May program into
June, said that If it was possible to
transport any such numbers he saw no
reason why whole divisions should not
soon be transported Nevertheless, a
few days later he made a still stronger
demand for special shipments Of infan-
try and machine gun units.
The shipping situation. as brought
out in conference with the American
members of the Shipping Committee
April 26, did not appear as favorable
as we had been led to believe. Only
two newly built vessels had been deliv-
cred, and our shipbuilding program was
not yet far enough along to count as
an important factor, although prospects
were that the rate would soon begin
to increase.
100000 Tons Shortage.
A full study made by the American
delegates to the Allied Maritime Trans
port Council of the demands to be made
upon allied and neutral tonnage fol
military, naval and general needs
showed an estimated shortage of nearly
1000 900 tens It was obvious that the
allied program for strengthening the
western front must be carried out II
possible. Therefore, all possible meas
ures for the economical employment OF
every available ton of shipping, espe-
cially for freight, were given considera-
ton at our conference.
1t was thought, in the first place, that
the allied navies could reduce their re-
quirements of merchant tonnage by q
Joint examination of the naval pro-
grams; second, that considerable ship
ping could be saved by suspending oil
reducing military and naval activities
in theaters of the war other than the
western front; third, that further re-
auctions in allied civilian imports might
be made temporarily, and, finally, that
insistence upon the adoption of unified
action In the supply services by the al
lies on the western front, already sug'
gested, would result In q material say.
Ing OF tonnage.
/ heartily approved of the above rec
concentrations and sent cable Il
washington to that effect.
Confronted, as We We're, by the lact
of trained men at this time. 1t was evil
dent that we should within o few
months nnd ourselves faciAg . still