Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-02-01
First National Guard Unit
Arrives---26th Division
Is Well Trained and
With Good Personnel.
END OF WAR In 1913
HELD IMPERATIVE
Secretary of War Is Told
Utmost ExertiOn Next
Year May Be Too Late
to Assure Victory.
BY GEN. JOHN J. PERsHING,

BY GEN. JOHN J. PERSHING,
Expeditionary Forces in the World War
-HE units of the 26th Division,
Mai. Gen. Clarence Edwards
commanding, began to arrive
Il the latter part of September,
continued during October and
the early part of November, and were
now assembled in the billeting area
near Neufchateau.
inspected the division November
IL, 1917, and found the various or
CARNATIONS presented a very creditable
appearance The officers seemed alert
and military and the personnel looked
strong and vigorous. Their instruc-
ton had been carried out under the
direction of Brig. Gen. Traub, one of
the brigade commanders, and seemed
to be well advanced.
AS this division was composed of
National Guard units from New Eng
land States, whose troops had borne
a good reputation in all our wars, its
preparation for active service was
watched with great interest.
Solicitors of Man Power.
The probable situation as to man
power in which the allies would find
themselves in the Spring was causing
much solicitude. The Germans had
captured Riga in September. Kerensky's
power was at an end and the Bolsheviki
government was established, with Lenin
and TrotSky in control. The situation
was such that Russia had become en-
tirely negligible as far as assistance
to the allies was concerned.
An analysis of the possible strength
of the contestants showed that Ger
many would be able to spare a con-
siderable number of divisions from the
Russian front. Careful study by my
staff, in rco-operation with the allied
staffs, had led to the conclusion that
her total number in the West by
Spring might be as many as PAT, not
counting the possibility of the added
strength of 40 divisions from Austria
The greatest number the allies could
muster, according to estimates, would
be 1853 divisions, counting two American.
Italy could not be counted on to do
more than barely hold her own, even
with the help of the IL allied divisions
then on that front.
Other American divisions might pos
sibly be in Europe by May /, If they
should arrive according to schedule,
which waS doubtful, but they would be
too late to participate in the expected
early Spring campaign. At the slow
rate of arrival we should not have
more than half of the 81 divisions
promised by the War Department ready
for service by June.
Urged American Haste.
With these possibilities before me,
wrote the Secretary of War November
Is setting forth our estimate of the
situation and urging that the utmost
efforts be exerted to hasten the arrival
of American forces. I wrote, in part,
as follows:
1.-THE utmost cooperation among the
allies must be secured. The recent en-
deavor to get the allies to take a broad
general view of the war as a whole
shows an awakening. Hitherto each
nation has largely considered only its
own interests, thus enabling Germany
TO beat her enemies in detail.
Viewed at its best, the situation Is,
of course, grave, and should be fully re-
allied. America must stand firmly be-
hind the allies, as any sign of weak
ness may cause the collapse of allied
resistance. The contingency must also
be faced OF Great Britain and our
selves being left to carry on the war
without material aid from any other
power. In war we must prepare to
meet the worst.
The most intense energy should be
put into developing Americas fighting
forces for active service during the
coming Summer. Winning the war is
vital to our future, and if humanity
possible it ought to be done in 1918
There is no telling what might happen
If we defer our utmost exertion until
1919
IAN available sources of supply of
artillery and ammunition should be in
vestigated and developed, having in
mind Japan's resources in this regard.
France may not be able to meet even
our early requirements.
ping should be secured by purchase,
construction or otherwise, in the Orient