The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1931-07-24
General PerShiInQ'S :=::.-:
Story of the A. e. F. : :::::::
~ I
By Gen. John J. Pev:Szzizzg -l

its share because of its attitude to-
ward the military high command.
| took advantage of the opportu-
nifty while on the British front to visit
the Nordaques area to inspect the
advance elements of the Seventy-sev-
enth division. one of the divisions Sc
lected for training with the British.
We took luncheon with Brig. Gen.
Evan M. Johnson, then temporarily in
command. and his staff officers. He
praised the soldierly qualities of the
men, but said they were very much
behind in their training.
Makes Agreement With Haig.
AT Sir Douglas headquarters che
and | reached an understanding as
to the training and administration of
our troops that were to be temporarily
with the British. In the first place,
they were TO be allOcated by regi-
ments to British skeleton divisions
under such u schedule as might be
agreed upon. The training staffs of
British divisions were to be at the
disposal of these regiments, especially
for instruction in the use of the rifle
and machine gun and the handling
of gas.
of their American division COM
mander, the regiments were to be
attached TO British division in line,
so each of the three battalions of the
regiment would have the opportunity
to serve with one of the three bril-
battalions were to be commanded by
their own officers as a part of the
British brigade, while the staff of the
American regiment was to be at
tached to that of the brigade.
In the next stage the American
regiments, with their three battalions
united under the regimental COM
mander, were to act as a brigade in
British division. The final stage
would find the four American regi-
ments of each division united as such
under it's own officers, the artillery
being British until the arrival of its
own artillery brigade.
In carrying out this scheme the ten
dency at first was for British officers
actually to assume command of our
units in training. Our officers in most
cases permitted this to be done until
it was checked by my orders that
american units must be commanded
in training by the officers and noncOm-
missioned officers who are to COM
mand them in battle" and that Amer
lean troops would in all cases be COM
manded in battle only by Americans.
Talks Shipping in London.
Following suggestion by Lord
Miner, went to London April %,
1918, to consider further the ship
ment Of American troopers. At our
first conference there were present
Lord Miner and Gen. Sir Henry Will
son, who had succeeded General Rob-
ertson as the chief of the general
staff; Harbord and myself. The main
point of difference that had developed
in previous conferences as to just how
far the Americans should be commit
ted to serve in active operations was
again considered.
/ stated that the main thing was to
get our units trained, and that while
| was opposed to amalgamation, yet
if during the period of instruction the
units with which they were serving
should be attacked or, if another great
emergency should arise, of course, our
men would go in. Naturally the Brit
ish wanted unlimited infantry and
machine-gun units, but l would con-
slider nothing further than a limited
extension of the Subdivision plan.
During the conference cable from
Lord Reading to the prime minister
was brought forth, which stated that
the President had agreed to the ANAL
gamation of Americans with the Brit
ish. l had nothing official at hand