The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1931-05-22

under leader without Atterbury's pa
thence, ability and force of character
Visits TO our training areas by the
French, official and otherwise, had be-
come rather frequent. One of the WIS.,
itors, NJ. Georges Clemenceau. who al
ways remained power even when not
in any official position (Clemenceau
was not then prime minister), called
ar the headquarters Of the First divi-
sion, accompanied by General de Cas-
telnau, the commander of the group
of armies with which it was serving.
clemenceau Urges Action.
In the course of the conversation
with General Sibert, the division COM
mander. NJ. Clemenceau, with consid-
cradle emphasis. urged that our troops
be put into the line without delay. 1t
was explained TO him by General de
Castlenau that as soon as they were
sufficiently advanced the troops Of the
division were TO be placed by brigades
with the French in quiet sector near
Luneville.
America had now been in the war
several months and the French people
were wondering when they expected
TO take an active part. He said thar
the French army was exhausted by the
war and that its morale was poor He
insisted then. as he did with even
greater vehemence later on in an Off
cial capacity, that it was not so much
a question of troops being ready as it
was of giving relief to the allies.
Although the division was only par
TALLY trained it could have been used
in an emergency, but there was MOTH
ing threatening In the situation at
that time and no suggestion had been
made that it should go into the line
for serious work.
The failure of our aviation bureau
TO keep abreast of airplane develop
ment in the contending armies cost US
serious delay.
With a lack Of data in the begin
ming, little progress had been made at
home on our aviation program at the
end of five months. Fruitless efforts
to describe mechanical construction
and give definite information concern
ing production and otherwise reach de-
cisions by cable prompted Washing
ton to send a special mission to
France, of which Maj. r. c. Boiling
was the head.
Through his ability and expert
knowledge he rendered exceptional
service in cooperating with those In
control of allied aviation and in fur
nishing the necessary technical infor-
nation upon which to base action at
home. The investigation made by his
mission confirmed the view that our
manufacturers could not begin to fur
uish planes before the summer of 1918,
Pershing Orders Planes.
After inquiry as TO French capacity
to turn out planes, l made a contract
with the air ministry late in August
committing US to an expenditure of
S60,0O0,OO0 for 5000 planes and $500
engines, TO be delivered as rapidly as
possible ar intervals before the first
of June, 1918. on condition that we
should provide certain tools and raw
materials. To make a contract TO pay
such an amount appeared somewhat
bold, but under the circumstances
some one had to take the initiative in
providing planes needed at once for
the development of our air force.
As aviation was in no sense a logi-
cal branch of the signal corps the two
were separated in the A. E. F. as soon
as practicable and aviation was or
gained and maintained as a distinct
force. To coordinate our training
with that at home Brig. Gen. William
L. Kenly was sent over the latter part
Of August and was appointed chief of
aviation in the A. E. F. Colonel
Mitchell, who had succeeded Major
Dodd, the first chief of aviation, was
given Jurisdiction over aviation in the
zone of advance. Major Boiling was
placed in charge of aviation in the
zone of the interior, and soon succeed
ed in securing a better cooperation
through an interallied aircraft board.
This next essential step was the