The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1931-07-23
Continued from last issue)
CHAPTER XxxVI

II was always stimulating to ones
morale to visit the headquarters of
the Canadians, where one soon caught
the fine spirit Of that superb body.
I made such a visit in the spring
Of 1918 and talked with their corps
commander, Lieut.. Gen. Sir Arthur
Currie; his chief Of staff, Major Gen.
eral Weber; his chief of engineers,
Major General Lindsay, and others
and had tea with them.
The alertness and confidence Of
these neighbors of ours and the ex-
cellent record they had made and
were still making gave us as much
qualification as though they had been
our own. / remember this visit with
much pleasure and recall the pre-
diction of the Canadians that Amer
leans would soon play an important
part in the war.
General Currie deplored the fact
that the British had so easily given up
Paschendaele ridge, which the year
before he had been told must be taken
at all costs and for which the Cana
dams made the tremendous sacrifice
Of 10000 casualties.
Calls at British G. H. Q.
At the invitation of Sir Douglas
Haig, British commander in chief, 1
went to the British general headquar-
tiers April 20 to discuss the training of
our troops with the British and study
operations in progress.
We were always made welcome at
British headquarters. 1t so happened
that on the day of our arrival Lord
Derby, who had just been relieved as
minister of war by Lord Miner, was
there en- route to Paris as British
ambassador. During dinner the con-
versation ran along freely, as though
we were members of the official fam
lily. At length Lord Derby and Sir
Douglas drifted to the subject of Brit
fish politicians.
1t would betray no confidence to say
that there was considerable criticism
of some who held prominent places
The coalition government came in for
its share because of its attitude to-
ward the military high command.
l 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 NJ. 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 he
and I reached an understanding as
to the training and administration of
our troops that were to be temporarily
with the British. In the first place,
ments to British skeleton divisions
under such u schedule as might be
agreed upon. The training stats Of
British divisions were to be at the
disposal of these regiments, especially
for instruction in the use of the rife
and machine gun and the handling
of gas.
After that, and with the approval
Of their American division CON-
inander, the regiments were to be
so each of the three battalions of the
regiment would have the opportunity
to serve with one Of the three bril-
gades in each British division. These
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
q British division. The final stage
would fi1d the four American regi-
ments Of each division united as such
under its own officers, the artillery
USLuS DrlLlSu uuLlI Lu0 arrival VI AIb
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 a 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