The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1931-08-14
CHAPTER Xiv

or the supreme war council showed
the uncertainty in the minds of the
allies. Prime Minister Lloyd George,
reverting to losses. said that before
the great German attack i'm May he
had been informed positively the Ger
mans had only 100000 requirements
left, and that now, after the most viO-
the Germans had suffered very heavy
losses, they still had more than 100000
requirements.
The allies also had 100000. but it
was now contended. he said. that the
BritishNarmy was on the decline while
that of the enemy was not.
Mr.. Lloyd George asked if that
could be cleared up, to which General
Foch replied that 1t was because the
enemy managed better. and he went
on to say that Germany, with a popu-
lation of 6S.OOO.0OO could maintain 2O4
divisions, while Great Britain, with
46.OOO00O inhabitants, could keep up
only 43. 1t had been stated that the
British counted on keeping up 80 di-
visions, but that ten of them would
be practically American.
Then. in response to further ques-
tion by Mr.. Lloyd George, General
Foch said he could not pretend to
say where Germany procured her re-
placements; possibly it might be from
prisoners returned from Russia.
Three Map Program.
After further argument on discrep-
ancies of various figures, and insist
ence by General Foch that the number
of divisions be maintained. the consid-
Grafton of the transportation of Ameri-
can troops in June and July was re-
sumed. The discussion having reached
an impasse, it was suggested that Lord
Miner, British war minister, General
Foch and l should undertake to draw
up a program.
In the consideration of the ques-
zion by us the point of my contention
was won when General Weygand, who
was Foch's principal adviser, re-
marked that it would be as well to
leave the new drafts to he trained at
home month or so longer.
Although my arguments had failed
to make any impression on General
Foch. he at once approved Weygand's
suggestion.
Agreement on U. S. Troops.
With this out of the way we soon
drew up the agreement embodied in
the following cablegram sent to Wash
ington June 3:
"(a) For June: First, absolute pri-
ority shall be given the transportation
of 10000 combatant troops wiz, six
divisions without artillery. ammuni.
ton trains or supply trains. amount
ing to 10000 men and 1900 replace
ments for combat troops) second, 25.-
400 men for the service of railway, of
which 13.400 have been asked by the
French minister of transportation !;
third. the balance to be troops of cate
gories to be determined by the COM
mander in chief, American expedition
airy forces.
"(b) For July: First, absolute pri-
ority for the shipment of 100000 COM
Blatant troops of the nature defined
above. four divisions minus artillery,
ETC., amounting to $4,000 men plus &c.
600 requirements; second, the balance
of the 100000 to consist of troops ia
be designated by the commander in
chief. American expeditionary forces,
SCI 1t is agreed that if available
tonnage in either month allows the
transportation of a larger number OF
men than 100000 the excess tonnage
will be employed in the transportation
of combat troops as defined above
"(d) We recognize that the combat
ant troops to be dispatched in July
may have to include troops with in
sufficient training, but we consider the
present emergency to justify a TEN.
pOrary and exceptional departure by
the United States from sound prin-
ciples of training, especially as SINH
lar course is being followed by France
and Great Britain. (Signed)
"FOCH. MILNER. PERSHING."
The prime ministers cabled Presi,
dent Wilson expressing their thanks
for the promptness of American aiG
in the present emergency
Yanks a. Chateau Thierry.
The Second and Third divisions. fac
ing the Germans near Chateau
Thierry. had made their places In line
secure, giving heart to the French. who
were trying to stabilize their own DO
sitions around the newly formed sal
lent. We shall hear more of these tive
divisions later. Although fully taken
for granted by all of us. it was none
the less gratifying to see these divi-
sions, for the first time in the line
acquit themselves so well.
En- route to ChaumOnt we motored
eastward through Montmirail, passing
long columns of French refugees flee
ing from their homes. many on foot.
men and women with bundles on their
backs. leading the smaller children.
driving their stock before them and
hauling in various types of conveyance
the few remaining worldly goods they
were able to take with them Almost
Understandable were many similar
scenes as reported ny our trcaps, as
they came M 10 reinfercp the retiring