Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-02-25
Saw u. S. as Reservoir.

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If the allies had seen this q year ear
| lier and had then given us assistance'
| in shipping. The situation was pretty
well understood the preceding August.
The commanders in chief and the
chiefs of staff, it will be recalled, con-
cluded that their dependence was upon
America. The governments understood
then that the constitution Of our army
in France depended upon sea trans
portation, but they took no steps then
to provide it.
On the contrary, their minds were
centered on using America as a re-
servoir from which men could be
drawn to serve under an alien flag.
They failed to understand the psychol-
ogy of the American people. They failed
to foresee the results. They failed to
do the only thing that good judgment
dictated, and that was assist by all
possible means the organization of a
powerful American Army and transport
1t to France at the earliest possible
moment.
1t could not be questioned that the
situation was decidedly serious, even
though the German advance in the
Marne salient had been held up for
the time The eight French divisions
which had occupied that front against
the German attack had lost a large
percentage of their personnel and prac
tically all their material. Rested divi-
sions had been sent to replace them,
but the burden of aiding the British
during the preceding two months had
fallen heavily upon the French, and
their manpower was at low ebb.
My diary notes the following:
"Chaumont, Thursday, June 6, 1918
Lord Miner, who lunched with me
Monday, thinks the British were let
down because Foch has requested five
of our divisions from the British front
for service with the French.
while en- route here Tuesday, with
McAndrew and Boyd, visited I'd Divi-
sion, talked with Brigade Comdrs. Har-
bord and Lewis, and also visited Dick
mans Sd Division. Both divisions in
excellent morale.
Received letter Of appreciation from
Petain for sending divisions to French
front. War Department requested TO
rush construction of tanks and 5000
additional Liberty engines"
At Chateau Thierry.
The I'd and Sd Divisions, facing the
Germans near Chateau Thisrry, had
made their places in line secure, giving
heart to the French, who were trying
to stabilize their own positions around
the newly formed salient. We shall
hear more of these two divisions later.
| Although fully taken for granted by
all of us, it was none the less crafty
ing to see these divisions, 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 fleeing
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 conveyances
the few remaining worldly goods they
were able to take with them. Almost
Undesirable were many similar scenes
as reported by our troops as they came
up to reinforce the retiring French.
1t seemed to me then that If this
picture Of civilization engaged in the
persecution Of innocent and unarmed
non-combatants, mostly women and
children, could be brought home to all
peoples, reason would be forced upon
rulers and governments where too often
their passions and ambitions assume
control.
Further notes from my diary:
Paris, Sunday, June 9, 1918-The I'd
Division is engaged in severe fighting
in Belleau Wood. Gen. Foch desires to
leave five of our divisions with the
British for the present.
Col. Groome, head of Remount Serv-
ice, lunched with us yesterday also
Mr.. Otto Kahn, who referred to my po-
sition as embracing duties of the Secre-
taries of War, Treasury and State COM
bined. Gen. Petain has agreed to or
ganization of American Army corps
near Chateau Thierry.
Arrived Paris last night; saw M.
Clemencsau this morning. He spoke of
new threat on Paris by the German
attack on Montdidier- Noyon front.
Went to Bombon for conference with
| Gen. Foch. French communique highly
compliments Americans in Chateau
Thierry region"