Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-02-15

Mr.. Baker and conferred with Gems.
Whigham and Hutchinson, British
war office, on shipment and use of
American troops. Discussed with Gems.
Ford and Dawncy from British G. H.
@. the training of our troops with
British. Secretary Baker left this eve
ming for BreSt, en- route home"
In view of their possible early en-
ployment, I wanted especially to lock
into the general state of efficiency of
our available divisions and give some
personal instructions about training.
Going the rounds met Gen. Hirsch-
generals, and found him very enthusi-
astic about the I'd, which had been In
line at Sommedieue under his COM
mand, confirming my own opinion
formed from observation and reports.
He said that without doubt 1t was then
as efficient as any OF his French divt-
sionS. The LIST was further advanced
than any Of the others and its morale
was high at the prospect Of going into
the battle line.
CONSERVATION in War Department.
Recent developments had brought the
question Of the employment Of Ameri-
can troops into immediate considera-
ton. The Presidents qualified approval
Of the recommendation of the Supreme
War Concil, as embodied in joint note
No. 10, was seized upon by the allies
and construed as concession for the
unlimited absorption Of our troops In
their armies.
No doubt my offer to Gen Foch
lent announcement to allied view. AZ
the conclusion of the Beauvais con-
ference Mr., Lloyd George told me
that a cable had been received from
Lord Reading. British Ambassador at
Washington, stating that he had ap"
preached President Wilson with the
Europe of 10000 Infantry and ma
chine gun units per month, beginning
with April, provided the necessary
shipping could be obtained.
10000 Troops in April.
The following day a cable came from
the War Department, quoting informa-
ton received through British shipping
channels. as follows:
I'VE have informed war cabinet that
in shipping provided by Great Britain
lea in April some $4,000 men. Ad-
nliral Sims estimate of carrying power
of American troop fleet is $4,000 per
month. In addition there is certain
Dutch tonnage available for use by
America and we are obtaining use OF
certain Italian tonnage. In total II
Is considered that 10000 American
troops can be embarked in April and, If
anything, rather more In following
months.
I'm view Of urgent military needs
President with the view Of obtaining
dispatch of 10000 Infantry per month
to Europe between now and July, In
fantry and machine gun units only.
Men to be brigaded with British and
French divisions on the same basis
as in case of SUBDIVISION plan. This
means using all troop-carrying ships
to carry American Infantry without
reference to recent controversy. The
President agrees that all possible
measures must be taken to insure max
imum use of troop tonnage"
The receipt of this plan from British
sources evidently created something
like CONSERVATION in the War Depart
ment, Judging from its cahled COM
ments, in which I it was stated this
program would practically stop all
shipments Of artillery, technical units,
service Of rear, Army and corps
troops"
British understanding.
On the day of the Secretary's de-
parture Gems. Whigham and Hutchin-
son came over FROM the British war
ONCE to discuss arrangements for the
transportation Of American troops IN
accordance with the provisions OF
Joint note No. 10. The conversation
indicated that the British understood
we were TO send 10000 men per month
TO train with them and that they were
bringing over the same number, making
total Of 10000 per month, begin
ming with April. They held that the
Presidents approval of note No. 1a
had superseded agreements previously
made, Including the SUBDIVISION plan,
The whole tenor Of the conversation
showed that the British then regarded
II aS certain our troops were TO be
used to build up the French and Brit
ish armies. But neither Mr.. Baker nor
! had received any tntimation that the
President had agreed to the British
proposal mentioned in the above cable,
and his qualified approval Of Note 10
did not commit us 10 any such pro-
gram as the British claimed. More
over, I was opposed to any commitment
that would tie our hands and make 1t
impossible to form an American Army
My attitude toward the proposal was
made perfectly clear. Mr.. Baker knew
nothing more than the declaration con-
tanned in the joint note, which stated
no figures.
The British confereeS entirelv IGNORED