Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-02-09
Allies Decide to Remain
on Defensive Until
American Strength
Can Reach France.
CLOTHING SHORTAGE
PROBLEM FOR A. E. F.
U. S. Irish Troops Are
Given British Uni
forms but Object to
English Buttons.
CHAPTER xxx.

ali uIIuSISb6IlQiI1R dS 10 our
Y attitude toward amalg3 mation
Ut of our troops with the British,
he gave me his support in later
conferences. When we saw the British
representatives for further talks at
Versailles January 30, 1918, all their
argum snts were met frankly and
squarely After they h ID presented their
case. Prime Minister Lloyd George asked
Bliss for his views to which he replied:
"Pershing will spsak for us and what
ever he says with regard to the 'spo-
sition of the American forces will have
my approval"
gram, which Bliss had already seen, and
the British concluded to take it under
advisement
The following day, while we were en-
route to Versailles together, Bliss ex-
pressed some doubt whether they would
accept, but when we met with Mr.. Lloyd
George and some of the others who had
been present the previous day he &C.
knowledged that my objections to ANAL
g. maticn were sound and told me that
he had said So TO his confreres the dey
before. An agreement was then signed
by Mr.. Lloyd George, Gen, Maurice and
myself as sat forth in the following
copy of the memorandum submitted and
ANSSSA
Text of Agreement.
I'm order to meet the situation rs
presented by Sir William Robertson and
hasten the arrival and training Of
troops, 1t IS proposed that the British
government use the available sea trans
portation in question for bringing
over the personnel OF entire divisions
under the following conditions:
81. That the Infantry and auxiliary
troops of these divisions be trained with
British divisions by battalions, under
such plan as may be agreed upon
%. That the Artillery be trained under
American direction in the use of French
material as at present.
8. That the higher commanders and
staff officers be assigned for training
and experience with corresponding units
of the British Army.
a. That when sufficiently trained,
these battalions be reformed into regi-
mentS and that when the artillery is
fully trained all the units comprising
each division be united under their own
officers for service.
IS. That the above plan be carried out
without interference with the plans now
IN operation Ter bringing over American
forces.
g. That question OF supply be ar
ranged by agreement between the Brit
ism and American commanders in chief.
n. That question of arms and equip
ment be settled in similar manner"
A few days later Secretary Baker re-
piled stating his views as follows:
we have no objections to the pro-
gram which you suggested, but in our
Judgment 1t would be wiser for the
British to undertake to transport six
complete divisions across the sea to be
disposed OF and trained as you direct
in conference of course with the COM
manding officers of the other forces"
Plans Not Always Followed.
OF course. this was in exact agree
ment with my views as expressed in the
proposal / made to the British and to
which they agreed. but the fortunes OF
war interviewed more than once to pre-
vent strict adherence to plans and
agreements.
The supreme war council began its
third session January 80. At the open
ing session Mr.. Lloyd George made
a statement in some detail of the
situation on the allied fronts, He
then spoke of the large number of
casualties the allies had suffered dur
ing 1917 and in very pointed man.
ner declared that the costly offensives
had produced no tangible results. But
instead, he said. the allies now found
themselves short of man power at a
critical period of the war. His sharu
criticism was evidently directed at sir
Douglas Haig and Gen. Robertson, but
neither was given an opportunity to
reply.
The military representatives presented
a joint note with reference to military
G HiFQNfnd az I1n taox
meeting, and the opinion given was
identical with that of the conference al
Compiegne January "a and also in Au-
gust at the meeting in Paris, except
that the campaign under Gen. Allenby
then in progress in Palestine should
continue. 1t will be recalled that these
two informal conferences of command
ers in chief had concluded that the
allies should remain on the defensive
on all fronts until the Americans should
arrive in sufficient force to warrant the
offensive.
The joint note was approved as the
decision of the council. with the under
standing, as suggested by the French
that no white troops should be sent
from France to Palestine. 1t was. de-
cidedly the opinion of NJ. Clemenceau
and of all others present who expressed
themselves that the war could not be
ended until 1919, when the American
Army, it was thought, would reach its
maximum strength.
The allied forces at the moment were
superior on all active fronts, except In
the Balkans, but the Greek mobiliza-
ton, when completed would add suffl-
cient strength to give the allies the adj
vantage there also. The American
strength was then negligible, but the
6of Cd fpvK
more divisions ready for service BY
June, and by September possibly II Of
the equivalent of 81 French divisions.
Planned Allied Reserve.
The danger on the western front lay
in the continuous increase of the Ger
man forces and in their ability to con.
centrate in turn against the French and
British, and as neither had sufficient
reserves of their own it was clear thai
unless some arrangement could bt
made between them for better co-ordi-
nation and support the war might cas-
fly be lost before the Americans should
arrive.
The study of this problem by the
military representatives led to another
Joint note which proposed plan fol
the organization of a general allied re.
serve. It provided that the British
French and Italian armies should each
set apart a certain number of divisions
to constitute this reserve, which woulC
be called into action only in a great
emergency. The discussion of thi'
question became rather acrimonious
Iaig and Petain both pointed out thai
they would be short of divisions very
soon in case Of severe fighting, and pre-.
scented figures on the subject that were
very disturbing.