The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1931-05-08
CHAPTER lx-continued,

had finally attained superiority over
the Germans.
Real Teamwork Lacking.
Sir Douglas told me some of the de-
tails of Nivelle's unsuccessful attack
in the spring. how it was known far
and wide. beforehand and spoke par
ticularly of the consequent serious dis
affection among the French troops. AL
though he had placed himself under
Nivelle's command for these opera
tiOns he had. he said. little confidence
in the outcome from the start. He
also commented on the failure of the
French TO cooperate fully on various
occasions. His remarks entirely con-
firmed the belief that | had long since
held that real teamwork between the
two armies was almost totally absent
Scarcely anything more strikingly
impressed upon me our unprepared-
ness than what l saw during few
hours spent with General Trenchard
at the British flying field. where we
witnessed flyers doing every imagin-
able stunt. and saw planes of all
classes. bombing. pursuit and observa-
ton. motors of different types and the
thoroughly equipped repair shops
The outstanding thing, however.
which it was gratifying to note later
on in our own aviation personnel. was
the incompatible spirit and alertness
OF the young officers and the enlisted
personnel. Every man seemed TO be
disappointed when a flight of planes
departed for the front without him.
This visit to British headquarters
was most instructive, as every oppor-
tunity was given US to study intimate
~ the details of their wartime organi-
cation. After similar studies of the
French system we selected from each
those features best suited TO perfect
well-balanced staff for our own
army.
The cordial relations and good IN
derstanding established between Sir
Douglas Haig and myself and between
the corresponding members of our
stats and with a number of the lead
ing British officers with whom we were
later TO have official dealings proved
very advantageous. In London. long
after the armistice, Sir Douglas. in an
after-dinner speech. referred to this
visit. which happened during a period
of depression. and said thar our timely
appearance at mis- headquarters had
aroused in them a strong feeling of
hopefulness for the future
Meets Other Leaders.
My diary at this time notes the
following:
Paris. Thursday. July 26. 1877.
Had breakfast yesterday ar the
CrillOn with Lloyd George He is
alert and energetic and has
clear conception of allied prob
lens. Took lunch with Mr.. Bal
four, who thinks we have reason
TO feel easier regarding subma-
rines. Representatives of the va
riOus allies met for conference on
general situation. In the evening
II. Ribot. the prime minister. gave
a state dinner to officials attend
ing conference.
Today attended luncheon to al
. lied representatives given by the
President and Nine. Poincare at
the Elysee palace.
In conference this afternoon
with Petain. Cadorna. Robertson
and Foch ar latter's office. Dis
cussed military plans. talked
about tonnage possibilities and
shortage of personnel. All pessi-
mistic and reserved.
James Stillman. just returned
from tour of France. confirms
reports of serious depression.
Situation Not Hopeful.
The meeting of the allied military
leaders July &c. which was my first,
brought out little that was hopeful.
The political relations of the allies
were touched upon in a general way,
but only so far as they might affecr
the military situation. The most sig
nifcant recent event. of course. had
been the crisis in Russia.
With reference to American assist
ance. | gave in detail the situation as
TO our man power, immediate and
prospect. especially in the light of the
latest plans of the department, and
laid particular emphasis on the ne
cessity of additional shipping. A
cablegram had Just been received in
response TO mine of July in which
had requested that at least a million
men reach France by the following
spring.
This message. indicating that the
War department foresaw small chance
of securing the necessary tonnage. was
read to the conference in part as fol.
lows:
by using all shipping which is now
in sighr for the purpose and which
will be available after month or No
vember. the plan proposes to transport
to France by June Is. 1918, twenty-one
divisions. comprising about 420.000
men. together with auxiliary troops
and replacement troops. line of com
municatiOn troops. and others. amount
ing to 214.97O men, making a total of
634.975 men,"
More Tonnage Needed.
Although snort OF my recommends
tions. even this schedule could be car
ried out only by a very large increase
of tonnage The other members oi
the conference were of the opinion
that if new adjustments could be made
there might be shipping for nine or ten
of our divisions before spring. So for
the moment there did not seem TO be
the slightest chance of Transporting a
million men to France by the follow
ing June