Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-02-12

as to how we might help. He was evil
IDENTIFY very much touched and in his
enthusiasm took me by the arm and
without hesitation rushed me out across
the lawn to where the others stood and
asked me to repeat what I had said to
him.
Pershing's French Fluent.
They, Of course. showed keen interest,
especially M Clemenceau, as I told
them what had said to Gen. Foch.
Col. Boyd, my aide, was kind enough to
say that, under the inspiration of the
moment, my French was spoken with a
f1uency that I could not have mustered
10 minutes before or after.
It appeared in the French papers the
next morning, although I feel certain
that il was written up in much better
French than actually used:
"Je viens pour vouS dire que lie peuple
American tiendrait a grand honneur
que nos troupes fussent engages dams
Ia present battaille.
"Je vouS de demande en- mon nom ct
au Sien.
IN ny a pas en- ce moment d'autres
questions que de combattre.
'Infanterie, artfllerie, aviation, tout
ce que nous avons est vous.
"Disposez-en CONNIE II vous plaira.
III en- viendra encore dautreS, aussi
''Je S1fS venu tout expires pour vouS
dire que lie peuple American serait fer
detre engage dams La plus belle battaille
de Phistoire"
The English translation follows:
II have come to tell you that the
American people would consider it a
great honor for our troops to be en-
gagged in the present battle. I ask you
for this in their name and my own.
AT this moment there are no other
questions but of fighting.
Infantry, artillery, aviation, all that
we have are yours; use them as you
wish More will come, in numbers equal
to requirements.
Il have come especially to tell you
that the American people will be proud
to take part in the greatest battle of
history"
If the responsibility had been mine
should not have hesitated a moment
to put into the battle any or all of our
five divisions in France. The LIST was
the only one used for the time being
the others being placed in quiet sectors,
each to relieve two french divisions
As our divisions were more than twice
as large as theirs, it amounted to al
most immediate reinforcement of 10
divisions.
At the time of the German attack a
battalion of the American 9Th Regi-
ment Of Engineers was on duty behind
the British fifth army, engaged in rail-
way construction and repairs. These
troops were given arms and participated
with the British forces in the defensive
operations until after the lines were
stabilized
In carrying out our plans for the or
ganiZation of an American Army on the
Lorraine front, with the reduction of
the st. Mihiel salient planned as the
initial operation, the volume of con-
struction necessary along our line Of
communications had been pushed as
fast as conditions permitted. The es-
Enlistment of advance depots and
other installations in Lorraine were
well under way.
On January 16 the 1st Division CBul-
lar6 had entered the line north of
Toul, with the understanding that
other divisions would follow as they be-
came sufficiently trained, and that
when the four divisions were available
an American Army corps would be
formed and the sector would pass def
nitely under American control. The
18th Division (Edwards) had been
withdrawn from the Chemin- deS-DameS
March 81 and the AID Division Memo
herr from east of Luneville two days
later, and both we're prepared to take
their places beside the 1st. These
were to be followed by the ID Division
(Bundy), then in line for preliminary
experience at Sommedieue, south of
Verdun, while the 32d Division (Haan),
which had only recently arrived, would
come in later.
The headquarters Of the LIST Corps
1.iggett), which had been organized
at Neufchateau in January, was to
move up to Toul as soon as there were
three divisions in the line. 1t could be
said that the most important step IN
organizing an American Army would
then be taken. But just as our hopes
were about to be realized the storm
broke, the situation on the British front
created a grave crisis, and the concen-
tration of our troops in an American
sector, much to my regret, was volun-
tarily and indefinitely postponed.
Tomorrow-First Division ordered into
line; Clemenceau mentioned as COM
mander in chief.
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