Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-01-27

been, It was manifest that we should
not be likely to get many airplanes un-
less we made an effort to provide them
additional help. Accordingly, the mat
ter was fully explained to the War
Department and a request made for
5000 mechanics in November, a like
number in December and 5000. in
January.
The French offered some of their
slow ships to carry them across, but It
was not regarded as safe at that time
to employ transports under Is knots
in speed as they could not be sent with
the regular conveys. The War Depart
ment approved the request for mechan-
les, but concluded that our shipping
ready.
My diary notes the following:
"Chaumont, Thursday, October 4, 1917.
Gen. de Castelnau called Tuesday to
discuss entry of 1st Division in the
line.
witnessed attack maneuver of the
division yesterday and conducted cri-
tique.
Mr.. Joseph Reinach for visit and had
lunch with us. Have cabled appeal for
officers fitted for general staff"
Wanted Moral Eject.
The French, always solicitous regard
| ing the progress of our training, were
anxious that our most advance Ameri-
can unit take its place in quiet sector
for the experience. The main reason they
advanced for suggesting front-line train
| ing at this time, with which I fully
agreed, was that it would give new en-
couragement to their armies and
through them to the people. The LIST
| Division itself was keen to take q more
active part and was soon to have the
| opportunity.
This division had been billeted in the
training area since July IS and had
begun to show the excellent effects Of
| the system Of training we had pre-
scribed. At the maneuver which I at
! tended the officers handled their units
with considerable skill, particularly
Capt. F.. H. Burr, who conducted an
attack with his battalion of the 28th
| Regiment and Maj. Theodore Roosevelt,
| jr, who did similar problem with his
battalion of the 26th Regiment.
At the Division School the bayonet
exercises. special target practice, firing
with trench mortars, bomb throwing
and other trench training were well
| carried out. returned much pleased
with the evidences Of efficiency in this
organization, which was later to be-
| come famous among the armies on the
| western front.
My diary says:
paris, Wednesday, October 10, 1917
Spent Sunday at Gondrecourt, LIST
| Division field meet, with Gen. Har-
bord, Gen. Ragueneau and Representa-
tive Medill Mccormick. We lunched
with Billiard.
Yesterday evening the officers at g..
H. @. called to extend congratulations
on confirmation of my appointment as
general. All heads of permanent staff
departments appointed to grade of
brigadier general.
"a group of major generals are over
on tour of inspection
The staff department heads who be-
came brigadier generals at that time
Benjamin Alvord, adjutant general
Harry L. Rogers, quartermaster gen.
eral; w. A. Bethel, judge advocate gen.
eral; Edgar Russell, chief of Signal
| Corps; G. C. williams, chief of ord
nance, and A. z. Bradley, chief sur
geon.
Division Commanders on Tour.
In accordance with my recommended
ton, division commanders from the
States were being sent over to visit the
battleflelds, armies and schools in order
to become acquainted with conditions
| and to experience the atmosphere of
war. 1t was important that they should
appreciate the realities and become
fully impressed with the urgency of
thorough preparation of their COM
mands. 1t was thought they would
become impressed with the aggressive
spirit that characterized our training