The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1931-05-21

AS an illustration, recall a bill Of
lading from one of our transports that
was presented to me about this time as
a curiosity. 1t listed a number of ar
ticles quite useless to an army in the
field and provoked the following cable:
"For all departments. Recommend
no further shipments be made of fol-
lowing articles bath bricks, book
cases, bathtubs, cabinets for blanks,
chairs except folding chairs, cuspidors,
Office desks, floor wax, hose except fire
hose, stepladders, lawn mowers, re-
frigeratu.s settees, sickles, stools, win
dow shades. Further stop orders will
follow soon."
We were short-handed, both at de-
pots and along the line Of communica-
lions, in all classes of labor that
should have been sent over long be-
fore. The Quartermaster corps in
France was seriously handicapped in
handling, caring for and issuing its
stores and supplies.
The need for stevedores had become
most urgent. Combat troops were still
being used to unload cargo and much
time was wasted by the use of labor
that was entirely unsuitable for this
sort of work through lack of expert
ence. Moreover, it was urgent that
the combat troops should be sent in
land to receive their battle instruction.
The French, although short them
selves, had loaned US few prisoners
and also some women as laborers to
help out, but neither class was satis-
factory. Under the conditions there
was danger that our ports would be-
come hopelessly congested, although
three weeks later, and after further
urgent appeals, the War department
promised to send stevedores at once.
Line Training for First Division.
My diary notes the following:
Chaumont, Thursday. Oct. 4,
1917.-Gen. de Castlenau called
Tuesday to discuss entry of First
division in the line.
Witnessed attack maneuver Of
the division yesterday and con-
Quoted critique.
Ambassador Sharp came today
with Mr.. Joseph Reinach for Wis.,
1t and had lunch with us. Have
cabled appeal for officers fitted for
general staff.
The French, always solicitous re-
| garding the progress of our training,
were anxious that our most advanced
| American unit take its place in a
quiet sector, for the experience. The
main reason they advanced for sug-
costing front-line training at this time,
with which fully agreed, was that 1t
would give new encouragement to
their armies and through them to the
people. The First division itself was
keen to take 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 eff.
fects Of the system of training we had
prescribed. At the maneuver which I
attended the officers handled their
units with considerable skill, particu-
larry Capt F. H. Burr, who conducted
an attack with his battalion Of the
Twenty-eighth regiment, and Maj.
Theodore Roosevelt, Jr., who did q
similar problem with his battalion Of
the Twenty-sixth regiment.
Pleased With Efficiency.
At the division school the bayonet
exercises, special target practice, fir-
ing with trench mortars, bomb-throw-
ing and other trench training were
well carried out. / returned much
| pleased with the evidences of eff
cheney in this organization, which was
later to become famous among the
armies on the western front.
My diary says:
Paris, Wednesday, Oct. 10, 1917.
Spent Sunday at Gondirecourt,
First division field meet, with Gen.
eral Hartford, General Ragueneau
and Representative Medlll McCor-
| mick. We lunched with Billiard.
Yesterday evening the officers
at G. Fl. Q. called to extend con-
gratulations 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
were: James G. Harbord, chief Of
staff; Benjamin Alvord, adjutant gen.
eral; Harry L. Rogers. quartermaster
general; w. A. Bethe, judge-Rdvocate
general; Edgar Russell, chief Of signal
corps; G. c. Williams, chief of ord
nance, and A. E. Bradley, chief sur
geon. Officers Visit BattlefeIds.
In accordance with my recommended
tion, division commanders from the
states were being sent over to visit the
battlefields, armies and schools in or.
der to become acquainted with condi-
lions and to experience the atmos-
phere of war. 1t was important that
they should appreciate the realities
and become fully impressed with the
urgency Of thorough preparation of
their commands. 1t was thought they
would become impressed with the ag-
gressive spirit that characterized our
| training in France nv coming into