The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1931-06-12
CHAPTER Xxx Continued.


As the situation in which we found
ourselves regarding artillery ammuni
ton was approaching crisis, it be-
came necessary to lay the whole ques-
ton before the interallied munitions
board. After a full investigation of
their resources, both the French and
British concluded that they could I'M
dertake to meet our requirements. with
the distinct understanding that their
plants must be greatly increased in ca
pacity and that we should furnish raw
materials promptly.
The late Gen. Tasker a. Bliss. chief
Of the War department general staff,
represented US in the allied conference
and reported results and agreements
reached. He had brought the latest
data from home and his knowledge
concerning steel and munitions enabled
him TO give valuable assistance TO my
chief of ordnance in our efforts to find
a solution to the difficult munitions
problem.
a letter from Secretary of War
Baker, dated September 10. had only
recently been received. and gave me
an idea of some OF his problems. In
part he wrote as follows:
Il am especially concerned that our
troops should not be engaged in actu-
al fighting in France until they are
there in such numbers and have made
such thorough preparation that their
first appearance will be encouraging
both to their own morale and TO the
spirit of our people here. | think IL
goes without saying that the Germans
will make a very special yeffOrt TO
strike swiftly and strongly against any
part of the line which we undertake
to defend, in order TO be able TO re-
port to their people encouragingly
about our participation and also with
the object of discouraging our soldiers
and our people as much as possible.
In the matter of selecting corps
and division commanders | constantly
feel that | ought to have your advice
and judgment From all that you have
said, supplemented by all l have
learned elsewhere, the need for young
and physically strong men is apparent
and | am perfectly willing to go any
limit in meeting this requirement
1T will, of course, necessitate pass
ing over a substantial number of our
older generals who are very eager to
90 to France and who, in their own
ideas and that of the country, have
certain right to be preferred. But
their occupation here in the training
Of troops is, of course, valuable con-
tribution to the cause and, whenever
/ can feel sure in the selection of the
younger man that he actually has the
capacity TO develop to a sufficient ex-
tent to justify his being preferred to a
man of greater experience / shall not
hesitate"
MobiIizing of Army Delayed.
In view of the emergency that was
so clearly set forth by the Joffre and
Balfour missions when they visited the
United States, and which was con-
frmed after my arrival in France and
reported with all emphasis, | have
never been able TO understand the IN
necessary delay caused by waiting six
months for the construction of large
environments before calling out men
and assembling them for training.
OF course it was particularly urgent
that the specialists and laborers need
ed in France to build up our facilities
should have been provided as fast as
they could be proftably employed. but
nothing should have postponed the i'm
mediate mobilization of the combat
units of the regular army and the Ma
tionaI Guard.