Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-01-14
Shortage of Equipment at
Outset Appeared to Be
Almost HopelesstoNew
American Army Chief.
NINE-HOUR SUPPLY
OF SHELLS ON HAND
Only Five AviatOrs Found
Capable of Taking Part
in Actual Combat Over
Enemy Lines in France.
Continued From First Page.)


Gen. Bridges requested that in the
event we could not see our way clear TO
draft men as individuals, then minor
units, such as battalions and regiments,
should be incorporated in British dl-
visions.
was decidedly against our becoming
recruiting agency for either the
French or British, and at that time this
was the attitude of the War Depart
ment also. While fully realizing the
difficulties, it was definitely understood
between the Secretary of War and me
that we should proceed 10 organize our
own units from top to bottom and bllld
a distinctive army of our own as rapidly
as possible.
The evident rivalry between the Brit
ish and French for control and use OF
our forces, even before We had an army
in this field, confirmed my impression
that those two governments were not
working entirely in harmony. AS to their
armies, it had been apparent for some
time that there was a lack OF CO.
operation between them. Their efforts
were often separate and distinct, that Is,
first one and then the other would at
tack.
Generally speaking, such methods
could not seriously affect the enemy, who
serves against one or the other. I had
often remarked that the Alliss would
never win the war until they secured
unity OF action under some form of CO.
ordinated control.
My first meeting with Marshal Joffre
was during his farewell call on the Sec
rotary of War late in May. I entered
just as he and his party were leaving.
He spoke of the serious situation IN
France and expressed the hope of seeing
American troops on the Western front
very soon.
Here was a marshal of France who,
as ommander-in-chief of the French
army for nearly three years, had made
his name immortal, appealing for mill
tary assistance from a man recently
designated to be commander-in- chief
of an army not yet in existence.
have often wondered what must
have been his thoughts under the cir
cumstances, but whatever he may have
felt as to the new commander himself,
the totally unready situation that he
found in America could not have been
very encouraging. 1t is pleasure to
say that this great soldier became my
loyal and consistent personal friend.
Although 1t was not generally known
that / was to go abroad, there was a
food Of applications to accompany me-
One of them was a personal appeal for
service in any capacity by my old friend
Robert Bacon, who had been Ambassa-
dor to France. He had already given
valuable aid to the allied cause, and
because of his intimate knowledge of
the French people and his tact and dis
erection / was glad to have him.
Another friend who was most anx-
iolls to join my headquarters was Will
lard Straight. whom I had known in
Manchuria during the Russo-Japanese
War Although his request could not
be granted, he came to France within
few months and served efficiently in the
Army and with the Peace Commission,
being on duty with the latter at the
time of his death.
Dawes Appeals for Chance.
Lloyd Griscom, with whom 1 had
been pleasantly associated when he was
our Minister and was military attache
at Toxic, asked to go with me, hut it
was impossible to arrange it. When he
came over later as adiutant of the 77th
Division. 1 at once detailed him as my
representative at the war Office IN
London.
A few days before my departure, while
at lunch at the Metropolitan Club with
Charles f. MagoOn. ex-governor OF
Cuba Charles Ct. Dawes joined us. The
three of MS had BEEN friends in the days
when we were together at Lincoln
Nebr., Magoon and Dawes as young
lawyers, the latter with decided talent