Evening star., 1932-08-14
Gen. March's Story of the World War
Reveals Facts on British Ship Use

mental in the character of this great
jurtst and statesman.
Comment of the type emanating from
the A. E. F., as if he were putting
something over" us, is so unfounded
and unjust as to be ridiculous. 1t was
confined solely to Army officers, and
unfortunately appeared to justify the
contention of critics of the Army that
as a class we are narrow minded and
without vision.
Thereafter there was a multitude OF
conferences abroad and at home con-
corning this matter. in which I felt
only minor concern. got the ships
and that meant the complete success
of the American endesvor.
Insisted on Separate Army.
The War Department policy Of a dis
tinct. separate American Army In
France was insisted upon at all confer
ences. and with this the President was
in complete agreement. If the crisis
then existing in France due to the sue
cess of the German drive required q
temporary change in character Of ship,
ments, it was always with the distinct
understanding it was only temporary
April 26 1 cabled Gen. Pershing the
Presidents conclusions. as follows:
Following note has been furnished
British Ambassador to the United
States: April 19, 1918. Pursuant to
the direction of the President and in
conformity with his approval of the
joint note Of the permanent mill
tary representatives at Versailles, the
United States will continue through
out April, May, June and July to
supply for transportation, both by
its own owned and controlled ton
mage and in that made available by
Great Britain, infantry and ma
chine gun personnel. 1t is hoped,
and on the basis of study so far it
is believed, that the total number Of
troops transported will be 10000 a
month.
Concession Made
To Meet a Crisis.
These troops, when transported,
will, under the direction and at the
discretion of Gen. Pershing, be as
signed for training and use with
British, French or American divi-
sions as the exigencies of the situa-
tion from time to time require; it
being understood that this program,
to the extent that 1t Is a departure
from the plan to transport and as
semble in Europe complete American
divisions, is made in view of the ex-
igencies of the present military situa-
tion and in order to bring into useful
cooperation at the earliest possible
moment the largest number of
American personnel in the military
arm most needed by our allies. 1t
being also understood that this state
ment is not to be regarded as a COM
mitment from which the Govern
ment of the United States Is not free
to depart when the exigencies no
longer require it; and also that the
preferential transportation of in
fantry and machine gun units here
set forth as policy and principle is
not to be regarded as so exclusive as
to prevent the Government of the
United States from including in the
troops carried by its own tonnage
from time to time relatively small
numbers of personnel of other arms
as may be deemed wise by the United
States as requirements either to
make possible the use of a maximum
capacity of ships or the most eff
cient use of the infantry and ma
chine gun units as such transported.
or the maintenance of the services Of
supply already organized and in proc
ess of construction for the Amer
ican Army already in France. These
suggestions are made that there may
be a clear understanding of the in
tention of the United States and Of
the mode of execution of that inten-
ton, and that they are not stipu-
lated as indicating any intention on
the part of the United States, until
the situation has in its judgment
changed, to depart from as full COM
pliance with the recommendation Of
the permanent military represent
atives as the nature of the case will
permit. MARCH"
U. S. Ships Fell Far Short.
In the great troop movement abroad
we carried as per cent of our men II
our own ships: British ships carried 4!
per cent italian, per cent; French,
per cent, and Russian, l per cent; anc
when say carried mean as paid pas
sengers. In fact, the only contribution
to our shipping program was the loar
by Brazil Of one ship for a definit,
time free Of charge.
If we had established a shipping
record with our first million, we imme.
diately proceeded to break 1t with oul
second. In July, 1918, we shipped 306,.
$50 men, August, 285,974; September
257,457; october, 180,326, and to No.
vember IL, the date Of the armistice
30,201. In four months, therefore, We
cbirpod o,1r eacond y,,il1{op ~ E,ropoa