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Show (BemeiPSlIl IPBEPIMllIQCIi9S I sr.s I t T - jha North Amirlcan r Newspaper Alliance. T Stoiry mfl Iffine EEo IF. I T or Inpflrtprohibltcd.) JL that will live long In history: "Lafayette, "Lafay-ette, we are here!" Many have attributed this striking utterance to me, and I have often wished it could have been mine. But I have no recollection of saying anything any-thing so splendid. I am sure those words were spoken by Colonel Stanton, Stan-ton, and to him must go t tie credit for so happy and felicitous a phrase. The parade of our troops through Paris doubtless fortified the morale of the people to a certain extent, but we all knew that eventually something very much more effective would have to be done. The real question was whether the allies could hold out until we were ready. It was clear that no halfway measures on our part would answer and that allied hopes lay in American Ameri-can military assistance on a vast scale at the earliest moment. Cables for 1,000,000 Men. The allies thought an American force of 500,000 men the maximum that we could have in France in 1918, but In my opinion that would not be enough to meet the situation. If we could have had half a million fighting men in France in t he early spring it would have been a different matter. But looking ahead it was necessary to allow from 35 to 40 per cent for the services of supply, which would leave out of this number only approximately approxi-mately 300,000 fighting troops. Although this would aid, we could not be content con-tent merely to lend a helping hand but must prepare to strike a decisive blow. While the appearance on the front of any American force was still months away, yet there was little doubt that if we could induce allied co-operation we should be able to give much great- er assistance than they believed possible. pos-sible. Our study having confirmed the correctness of my tentative estimate tinguished from the purely military task, men with expert knowledge and broad experience In business, industry and transportation would be needed. In the technical branches of the army there were many officers with theoretical training in special lines, but with some notable exceptions they generally lacked broad constructive or administrative experience. From the very start I determined to obtain the best talent available, and was fortunate fortu-nate in practically every field to find able men who were anxious to do their part. The earliest application of the principle prin-ciple was in connection with timber and lumber procurement. The call for lumber would be enormous, and since it would be impossible with our limited limit-ed tonnage to bring a great quantity across the Atlantic, most of it would have to be obtained in Europe. A cable to the War department early In July, 1917, recommended the immediate imme-diate organization of a forestry service, serv-ice, consisting of sawmill units, to be composed of experienced lumbermen and 8,000 to 10.000 unskilled laborers to build roads and transport lumber. Special request was made for the appointment ap-pointment of Prof. Henry Graves, chief of the United States forestry service, who was then on the ground, as the man to take charge of this service. A number of other specially qualified men were requested as we entered the task of building up the supply service, but as this was the first intimation given to the War department that such a force would be needed naturally it was some time before it was actually at work. Heavy Work for the Staff. During the first two months in France the work imposed upon the few staff officers who had accompanied me was very heavy. After urgent and re- adopted nothing which was really up to date. The enormous proportion of both light and heavy guns used by both sides, the knowledge of our deficiency and the realization of the length of time that must elapse before we could manufacture and deliver them made it Imperative that we seek other sources than our own to help equip our armies. Following up an intimation It was learned definitely that, although not fully supplied themselves, the French could increase the output of their factories fac-tories provided they could get steel from the United States. As it seemed probable that we should operate in proximity to tiieir armies we adopted the French types for the usual calibers cali-bers and sought their assistance in obtaining ob-taining the guns needed, at least for the first two years. We secured an agreement that our troops as they came along would be provided with French guns and ammunition, including includ-ing not only the 75s and 155s but 37 mm. guns and 5S mm. trench mortars as well. It was most fortunate that we were able to get these guns from the French, as up to the end of the war no guns of American manufacture of the types used, except twenty-four 8-inch mortars and six 14-inch naval guns, were fired in battle. Trench guns of the three-inch and six-inch mortar types, with ammunition, ammuni-tion, were purchased from the British, as they were considered superior to those used by the French. Progress of Red Cross. The Red Cross reported excellent progress at this time, especially in its first effort to assist the French as agreed upon with General Petaln. Its organization by Maj. Grayson M. P. Murphy for war work with our own armies was now about completed. The CHAPTER VI Continued. The first section of the first division convoy bad brought to St. Nazaire t lie headquarters, the Sixteenth infantry, two battalions of the Twenty-eighth Infantry, one battalion of the Fifth marines and some motor transport troops and stevedores. Td see the naval vessels and transports flying the American flag In the harbor gave us nil a thrill of pride. It was a pleasure pleas-ure to meet the naval commander, Hear Admiral Albert Glcaves, who was to have general charge of the convoy system. The regiments of the division had all served under my command at one time or another. They were now, however, composed of a large percentage percent-age of recruits and would have to go through a long period of training. After a few days spent in the cantonment canton-ment at St. Nazaire the Infantry of the division was sent to the training area of Gondrecourt, north of Neut-chatoau, Neut-chatoau, and the artillery to Valdshon, near Belfort. Arrival "Tipped Off." Maj. Gen. William L. Slbert, who had won distinction as an engineer In the construction of the Panama canal, was In command of the first divisiou. The two Infantry brigades were commanded by Brig. Gens. It. L. Billiard Bill-iard and Omar Bundy, both of whom had many years of line service behind j them. I had known all three of the I general officers, as we were cadets together to-gether at the academy, although all belonged to classes ahead of mine. It had been arranged that the regulations regu-lations restricting reference to the al lied armies by the press should apply to the American forces. But to my utter surprise the French and British papers, in their eagerness to let their people know that the elements of the American army had really reached France, carried full accounts of the arrival of this convoy, giving the port of debarkation, the designation of units and the number of men. Tighten on Censorship. The publication of this piece of news was in open contravention of the censorship cen-sorship rules and called for immediate immedi-ate steps to prevent further infractions. infrac-tions. My vigorous protest resulted in our placing in the French press bureau bu-reau an American representative, to whom all matter regarding our army was to be submitted for approval. There is no doubt, however, that the suppression of news prevented our people from obtaining a clear and contemporaneous con-temporaneous conception of the great and often brilliant achievements of our armies and left such knowledge to be gleaned from meager accounts by participants or from the later writ lng of historians. It was unfortunate that such rules had to be enforced, as otherwise much that might have been published at the time may never he known, but there was nothing else to be done without serious risk. ' 1 KIJ & VA lit Jitni , 1 f - t i u hi, ft J i j French Children Watching Yankee Troops on March. CHAPTER VII As the French authorities wished to honor our national holiday they requested re-quested that some of our troops pa rade In Paris July 4, 1017. We were not prepared to make much of a mili tary impression, as our men were largely recruits. But to stimulate morale the French wanted to demonstrate demon-strate that the Americans were actually actu-ally coming, so a battalion of the Six teenth infantry was brought up from Saint Nazaire. The untrained, awkward appearance of this unit, which was accepted as the cream of our regular army by the French officials, no doubt tended to confirm their belief that It would be some time before we should be able to organize an effective army. If they could have foreseen the triumph tri-umph of this same battalion at the peak of the great counter-offensive on the field of Soissons just one year later lat-er we might have been spared many delays and dilliculties in carrying out our plans. Troops Bring Joy to French. Nevertheless, the first appearance of American combat troops In Paris brought joyful acclaim from the people. peo-ple. On the march the battalion was accompanied by a great crowd, many women forcing their way into the ranks and swinging along arm In arm with the men. With wreaths about their necks and flowers in their hats and on their rifles, the column had the appearance of a moving flower garden. With only a semblance of military formation the animated throng pushed Its way through avenues of people to the martial strains of the French band and the still more thrilling music of cheering voices. Many dropped on their knees In revereuce as the column col-umn went by. The battalion marched to the cemetery ceme-tery where the tomb of Lafayette Is located. The ceremony there consisted consist-ed of a few speeches, the principal speaker being Prand Whitlock, our ambassador to Belgium. I had heen asked to deliver an address but had designated Col. C. E. Stanton of my staff, an old army friend and something some-thing of an orator, to speak In my place. However, I was prevailed upon to speak extemporaneously. "Lafayette, We Are Here!" It was on this occasion that utterance utter-ance was given to an expression that could be born only of Inspiration, one. establishment of canteens and huts al the ports and other important points had already begun and the numbers increased as fast as needed. These centers of service later maintained main-tained dispensaries and provided beds and bathing facilities for men traveling travel-ing under orders or on leave. When the necessity arose the Red Cross actively ac-tively co-operated with the medical corps in the field, contributing large quantities of supplies and often additional addi-tional nurses. The work of the society, soci-ety, directed from a central office in Paris, eventually embraced practically every endeavor touching the health of the armies. CHAPTER IX I left Paris July 20, 11)17, for a visit with Field Marshal Sir Douglas llaig, the British commander in chief, whose headquarters were in an old chateau half hidden away in a magnificent grove at Beidiques. I was accompanied accom-panied by Colonels Harbord and Al-vord Al-vord and Captain Patton of my staff. At dinner the subject of conversation conversa-tion naturally turned on the military situation of the allied armies, our own in particular. They were keen to know about our army, its organization and size, and the prospects of our putting put-ting troops In the field. As our active participation depended on many factors, fac-tors, such as training, equipment and shipping, my replies, of course, were indefinite and no doubt disappointing. In turn we asked many questions, and It was especially Interesting to hear the Importance of artillery emphasized em-phasized by Its chief, Major General Birch, who spoke of the dilliculties they had experienced In supplying themselves with guns that matched the enemy's. (TO BE CONTINUED.) made on the Baltic, I therefore cabled Washington, July ti, as follows: "Plans should contemplate sending over at least 1,000,0(10 men by next May. . . . This estimate would give practically half million men for trenches. Inasmuch as question affects af-fects all o'lles whose common interests inter-ests demand that we exert maximum military power consistent with transport trans-port problem, suggest early agreement be reached among allies which would provide requisite transportation . . . and limit sea transportation to food and military supplies and the exclusion of every kind of luxury as well as other supplies in excess of Immediate needs of countries dependent upon oversea supplies." Question of Transportation. The question was, therefore, one of sea transportation, but so far all efforts ef-forts to get the allies, especially the British, to consider giving help to bring over men and supplies had been futile. They did not seem to realize that America would be practically negligible negli-gible from a military standpoint unless they could provide some shipping. Nor did they seem to appreciate that time was a vital factor. But the spirit of full co-operation among the allies did not then exist. They seemed to regard the transportation transporta-tion of an American army overseas as no concern of theirs. This apparent indifference also gave further color to the suspicion that perhaps after all an American army as such was not want ed. The situation from our standpoint was grave and embarrassing, for It looked ns though It might not be necessary nec-essary for us to save either the allies or ourselves. An entry in my diary notes: "Two of the Roosevelt hoys, Theodore, Jr., and Archie, reported. Unable to par-.tlcipate par-.tlcipate himself, their father's fine spirit Is represented by his sons." CHAPTER VIII As the details of our mission abroad developed It soon became evident that In all that pertained to the maintenance mainte-nance and supply of our armies as dla- peated requests I was fortunate in having at my disposal later in the summer sum-mer a small group of men which included in-cluded some of the most brilliant and highly educated officers in the army. In addition to those already with me, the officers included in the following follow-ing cable I regarded as especially fitted for the duties for which they were desired : "Uequest Robert C. Davis, adjutant general, be sent these headquarters earliest date. Bequest Frank .Moorman .Moor-man or J. O. Mauborgne be sent these headquarters earliest date for duty as code expert. Request Samuel T. Hubbard. Hub-bard. Jr., signal corps, now here, he called to active service and ordered to report to me. Request ten of following fol-lowing named oflicers be sent to report to me by second convoy for general staff duty: Frank R. McCoy, George Van Horn Moseley, Malin Craig. Alfred Al-fred V. Bjornstadt, II. B. Fiske, Allen J. Grear, Paul P.. Malone, Edgar T. Collins, Samuel R. Cleaves, Laurence Halstead, Nicholas W. Campanole, A. R. Moreno, Preston Brown, I.eRoy R. Eltinge, W. R. Bui'tt, Frank T. nines, Edward L. King, J. P. McAdams, W. O. Sweeney, J. B. Barnes, Kerr T. Riggs, W. H. Winters, Wait C. Johnson, John-son, Stuart Heintzelman, Upton Blrnle, Kirby Walker, Berkeley Enochs. . . ." Having this nucleus and selecting the best features of the French and British systems, a general staff organization organi-zation was created, which efficiently met every demand made upon It throughout the war and which remains today ns a model for present and future fu-ture guidance. Source of Guns a Problem. The question of artillery procurement procure-ment caused me much concern. The almost negligible amount on hand when we went to war consisted mostly of field guns of the three-Inch type, then largely in the hands of troops in the Philippine Islands and elsewhere and unavailable for Issue. Moreover, for calibers heaviora than the three-inch type our ordnance department had ( |