The Dominion TUESDAY, MAY 29, 1917. THE AMERICAN ARMY

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 3096, 29 May 1917, Page 4

The Dominion TUESDAY, MAY 29, 1917. THE AMERICAN ARMY

America is rendering splendid service to her Allies in many ways, but the greatest service of all is that she- is forming an army on the Continental scale, which will bo ready to undertake an important, role in the European war next year and will not lack reserves 'however long the struggle may , continue. DetaiU'd information as to the- lines on which the training of the American Expeditionary -I'orce will proceed is not, of course, available. Plans formed prior to the recent visit of Allied representatives to the United States have no doubt been changed' in some respects as an outcome of ' consultation between these representatives and the American political and military authorities, it is likely, for instance, that Marshal Joffre's suggestion that American soldiers might profitably be- pub through part of their training in France will bear fruit in action. But it seems quite safe to conclude that the consultations which have taken- place- will modify American plans for raising an'army only in the way of embodying measures of co-ordination and co-operation with the Allies, and with a view to shortening the interval of time which must elapse before an American army of any great size can take its stand beside the Allies on .1 .European battle front No appeal by the Allies was needed to spur America to increased effort in the mattor of creating an army, in the days immediately following the outbreak of war, and whilo the- conscription issue was still a. suuject of academic discussion, her military authorities were hard at work upon a scheme which contemplates at once the speediest and largest possible increase in her military establishment. The determining; factor is tha number of efficient instructors—officers and non-commissioned officers—available, and it is here that tho co-operation of tho Allies may very greatly simplify and expedite the task by which America is confronted. But even where they relate only to the utilisation of her own resources, America's plans arcframed on an impressive scale. They were discussed in some detail in the leading American newspapers in connection with the passage of the Army Bill by Congress last month. A well-informed Washington correspondent, in touch with tho officers of the Army General Staff, stated that the Army Bill was carefully - compiled by Secretary Baker after thorough discussion with his military advisers.

Its purpose (he added) is first to provide for an army to train the first increment of troops to be summoned by draft several months from now. pirns was written in April]. It will take a minimum of 100,000 officers and men to provide- the- half-million men in that force with instructors. The preliminary use of the Regular Army and National Guard, as contemplated in the Bill, will be to produce that training force and at the samo time furnish a thoroughly trained army of halt , a million men for whatever use it might be desired to make of it. After the 100,000 officers and , noncommissioned officers have- been withdrawn and assigned to the new army, the first line troops will need a period of further training, in which the men and officers promoted to fill the vacancies ean be seasoned to their new duties. The forco will still act as a school, however, to produce additional training personnel for tho second half million or other additional forces called ont. Presumably theso first lino troops after eight or ten months of training could furnish a thoroughly trained and equipped expeditionary force, if that were desired. They would bo considered fully trained to meet any emergency by that time, and behind them would bo formed successive waves of supports and reserves which could go forward as need arose. In effect, the Administration Bill provides for setting up and maintaining a system which will promptly duplicate «ny forco .sent to the front m nn additional reserve lino under training at home, leaving always three lines of not less than 500,000 men who arc either ready or being put in readiness for actual" fighting. ' .

Carrying these proposals into effect, America would apparently have one array o£ halt a, million

men ready tu lake tty Ocld early next year and u, feocond liudy »( erjnal strength, jar advanced* in travidiigj -vvnil.i further "lines" of .ifill: a million men would be mobilised as rapidly as training resourwsi would permit. Althougu this position is modified by the ustcut to which America, will be able to cal! upou Allied aesititaiicc in training her armies, !i comparison between her present easo and that of Great Britain in 1914 is not without interest. According to the military correspondent ot the London the British new armies wiised .in 1914 took nine months in forming before the first division arrived in Franoe, and this division took three Vfiontlis more to harden in trench warfare before it could safely engage in a great attack. This is a standard upon which for a number of reasons America should be able to materially improve. Britain in forming a Continental Army had to rely largely upon her own unaided exertions, and industrial as well as military problems had to be solved before the now armies could take the field. America is in every way much better placed. It is particularly important that she is not only in a position to draw upon the Allies for expert instructors, but can at will send officers and noncommissioned ofiieei's or bodies of troops to Europe to complete their training It is much more important, except on sentimental grounds, that the training of a big American army should proceed apace _ than that comparatively small bodies of American troops should go to France this year. This is so evident that it hiust be assumed that the division under General Perseing which is to proceed to thefront shortly, and others which are to follow it, would have been held back for the time being, but that the withdrawal of possible instructors which is involved is more than balanced by instructional facilities provided by the- Allies. With the best will in the world, America cannot possibly take any big part m the European campaign this year, but it is one of the commanding facts of tho war that an American army of not less than half a million men will be available m the early part of next year. In the circumstances that exist, the actual strength of American troops available at that date may considerably exceed half a million.. The assured prospect of powerful assistance from America next year will do much to soften the disappointment of the Allies and give them confidence in the future, if, owing to conditions in Russia, victory should elude their grasp this year.