The Dominion. FRIDAY, JUNE 29, 1017. "AND NOW THE AMERICANS "

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 3123, 29 June 1917, Page 4

The Dominion. FRIDAY, JUNE 29, 1017. "AND NOW THE AMERICANS "

And no\¥ tho Americans," ran a recent German headline over tho news that United States destroyers haw entered into active warfare. xTie same phrase- should cany a still ■ more pointed meaning for the German understanding now that it is announced that the first and second contingents of American troops have landed in Franco. From every point of view this is a very great event in the war. It is ail event that will cheer and inspirit the Allies. France, sorely tried but indomitable, will be heartened and encouraged by the actual presence of Amerioan soldiers on her soil, and all the Allied- nations will bo strengthened and confirmed in their determination by the definite entry of the United States into tho great land theatre where the supremo issues of the war are raised and will bo determined. For tho enemy also the arrival of the American advance guard in Franco carries a message. The Germans are not yet wholly cured of tho short-sighted folly which made them speak' of tho first British Expeditionary Force as "a contemptible little army," but they will bo incredibly lacking in the power of looking a little way ahead if the arrival of General Pbkshing's division does not awaken dire forebodings in their hearts and sharpen their' realisation of the fact that though they may delay defeat they cannot avert it. If the Ger.mans any longer entertain delusions as to tho part America will play in tho war.it is either because, they arc wilfully blind to the_ resolute spirit which governs American preparations and action, or becauso they repose vain hopes upon their submarine campaign against Allied merchant shipping.

General Pbrshiko's division is, of course, only a very small part of the army America is preparing to throw into the scale. But while the appearance of the division in Franco, is abovo all important a-s a convincing indication and demonstration of the war policy of the United States, it is not in itself a negligible force. Its composition is indicated iti tho following announcement issued by the American War Department in May: Tho President has directed an expeditionary force of approximately one division of regular troops, under command of Major-General John J. Pershing, to proceed to France at as early a ditto as practicable." As tho New York Evening 1 ost pointed out recently, the advance guard of tho army America will ultimately send to France is composed of her best soldiers, men of tho Regular Army and tho Marine Corps, fresh from service in Mexico and the West Indies.

"They will go," the samo journal added, "not merely for the purpose of exercising moral influence on the Germans, and, by incurring heavy casualties, to stimulate the war feeling at home, but to hit out at the Germans as soon and as hard as they can. Immediate reinforcements for the first expedition will come, after the Regular Army, from the National Gnard, which stands next in training and experience. Then will coino the new draft army, which will have had the necessary three months of intensive training by the end of the year, while the .three-quarter million men of tho Regular Army and National Guard su-e being utilised Common-scnso agrees with sound military policy in bringing our men into battlo in fho order of their fitness."

To what extent American plans for mobilisation and training were altered at tho instance of the French Commission has not been made known. But it is evident that the general aim of the United States is to bring her strength to bear with a minimum of delay. Presumably she has sent trained soldiers to France under experienced officers and a tried leader with no other idea than that of getting them into tho trenches as soon as possible. It may bo assumed also that this pioneer division will beadequately reinforced, and that as the nucleus and foundation of a great army it will bo built upon as rapidly as conditions will permit. Whatever the lines may be upon which it is intended to carry out the enlargement of tho American Expeditionary Forco tho United States Government is shaping its war plans on.a most impressive" scale. The first conscripted draft of 500,000 men will not bo summoned until September ] but meantime volunteers are being enrolled in the National Guard and Regular Army in order to bring the latter up to its authorised strength of 292,000 men and the Guard to 500 000. When tho first compulsory draft enters camp at the beginning of September the United States will Have under arms a force of about 1 200,000 men. As. long ago as tno ond of May it was mentioned ma British official statement that forty thousand young Americans of the best type were assembled in sixteen camps to receive intensive training with a view to becoming officers .•.. tho new army. And this, as regains both officers and men, is only a, pcfinningMany other impressive features of tho American preparaons might bo noted, Aβ an outoomo of consultation with tho Anglo-

I French (.'omniisskms, compvcliciisivo plans liavu huun made for industrial mobilisation, including l.lw construction of thousands of miles of railways. Arrangements hav:: been niadu for the construction of 1)500 airplaues and the training of (5000 aviators this year. Much larger figures havo been mentioned in regard to aircraft, but in reports that arc in some degree open to suspicion. Ten thousand American doctors will be at the front long before the Expeditionary Force has been raised to its intended strength. The- commanding fact which tlic appearance of Geneeai, Pershiko's division in Franco will emphasise and bring home to the Allies, the enemy, and neutrals, is that this comparatively small force is the- advance guard of a mighty army which is dcsTmed to give the- Allies a decisive- preponderance of strength *in tho war.