- " - ' " : . - .
APRIL 16, 1931
My I
By
(Ccpvright, 1931, in all countries h
the North American Newspaper Alliance.
World rights reserved,
including the Scandinavian.
Reproduction in whole or
in part prohibited.)
CHAPTER IV
My first and my only meeting wit
President Wilson until after the a
mi slice occurred on May 24, 191'
when 1 called on him with Seeretav
of War Baker. After some control
sation with Mr. Baker on shippin;
Mr. Wilson turned to me.
"General, we are giving you sotr
difficult tasks these days," said th
President,
"Perhaps so," I replied, "but tltt
is what we are trained to expect, M
President."
The President then mentioned m
experience in Mexico and inquire
about my acquaintance with Franc<
I had expected him to say somethin
about the part our army should pla
in the war. hut, hp said nothinir.
Promised Full Support
Upon leaving, I said: "Mr. Pres
dent. 1 appreciate the honor you hav
conferred upon me by the assigt
meni you have given me, and I rea
ize the responsibilities it entails, hi
you can count upon the best that
in me."
To this the President replied:
'General, you were chosen entir*
ly upon your record, and I have e\
i ery confidence that you will succeed
you shall have my full support."
The President then asked me t
convey to the King of England an
to the President of France his greet
nigs and best wishes. His manner \va
cordial with his poise and hi:, air n
f determination.
His assurance of confidence in m
was gratifying, but in the diffieul
situations that arose later regardin
the manner of aiding the Allies, h
was inclined to yield to the persist
| ent importunities of the Allied rei
resentatives in Washington.
In the actual conduct of operation
I was given entire freedom, and i
this respect was to enjoy an expe
rience unique in the history of Amei
ican wars.
Letter Making Him Chief
May 27, 1917, the day before
was to sail fronr New York, Secre
tary Baker sent me a letter of ir
structions concerning my commanc
authorities and duties in Europe
which is quoted in full:
"The President directs me to
communicate to you the following.':
"1. The President designates
you to command all the land
forces of the United Stales operating
in continental Europe
and in the TIniLed Kingdom of
Great Britain and Ireland, Including
any part of the Marine
Corps which may be detached for
service there with the army.
From your command are excepted
the military attaches and others
of the army who may be on
dutv directly with our' several
embassies.
"2. You will proceed with your,
staff to Europe. Upon arrival in
Groat Britain, Francfe or any other
countries at war with the imperial
German government, you
will at oneo place yourself in
y communication with the American
- embassy and through its
agency with the authorities of
any country to which'-the forces
of the United States may be sent.
"0. You are invested with the
authority and duties devolved by
the law, regulations, orders and
customs of the United States up
on rne commander ol uhy army
in the liold in time of war and
with the authority and duties in
like manner- devolved upon department
commanders in peace
? and war, including- the special
authorities and duties assigned
to the commander of the Philippine
Department, in so far as the
same are apolicable to the particular
circumstances of your
command.
U. S. Forces "Separate"
<J4. You will establish, after consultation
with the French war
office, all necessary bases, lines
of communication, depots, etc..
VVand make all Nthe incidental arrangements
essential to active
participation at the front.
;i5. In military operations
against the imperial German
government you are directed to
co-operate with forces of the other
countries employed against
ithe enemy; but in so doing the
underlying idea must be kept in
view that the forces of the United
States are a separate and dis
tinct component k>f the combined
forces, the identity of which
must be preserved. This fundamental
rule is subject to such
minor exceptions in particular
circumstances as your^ judgment
may approve. The decision as to
when your command, or any of
its parts, is ready for action is
confided to von. ?nH von will
exercise full discretion in determining:
the manner of co-operation.
But, until the forces of the
United States ore, in your judgment,
sufficiently strong to warrant
operations as an independent
command, it is understood
that you will co-operate as a
component of whatever army you
may be assigned to by the
French government.
"6. You will keep the department
fully advised of al! that
concerns your command and will
communicate your recommendations
freely and-directlv to the
department. And in general you
are vested with all necessary authority
to carry on the war vigorously
in harmony with the
spirit of these instructions and
toward a victorious conclusion.
(Signed)
-NEWTON D. BAKER."
Party Sails in Secrecy
Cn the date of my sailing, M
28, 1917, my party assembled
^XPERII
GENERAL JOHN J.
>y Governors Island, New York. All had
- been instructed to proceed with the
utmost secrecy, evert wearing1 civilian
clothes until they were aboard the
steamship Baltic.
Although we ourselves stole sii
lently out through the fog and down
I the bay, the large number of quar:h
termnsters' and other officers stars
tioned near New York dashing around:
7. in uniform rather ostentatiously that
y day really amounted to an announcer*
ment something out of the ordinary
was happening.
But it must be said to the credit
le of the press representatives that they
te were moat discreet, as the papers
generally published nothing about us
it until we were in Europe,
r. During the voyage most of mv time
I was spent in conference with the
y heads of staff departments rcgardd
ing their duties and plans.
- In the Danger Zone
? June 6 the Baltic began to zig-zag
and we realized we were in the danger
zone. Next morning an escort of
two American destroyers gave us
i- something of a thrill and fully ree
stored confidence. No submarines
1- were observed, however, and the
1- weather was perfect throughout the
it voyage.
is We steamed into Liverpool June
8. A cordial reception awaited us,
with a guard of honor from the Roy?
al Welch fusiliers. This selection had
- a sentimental significance in that the
1; regiment not only fought against us
at Bunker Hill but fought beside us|
o during the Boxer rebellion in China. |
d As we stepped off the gangplank the!
band played "The Star-Spangled |
s Banner' to welcome us, this being!
if the first time in history that an
American army ever was received of-!
e ficially in England.
It A royal coach attached to a speK
ciai train took our party to London.
e At Euston station we were welcomed
by Lord Derby, secretary of state j
J_ for war; Field Marshal Sir John
French, General Lord Brooke, Walter
s Hines Page, the American ambassa-;
n dor, Admiral William S. Sims, and
many other British and American officials.
r
King George Not Optimistic
I Was received by King George at
X Buckingham Palace on June 9; liis
!- Majesty was in the uniform of a
TTiieJfi marshal and lie talked with me
in democratic fastion for a few rninutes
before the other senior mem'
hers of my staff were presented. The
Charles G. Dawes in War-time
K in;\ expressed K;s pleasure that
America had come into the war, and
dwelt upon the fact that Anglo-Saxon}
people were united at last in a com-j
mon cause.
!. v "The Anglo-Saxon race must save j
I civilization," he added.
I Certainly His Majesty did not ap-j
! pear optimistic over the outlook, and
(asked me numerous questions about
America's preparation'for war.
Leaving the palace, we wenl to
our embassy and during an informal
talk Mr. Page remarked, how happy
he was that America was at last in
the war, and added:
"Now I am able to hold up my
head and look people squarely in the
eye."
Through his ^service as ambassador
he was beloved and honored by the
British people, who admired his virile
personality, but many Americans
did not approve of his rather apologetic
attitude toward his own country
prior to our entry into the war
in aid of the Allies.
Admiral Sims Not Satisfied
I had a talk with Admiral Sims.
| who was not in personal command of
our fleet serving with the British
navy, but remained in London with
an office at our embassy ar.d directed
the movements of our naval
vessels, especially destroyers, from
there.
He was not satisfied with the snpnnvt
Kirvi from L.. J ?
, v.. mxu iiuiii ui/iuc, ami tuiiiplained
that the Navy Department
had not sent all the destroyers asked
for. He said the department seemed
to fear attacks along our coast and
did not realize the danger to the
cause in the enormous destruction ot
merchant shipping going on in European
waters.
The admiral's report of these
losses .was nothing short of startling,
but he thought they might be checked
if he could have a sufficient number
of destroyers. Without more of this
class of vessels, Sims was not sanguine
over the propects of protecting
our transports. However, he made
it clear that every possible effort
would be made to that end.
CHAPTER V
I was a guest at luncheon at Buckingham
Palace on June 11, 1917, wit!
the American ambassador, Waltei
Hines Page, and Mrs. Page. The
King, the Queen and Princess Marj
Were present. There was an air ol
charm and simplicity at the palac*
ay that permitted a freedom and intiat
macy in the conversation. The plair
, ..
THE WATAUGA DEMOCRAT?RV
^nces
. PERSHING, Comma
Parade o the First Am
fare was quite in keeping with the!
food^ situation throughout England.
After luncheon the King, the ambassador
and I stood near a window
overlooking the garden which, his
Majesty explained, instead of grow
I ing flowers, was producing potatoes.
; The King told of the Kaiser's visit
j to London a few years before and
I how he had brought his chief of sc!
cret service along and put him up
at one of the hotels to leai \ all he
j could while the Kaiser himself was
a guest at Buckingham palace.
His Majesty spoke bitterly of the
inhumanity of the Germans, dwelling
especially on the night bombing
of London. Pointing to the beautiful
statue of Queen Victoria just outside
the window, the King suddenly exclaimed:
"The Kaiser, God damn him, has
even tried to destroy the statue of
his own grandmother."
For a moment 1 wax surprised at!
his words, hut I quickly realized that I
it was a solemn expression of profound
indignation, and not prolan-'
ity. I
Calls on Chief of Staff
After leaving the palace I called
on General Sir William Robertson,
chief of the imperial general staff.
He was a rugged, heavy-set, blunt
soldier, of Scotch descent, whose record
in the army had been exceptional
in that he bad risen from the grade
of private to his then high position.
As he sipped his tea I explained
oar plan for the organization of our I
armies by using the small regular
force and the National Guard as a
nucleus. As the British themselves '
had gone through the same experience
two venrs before, X stressed the J
fact that it wouid take considerable ,
.time. 3S.38e?S8i8! 'to i
Like all the British officials, he .
was much in favor of having our ]
forces serve wil.h or near their own. .
He pointed out that we were both '
Anglo-Saxons, spoke the same Iangunge,
and gave other reasons to
support his views.
It seemed necessary to explain in j
detail that as the American navy was i
working with the Eritish navy we
should probably plan to place our 1
army beside the French if there was :
to be any.; preference.-it appeared
logical that we should do this, as we
were to operate on French soil, and
use French ports, railways and mai
terial. The main thing, I went on
to say was to form our own army
as soon as possible for use wherever
it seemed best.
No British Aid :n Shipping
{ emphasized our lack of tonnage
and told him that we must have additional
shipping if We were to bring
over an army worth while, but his
I' reaction to this was not encouraging.
He said he thought it was entirely
out of the question for them to proI
vide us .with any British shipping, as
they were already-in sore straits to
find Vessels for their own national
necessities.
I called on Mr. David Lloyd George
the- prime minister. He went right to
the point and asked when troops
would be organized and trained and
the numbers we -expected to send
over. He was cordial enough and expressed
a desire to assist us in every
possible manner, but when I stressed
I our need of ttwidonpo ??
- ? " 1'' 111K ^ ^ ^
Fit . ' L/mft Bh IE
)?L :<
I * Jr ' H^S
ord Miyor of London Welcoming
aWfffflWgy'BBB Ty'^a
ERY THURSDAY?BOONK, N. C.
n the W
mder-in-Chief of the Am
___
^ 'h
icrican Troops in Paris.
our troops he did not seem to he
particularly interested and gave little
hope that the British would be
able to furnish us any shipping
whatever.
Under the circumstances the apparent
unconcern of the British as
to our need of shipping is not difficult
to understand. They were seriously
alarmed regarding their own
food situation. It seemed to me, however,
that they had allowed their
pessimism to carry them too far in
the direction of hopelessness. At the;
moment, they cotld see no relief for
the future and no prospect of aiding
us in tonnage.
Great Ovation in France
After leave-taking calls and numerous
informal visits, conferring
\n ith \arious leaders and making one
trip to a training camp, our party
left dune 1 :i for Folkestone and
A-iiiui-e. ?ai Douiognc we again received
an impressive welcome, and
a few hours later vvc- wc-re in Paris.
E?lhc officials who met. us at tht
station included M. Paul Painlove,
ixiinistev of war; Marshal Joseph
Jotfre, Rene Vivian, Major Genera!
Fuch, then chief of staff, and United
Slates Ambassador William (J. Sharp.
many ??thers. The station
was packed and the atmosphere
seemed electrified with pent-up enthusiasm.
Outside dense masses lined the
boulevards and filled the squares
along the route to our hotel, the
Crillon. Cheers and teers mingled as
men and women shouted acclaim.
Women climbed into our carriages
screaming "Vive l'Amerique" and
threw flowers until we were buried.
It was said that never before in
the History of Paris Had there been
such an outpouring oi people, I^was
to sec its parallel when the armistice
was signed and on two other occasions.
once when President Wilson
Arrived and later when the victory
parade took place, July 11, -1&1&.
At Napoleon's Tomb
Although I was very anxious to
jet to work, it was necessary for me
tier make certain df Tiffin 1 cnUc -SwA
attend a few entertainments that J
had been planned for us. The Frenchj
suggested that we should first go toi
Napoleon's tomb in Les Invalides. 1
We were taken down to the crypt,;
where I was handed the great key I
and was asked to unlock the heavy)
wrought iron entrance door. We were1
shown uniforms and the baton that
belonged to Napoleon and then His
sword. Our veteran escort reverently
removed the sword from the case
arid offered it to me, as if to transmit
some of the genius of the great
captain.
So much of French sentiment and
tradition 'are associated with this
tomb and its treasures that every
one who visits there with Frenchmen
must share their feeling of profound
emotion. This incident, move than
any other connected with my reception,
impressed me with the martial
spirit of the French people.
Find* Poincare Rejerved
I called next to |iay my respects
to President Po incare and to present
greetings from President Wilson.
"The French people are very happy,"
he said, "that America is in the
war. Your coining is a great satisfaction
to us."
jSSvSsjj I9L -$&gg|gj ^"* ^'j..<,\* ^4
I General Pershing to British Soil.
' -' ^^Cr'C-'.-^j:,; f -j^S38tj?r'-''. ' ""
SsXarai ?12$ ^^gr^r^ll
rORLD
ierican Expeditionary Foi
He inquired generally about our
plans, seeking, as they all did. some
assurance that we should soon be
in the trenches. His attitude was rather
formal and reserved, but he at
once impressed me as a man of ability
and force
Petain "Mont. Agreeable"
A visit to French general headquarters
at Compiegne was made,
primarily t.: meet General Petaini
and the officers of his staff. Petair.
is above medium height and weight.;
He wore a full mustache, slightly;
gray, and was then about sixty. He'
has a kindly expression and Is most;
agreeable, but not especially talkative.
His keen sense of humor became
apparent from the jokes he told aij
the expense of some of his staff. Qui
conversation after luncheon was almost
entirely on military affairs, including
America's probable part in
the war, which, as matters stood,
pave littie promise of becoming efI
tectiye until the following spring.
My impression of Petain was ?aj
vorable and it remained unchanged
| throughout the war. Our friendship.
which I highly treasure, had its be|
ginning at this meeting.
At the luncheon there were several
general officers, among whom
was Major General Franchet d'Esperey,
then in command of a group
of armies under Pelain. He was considered
one of the ablest and most
aggressive officers in the French
army and was *ery popular with his
men.
A;, we wished to get & glimpse of
the actual front he took us by motor
as near as possible without drawing
the fire of the enemy's artillery, although
at that time here was littb
activity 011 that part of the front.
The point of observation that we
reached was opposite St. Quenlin,
which was then within the enemy's
lines, and which was later near the
center of the great German drive of
1018 against the British.
On the return trip the chauffeur,
after being cautioned several times,
continued to drive at a somewhat
dangerous speed, which so exasperated
the general that he finally.
invearenefi tne chauffeur with violence.
whereupon the speed was
greatly reduced.
CHAPTER VI
As soon as the- formalities incident
to our arrival in Paris wore
over?and I madr them brief as
possible?we pot down to work, as
Pershing In Tin Hat.
it was urgent that wei should begin j
at tfnc'i to lay the foundation for
liic development and employment of
the American army. ?
To expedite liandline the many
questions that must arise, especially
I in our relations with the French war
! office, which controlled practically
1 all industrial facilities an<l>;tran3Poi>
tation, it was War Minister Paul
! Painleve's idea that there should he
I a group of French officers placed at
j our disposal.
Marshal Joffre was designated as
S head of this liaison group. The instructions
received by Marshal Joffve
from the minister of wav were
transmitted to me in a polite note.
Naturally, it was pleasing to think of
agmg associated with Marshal Jofire.
but I thought The adoption of the
plan at this time wouitj only add an
exua channel through which requests
must pass and that this would complicate
rather than simplify matters.
The scheme indicated that a sort
of tutelage was contemplated, which
) also made it objectionable.
I Only Beginning of Difficulties
j In my opinion, it would be more
j expeditious to utilize the French of!
ficers on duty at my headquarters
I and develop a workable system
through experience. I explained my
J views to M. Painleve and readily ar j
ranged for the officers of our supI
nlv nSwrfv>i* - -* - '* ''
,r... v.o^uio w twner uivectiy.
with the chiefs of the corresponding:
bureaus of the French organization.
But this was only the beginning and
we soon found that we bad much to
learn of the diffic<ies of dealing
with French bureaus, either directly
or indirectly,
j There was no question that binder
I the great enthusiasm the afteriibon
oi our arrival there existed serious
despondency among all classes. The
terrible strain of the previous years
of continuous fighting, with heavy
losses, was telling against both the
French and the British. Temporary
success in different theatres of war
had-brought small comforts, followed
as they nad been all too frequently
by disastrous reverses.
With actual conditions in mind,
one could fully understand why the
Allies had been so insistent that a
contingent of American troops he
immediately sent to France to bolster
their morale. While not yet prepared
to do any fighting, we could!
and did furnish men for Service behind
the lines. We also provided rawi
material and certain manufactured!
supplies as rapidly as possible and
'financial aid without stint.
THBEE
__________
War
rces
U. S. Inaction Shows Effect
The move serious the situation in
Fiance, the move deplorable the $?ss
of time by our inaction at home appeared.
it is true that a committee
at the war college in February had
presented a brief outline report on
the organization of a limited force,
yet no comprehensive general plan
had been considered for the formation
or employment of such a force,
much less for a larger one.
It was finally decided we -lumVi
use the ports of Bordeaux and St.
Xazuirc. It was likewise estimated
that the rail lines leading to
Lorraine sector, with collateral
routes available, could be improved t
meet our ne6ds.
Then it became necessary to determine
the sector where our forces,
1 fighting as a unit, would be more
! effective. After lengthy study and
j consultation with Allied leaders it
i was logical to conclude that from
liiv pureiy military .standpoint, the
employment of the American armies
oil the Lorraine front would prove
the most beneficial. In conference
with General Petain, who had reache t
, the same conclusion, the decision was
j made accordingly.
It was necessary to have a parj
ticulur sector in mind to plan dcfij
riitely ami construct requisite rail
and distributing facilities. It was
! tatively understood between General
j Petain and myself that the American
| sector should include the St. Mihiel
j salient. I suggested that the first
i American offensive would naturally
I be its reduction. He fully agreed,
j Place of Red Cro*s Decided
Major Grayson M. P. Murphy, the
i head of the Red Cross in France, and
: his assistant, James H. Perkins,
.called at my headquarters June IT,
I to discuss co-operation with the
j army. It was decided the Red Cross
j could best handle its work if given
a semi-official status, so Major Murphy
was attached to my headquarters.
It was the French situation that
gave me the gravest concern. Pacifist
sentiment was prevalent In
France and in many quarters there
I was talk o-1 a peace parley. 1'hLs
I pessimistic and despondent mood of
j the people further depressed the morale
of their armies as men at the
front contemplated another winter
of suffering and distress for their
families.
To help meet these conditions I
suggested to Major Murphy that the
first task of the Rod Cress should
be to aid needy French people. As
a result he and Perkins oroposed that
funds be distributed to soldiei-s' families
wherever necessary.
When the idea was presented to
I Oftttftrni l- - Si""""" ' "
oy * * pressed tne
keenest appreciation and at once nn|
dertook through his military |fiinanimation
to obtain the necessary data.
The Red Cross arranged to make
5,000,000 francs (nearly $1,000,000)
available to be distributed by local
charitable agencies as rapidly .as information
could he furnished as to
where funds should be sent.
Sees First Troops Arrive
I went to St. Mazaire June 28 to
meet the advance, elements of. the
First Division and inspect the feS.t?
The first suction of the First. Division
convoy had brought to St. Na
zaire the headquarters* the Sixteenth
fnfantry, two battalions of the 2Sth
Infantry, one battalion of the Fifth
Marines and some motor transport
troops and stevedores. To see the
naval transports and vessels flying
life American flag in the harbor gave
us all a thrill of pride. It was a pleasure
to meet the naval commander,
Rear Admiral Albert Qleaves, who
was to have general charge of the
convoy system.
The regiments of the division had
all served under my command at one
time 01: another. They were now,
I however, copiposed of a large peri
rentage of recruits and would have
| to go through u long period of trainj
ing. After a few days spent in the
cantonment at St. Naznire the infa.n- if
try of the division was sent to the
training: area of Govulrecourt, north ':^-r1
of Neuf chateau, and the artillery to
Valdshon, near Bel fort.
Arrival "Tipped Off'*
Major General William L. Sibert,
who had won distinction as an engineer
in the construction of the Panama
Canal, was in command of the
First.Division. . I
The two infantry brigades were
commanded by Brigadier Generals
R. L. Billiard and Omar Buddy; both
of whom had uiany years of line
service behind them, i had known nil
three of the general officers, as we
were cadets together at the academy,
although all belonged to classes
ahead of mine.
It had been arranged that the regulations
restricting reference to'the
Allied 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 array had
, really reached France, carried full
accounts of the arrival of this con{
v#w iMSsS~ ~ -
p..US me port 01 debarkation,
the designation of units and the number
of men.
Tighten on Censorship
; The publication of this piece of
! news was in open controvert#on of
: the censorship rules and called for
immediate, step's" to prevent farther
infractions. My vigorous protest resulted
in our placing in the French
press bureau 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
j our people from obtaining a clear
I and contemporaneous conception of
I the great and often brilliant achievei
merits of our armies and left such
! knowledge to be gleaned from meager
accounts by participants or from
the later writing of historians. It was
I unfortunate that such rules had to
] be enforced as otherwise rnuen that
might have been published at the rime
1 may never be known, but there was
| nothing else to be done without se1
rious risk. (Continued nnxt week)