AMERICA PREPARING A DIVISION FOR FRANCE

Auckland Star, Volume XLVIII, Issue 120, 21 May 1917, Page 5

AMERICA PREPARING A DIVISION FOR FRANCE

COMPULSION EFFECT ON ROOSEVELT'S VOLUNTEER AIM

WASHINGTON-. May 20. ,

The War Department announces that one division will lie dispatched to Krance as soon as practicable, under the leadership of General I'ershing. Ihe first I nited States contingent, a medical unit, has arrived in Britain.

Roth Houses have passed the Army Bill, which provides for conscription. The President, before signing the bill, remarked that it refused Mr. RooseVelt permission to raise volunteers. A recruiting campaign would seriously interfere with the carrying out of the chief and most immediately important purposes contemplated by the Legislature, and would contribute practically nothing to the strength of the Allied armies. He would be glad to send the ex-President, who had rendered most conspicuous public service, to France, but this was no time to pay compliments. The business in hand was not dramatic, but of practical and scientific definiteness.

SEASONED TROOPS IN FIRST DRAFT.

(Received 8.40 a.m.) , WASHINGTON, May 2(1.

General Pershing's command consists of 25,000 men, exclusively regulars, and probably including those who have seen, service in Mexico,'also 2,.->OO marines who were recently on active service in Havti and Cuba.-(A. and N.Z. Cable.)

The newspapers generally approve the dispatch of the Expeditionary Force to France. Colonel Doyen commands the marine section.—(A. and X.Z.)

The troops who were out on the Mexican border bad eight months' experience of actual warfare. They marched behind Pershing in pursuit of "\ ilia_ rnlding forces to Parial. 1100 miles from the border, and during the whole expedition proved themselves to bo the right stamp for lighting in the open. keen, resourceful, well-disciplined, and full of light. They had a good supply of machine-guns and armoured cars, and had ample practice in handling the weapons which they will be called upon to use in Europe. General Pershing was born in Montana in 1800, and after being educated as a lawyer. joined the army at the age of 20. In his first year of service he fought the Apache Indians, and four years later was in the Sioux campaign. He "server, in Cuba during the Spanish and American war. and in the Philippines from iSOO to 1003. He was afterwards appointed military attache to .lapan. and was with Kuroki's army in Manchuria. Later he returned to the Philippines to assist in crushing the revolt of the Morns, and was in command on the Mexican border when Villa started his raids. , , ,