Figure 1.--The Allied after America entered the WAr urgenrlyly requested troops to reinforce the WEstern Front. The problem was that there was no large American Army to send to France. Conscription was just initiated and it would take time to train and equip a large modern force. Some of the first American troops to be dispatched to France were National Guard troops, most of which were largely untrained. Here is comopany E of the Michigan National Guard leaving Pontiac, Michigan en route to FRance (June 1917)

Within days of the declaration of war, 13 April a British mission led by Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs Arthur J. Balfour and Lieutenant General Tom Bridges departed from Liverpool (April 13). The French sent a mission headed by former Premier René Viviani and Marshal Joseph Joffre. The two delegations had separate meetings with American officals. The made a number of requests and suggestions. Chief among them was the immediate need for American troops to bolster the Western Front. Losses on the Western Front had been enormous and the Allied badly needed replacements. The situation was especially dire for the French who Army was demoralized and near breaking. By 1917 the French Army was no longer capable of major offensuve operations. The problem was that there was no large American Army to send to France. Conscription was just initiated nd it would take time to train and equip a large modern force. Some of the first American troops to be dispatched to France were National Guard troops, most of which were largely untrained.

Created: 6:37 AM 1/11/2007
Last updated: 6:37 AM 1/11/2007