commendations to American gov
ernment today meet approval of the
administration.
It became known today that the
allies want American troops in
batches of several .hundred, to go at
once to Europe aboard every ship
that sails.
This will obviate necessity for con
centration of enormous masses of
men in one place and crippling of
food and munitions ships to carry
them.
Allies want mobilized national
guard units which were at border,
because they feel these men were
equipped by their border work to go
at once to western front and train
within sound of big guns, so they will
be temperedfor battle in not longer
than five weeks.
Definite settlement of this troop
question is expected shortly.
All our European allies, it became
known today, would be delighted
v silent as they were about it until
Joffre spoke to have any kind of an
American army at the front, even
untrained men, to be trained there.
Speculation as to what troops
would be sent should it be decided to
send them opens a wide range of
possibilities, some of which are:
To send 2,000 marines.
Or two battalions of regular army
men.
Or a similar number of picked mi
litia. Or a force of men such as Roose
velt wants to lead.
Today's developments indicated
clearly that there is strong pressure
for sending an,American expedition
ary force abroad and soon.
This pressure, as has been demon
strated at the Capitol during the past
few days, conies from congress and
from many sections of the country
as well as in the Joffse plea of yes
terday. These American troops, allies have
assured this government, will not be
fused with French. English. Russian
Indian or other troops, but will fich
1 as American units under their own
colors.
The allies recommendations today
were intended to wean this country
away from idea that before American
troops go abroad they must be train
ed here for months. They pointed to
failure of the one and one-half years
training system of Canada.
Canadian troops after this long
course, went to Europe in large units ,
and while considered ready to fight,
had to go through the five weeks in- '
tensive training within sound of the
guns just the same.
o o
JACKIES PERISH WHEN U-BOAT
SINKS AMERICAN LINER
London, April 30. America may
have lost her first fighting forces in
the war with Germany in the torpe
doing of the American armed oil
tanker Vacuum Saturday.
Lieut. Thomas, U. S. N., in com
mand of the gun crew, and nine of
his men were among missing report
ed today. Capt. Harris and 17 of the
boat crew also unaccounted for.
Three naval gunners were among
those saved. Those rescued includ
ed chief mate and 17 men. in alL
Message telling of torpedoing read:
"Vacuum torpedoed 28th, 140
miles west of Barra. No. 1 lifeboat
with captain and others drowned.
No. 2, with chief officer and 16 oth
ers, savedr ,
New York. The Vacuum was for
merly known as the Baymon. At the
company's offices it was stated she
had discharged her cargo at Liver
pool and was homeward bound when
attacked. x
The Vacuum was of 1,992 tons.
She carried two guns, forward and
aft, in charge of a naval gun crew.
The Vacuum had a crew of 34. She
has been carrying oil to Europe since
1914.
i-l
Mayor Thompson refused to hand
out any pro-German talk today. Said
he had not been summoned by U. S.
officials and didn t expect to be.
dt