Colonel House to Woodrow Wilson
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The White House,
Washington
Dear Governor
What Sir William and others have told me concerning the lack of coordination of our interests in France and their constantly increasing magnitude, leads me to suggest a plan looking towards a more orderly outcome.
It is clear that Pershing should confine his activities solely to the molding our Army into an efficient fighting machine and directing it against the enemy. If he does this well, he will have done more than any Allied commander has yet done. There was no excuse for these recent German successes on the Western Front. We had as many menbetter men and better equipment. The failure has been with the higher command. The Germans have proven themselves greatly superior in generalship and in staff organization. The drive of caught the Allies napping, and the success of the present drive shows that our command learned but little from the first one. It does not much matter how many men we send over, if in the end they are not under leadership measurably equal to that of the Germans.
If Pershing had nothing else to think about I doubt whether he has the capacity to build up a staff adequate to the needs of the occasion. Certainly, he can never do it under present conditions. The French are the only ones of the Allies that have proven themselves at all equal to the task. The English have failed, and we will do no better unless we get at the problem now.
Our Civil War teaches a lesson which we should take to heart. The South by superior generalship repeatedly defeated the North, and no one knows better than you how much inferior both in numbers and equipment were the Armies of the South.
A beginning has been made to better conditions by the appointment of a Generalissimo, but I doubt whether Foch's authority goes far enough. There are indications that Haig and Pershing, to say nothing of Petain, assert themselves almost as positively as they did before. I doubt whether complete unity of command can be brought about until you, Clemenceau and Lloyd George insist that the commanders in the field subordinate themselves to Foch. This might lead, probably would, in the case of Haig, to a change in command.
What I have in mind to suggest to you is that Pershing be relieved from all responsibility except the training and fighting of our troops. All his requirements for equipping and maintaining these troops should be on other shoulders. He should be relieved of all questions of policy except where his opinion is asked. There should be no need for him to be in consultation with the Prime Ministers and Foreign Secretaries of England France and Italy. He should be in touch with Foch, and Foch should be in touch with these. Foch should build up the military end of the Supreme War Council and use it as an important part of the General Staff. It amounts to next to nothing now.
To give Pershing the free hand necessary I would suggest sending Stettinius over in his capacity as Assistant Secretary of War, and put him in charge of all army work behind the lines. I would suggest sending Vance McCormick over and making him Chairman of the American Board Overseas. His activities would be to bring about coordination between Crosby, Stettinius, Stevens, Skinner and any others that are now there or may be sent. His headquarters should be in Paris, but he should go to London when necessary. He should keep in touch with you and keep you informed as to vital matters.
I may not have outlined the best plan of procedure, but it would do to start with, and until a better one could be brought about after trial and further experience.Magnolia, Mass..P. S. Until I read your address to Congress on the new revenue bill, I did not think it possible that so prosaic a subject had in it possibilities for such an appeal to the idealism and patriotism of a people.
E. M. House
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