The daily commonwealth. (Greenwood, Leflore Co., Miss.) 1916-1919, 1917-08-30
SENDING TROOPS TO FRANCE.

s SENDING TROOPS TO FRANCE.
y We frequently hear or read that it is the inten-
ton to have 1000, 900 American soldiers in France
by the summer of 1918; some particularly optim-
ist;c persons make it the spring of that year.
It is worth nothing that such statements breed
false hopes, and the history of nations clearly
show that false hopes are an unmitigated evil.
Of course, we can put 100000 soldiers in
France-but not so quickly.
Best information obtainable in Washington, ac-
cording to a reliable correspondent whose touch
with officials is particularly close is that an army
of 1000, 900 or even SOC, 900 men in France in six
months is not possible. This correspondent de-
clares that Washington officials do not anticipate
being able to send more than 10000 men a month
to France for a year, and this number is the max
imum estimate; the actual figure might be less.
It must be remembered that ren sent to France
must be supported with supplies, and a constant
stream of material must be kept moving in their
direction. The more men we get to France, the
greater the drain on shipping ON this source.
Our policy in the dispatc', OF troops will be
controlled altogether by the tonnage situation.
We might send more than 10000 troops a
month to France were it not For the fact that it is
to supply coal, iron and provisions to
England, France, Italy, Russia and the smaller
allied nations; also feed Belgium and maintain
communications with South America, though the
Hast item is a small one.
On the basis of 5000 troops a month, then,
we would have something more than 100000
troops in France at the present moment, which
probably is a larger number than most people i'm
agine.
"a n "a "a IA m p
SUBMARINE STILL A PERIL.
One no longer hears as much about the kais'
er's sea snakes as we once did, but it is evident
they are still levying tribute upon the worlds
shipping.
Contemporary reports by the allies on shipping
losses indicate that the average is being main
tanned; and sinking of the important liner Devon
ian of the Leyland line, a vessel Of more than 10,
900 tons, indicates further that the worlds shipp
ing is constantly meeting with German ruthless
ness on the high seas of a character to make US al
thoughtful.
Despite our ship-building plans and programs
it takes time to construct vessels, and meanwhil
the U-boats remain busy. One would think SOM
antidote could be found, but since the construction
of the newer type of submarines the ~so-callet
"sub-chasers" have proven fiasco; for what doe
it benefit small "chaser" to come up with a sub
marine when the latter is so large that it shoe
the small craft away? That's the situation ex
F actly in regard to the new type of U-boats, and i
what complexities the problem, and is at the bot
tom of Secretary Daniels order that the %construc
I ton of destroyers be vastly augmented, as a de
stroyer, unlike the small "sub-chaser," is able t
cope with a diver when it meets one.
n "a n IA "a
8 RUSSIANS AGAIN IN TROUBLE.
1t might have been expected that the kaise
would continue picking on Russia. When we cor
D slider the deplorable situation in Slavdom-the lac
s of coordination among the factions of population
the serious unrest among peasants and soldier
and the instability of the political situation
j. appears a huge task for the Russians to hew
r the line.
Kerensky undoubtedly is a great man; bl
There is the probability that the task is too heav
n for even such a wonderful leader of men. An
o so Hindenburg, noting the perpetual weakness
the allied armies on the eastern front, has eviden
lily decreed that conditions are ripe for anoth'
e thrust.
9 Coming at a time when the Anglo-French ha,
been in the midst Of a big drive on the weste1
front, it is evident that the German commando
10 in-chief is willing to risk severe beating on tt
,e west in order to gain a better advantage on Il
least.
"A "a
ID This slick one from the Kokomo, Ind, Tribur
caught our eye: Frank Gerhart, the druggist, h
discovered that the potato bug is a German