Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1917-11-24
MOVEMENT ACROSS WATER
MEETS ALL EXPECTATIONS
OF WAR DEPARTMENT.
NUMBER WILL NOT BE
ANNOUNCED DURING WAR
Ships and Men Combined As Soon as
Ready, Says Secretary 6aker-Iar,Hs
for American Army Expected to Be
Important Factor-British Tanks
Prove Worth.

Washington, Nov. 24.-Arrival OF
American troops in France has kept
pace with the expectation OF the war
department, Secretary Baker said last
night in the first statement he has ever
authorized in connection with the
progress being made in increasing Cen
eral Pershing's forces.
Mr. Baker declined, however. 70 state
the number of troops forwarded or to
indicate whether he expected delay
from this time. Movement of the
forces. he said. depended on two ele-
ments the training and equipment of
the men and the availability Of ships.
Combine Ships and Men.
'As fast as they are ready, ships
and men will be combined" the secr2-
tary said. As many American troops
are now overseas as We expected in
the beginning to have overseas at this
time
Mr., Baker Indicated that an official
statement of the number OF American
troops in France was not to be expected
at any time during the war.
He caused an inquiry to he made of
The military censor, Major General Nc
Intyre however which may result in
more liberal regulations as 10 publica-
ton of the designations of regiments,
brigades or companies which are en-
gagged in action on the front from time
to time
If there is no sound military reason
for suppressing that information, Mr..
Baker SAID he desired TO give it out.
The secretarys attention was called
to the fact thai the British official
statements recently have named at
least By geographical designation the
troops used in various Ofse-s!ves. APP
parently a new policy in this regard
has been adopted in London and the
war department may do likewise.
Tanks For Americans.
Tanks for the American army are
expected to be as effective IN every
way as those used by the British in
their great drive. il was learned yes
terday. altho no details Of construction
or as TO the number Of machines being
built We're available.
Secretary Baker refused TO discuss
the subject either in general or spe-
Cific terms. There is every reason to
believe. however, that substantial prog
ress has been made in prod ucing fight
ing machines that erbody all that the
British and French authorities have
learned Of this type Of war engine.
II IS an open secret that some
American officers have not. up 10 this
time. at least. regarded the tanks as
forces in view Of the difficulties OF
transportation and the ponderous char
acter Of the tank equipment. There
also has been some question heretofore
as to their actual military value.
British Prove Worth.
British experience past and present
is believed 10 have made it certain,
however, that tanks will do their shars
on the American lines when a sector
in France IS taken over by General
Pershing.
The tanks developed numerous weak
nesses when first tried out by the Brit
!sh. They were very slow, sometimes
holding up the advance Of the infantry
TO a dangerous degree. and also showed
a fondness for blowing their noses into
mud banks and sticking there until
hauled out by other machines.
There are indications, however. that
the new British tanks. and also the
French. are great improvement owe
the first models in both speed and
general mobility.