The Bamberg herald. [volume] (Bamberg, S.C.) 1891-1972, 1917-08-09
FRANCE is STILL STRONG.
Well Able to Bear Her Part in War.
News for Americans.

stronger TO-DAY IN nSntlnS men an(
war material than at any time durlnS
thewar, despite three years OF ter
rifle combat OF which the Creates
share among the allies has fallen tt
the French armies.
This is the cheering message to the
American people given tonight b!
Andre TardieU. high commissioner O.
France in the United States. in for
NAL communication to Secretary Bak
er setting forth a detailed sJatemen
of what the devotion OF the French
people has made possible.
1t cotains stunning figures as tc
the men, guns and money they have
contributed TO the war. It breathes
the spirit of confidence and high cour'
age that still animateS the nation.
1t asserts without hesitation that
the United States is to aid in striking
the last blow at the foe.
Such is the situation" says NJ
Tardieu in conclusion. Severe was
the ordeal; stronger in the national
emergency.
Nov it is a question Of striking
the last blow to the adversary. You
will help rs.
But at the moment when American
soldiers arrive in France, it is proper
to let them know what they will find
to receive them, in country which
today as we'll as during the past three
years bears the principal eXertion OF
our dreadful foe; a country which
maintains. to the maximum Of her
power, without hesitation and With
out weakness. her strength, her
means and her will
Compliment to France.
Secretary Baker pays high compli-
ment to the spirit OF France in his
brief reply. American officers are
unanimous. he says, nj their praise OF
the splendid courage and military eff
ficiency of the French people.
Now that America has begun to
contribute soldiers and matrials to
this war" says the secretary, 1T will
be we'll for our people to have the
story you have told, in order that we
may realize that our army is going to
share the imperishable glory which
belongs to the soldiers of France and
her allies who have fought so long
and with such increasing spirit and
determination in the cause of liber-
ty."
NJ. Tardieu says in his statement
that today there are nearly 3,OOO,O 900
French troops in the zone of the
armies alone, exclusive OF those in the
zones of the interior and the colonies.
That is million more men than were
used to stem the German foodtide
at the Marne and the greatest num-
ber France has ever mustered in the
fighting zone. The commissioner adds
that the force can be maintained "for
a long time to come"
He shows that French definite
casualties" in killed and prisoners
have dropped from 4.4l per cent. OF
all modified forces at the battle OF
the Marne, to 1.2S per cent. during
the last six months Of 1916; that
France is holding SIS kilometers of
the 739 kilometers on the Western
front and that her troops in June this
year were facing 81 Of the 1913 Ger
man divisions concentrated on that
line.
Lots of Guns Too.
AS to guns, the commissioner
shows that French armies had an
ample supply of the famous los from
the first and that her 800 heavy guns
in August, 1914, had increased to
5000 in June, 1917, giving one heavy
gun for every 2G meters OF the French
offensive fronts this year. Including
all field and trench guns. he says,
there is, gun for every eight meters
in the sector attack.
To feed the 73s, the daily output
of shells has risen from 1900 in
1914 to quarter of million today
and 100000 projectiies for the heavy
guns are supplied each day in addi-
ton. During the last offensive to-
tai weight Of projectiles averaging
1,442 Kilograms (about l 1-2 tons)
was hurled into every lineal meter OF
the German trenches assaulted and
100000 shells of all calibres were
expended by French guns. In addl'
ton to all this, France completely re-
equipped and rearmed the Belgium