South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1917-08-05
SAYS FRANCE
MIGHTIER NOW
THAN EVER
High Commissioner Declares
Nation Has 3 Million Men
in Field, Backed by
Thousands of Guns.
Associated Press Service

Associated Press Service
WASHINGTON. Aug. 4.-France
is stronger today in lighting men and
war materials than at any time dur
ing the war. despite three years of
terrific combat Of which the greatest
share among the allies has fallen 70
the French armies.
This is the cheering message 10
the American people given tonight
10y Andre Tardieu high commits
sioner Of France i'm the United
States. i'm a formal communication
10 Sec'y Baker. setting forth a
detailed statement Of what the
devotion OF the French people has
made possible. IL contains stunning
figures as 10 the men. guns and
money they have contributed 10 the
war. Ii breathes the spirit Of con-
fdcnce and high courage that still
animates the nation.
1t asserts without hesitation that
the United States is to aid in strik-
ing the last blow at the foe.
Such is the situation" says NJ.
Tardieu. in conclusion. Severe was
the ordeal: stronger is the national
energy.
Last Blow Up To America.
Now it is question of striking
the last blow 10 the adversary. You
will help us.
But at the moment when Ameri-
can soldiers arrive in France. il is
proper 10 let them know what they
will find TO relieve them. in a
country which today. as well as dur
ing the past three years. bears the
principal exertion Of our dreadful
foe; a country which maintains 10
the maximum OF her power. without
hesitation and without weakness, her
strength. her means. and her will %
Sec'y Baker pays high compli-
ment 20 the spirit Of France i'm
his brief reply. American officers
are unanimous he says. i'm their
praise of the splendid courage and
military efficiency Of the French peo-
pile
contribute soldiers and material 10
this war" saws the secretary. cit
will be We'll for our people 10 have
the story YOU have told. i'm order
that we may realize that our army
is going 10 share the imperisha Bile
glory which belongs 20 the soldiers
Of France and her allies. who have
fought so long and with such in
creasing spirit and determination i'm
the cause Of liberty
3.OOO.OCO Troops on Front.
A. Tardieu says i'm his statement
that there are today nearly 5000. 900
French troops i'm the zone OF the
armies alone. exclusive of those i'm
the zone Of the interior and the col
onies. That is a million more men
than We're used 70 stem the German
flood tide at the Marine and the
greatest number France has ever
mu~tered in the fighting zone. The
commissioner adds that the force
can he maintained for long time
TO come"
He shows that French definite
casualties" i'm killed and prisoners,
have dropped from Sal per cent Of
all modified forces at the battle Of
the Marine TO 12S per cent during
the last six months OF 1916; that
France is hoidi1e 574 kilometres of
the 739 Kilometres on the western
front and that her troops in June Of
this year were facing 81 OF the 1913
German divisions concentrated on
that line.
Thousands of guns.
As 10 guns, the commissioner
shows that French armies have had
an ample supply Of the famous 75's
from the first and that her 800 heavy
guns in August. 1914, had increased
20 5000 in June. 1917, giving one
heavy gun for every 20 metres OF
the French offensive fronts this year
Including all field and trench guns,
he SAYS. there is a gun for every
eight metres I'm the sector or attack.
M n r Z % )()( ; {
To feed the "75's" the daily out
NM az shells has risen from 1900
in 1914 10 a quarter Of a miIiion
today and 100000 projectiles for the
heavy guns are supplied each uay
in addition. During the last often
sives a total weight Of projecules
averaging 1,442 Kilograms (about
11-2 tons) was hurled into every
lineal meter OF the German trench
es assaulted and 1900, 600 shells OF
all calibres were expended by
French guns. IN addition 10 all this
France completely re-eQuipped and
re-armed the Belgian, Serbian and
Greek armies and furnished SUI
heavy guns 20 her allies.
on the financial side. the tables
show that France has expended So
647. O0O.000 francs (nearly $4,000
000. 0OO) since the war began. Dur
ing the war she received from for
eign countries 5000. COOS 600 francs
and loaned 20 several OF her allies
four billion francA