The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1917-04-12
j. S. A. ABROAD
Is IMPOSSIBLE
Allies Unable to Feed Armies.
Men Would Be a Burden.

In the excitement of these DAYS all
sorts of nonsensical ideas are current
about raising and sending large armies
to Europe to fight against Germany.
An army of a million men in the
trenches is the favorite suggestion,
though the numbers run sometimes as
high as 100000 to 5000, coo men. To
put any such army in the field across
the water is an utter impossIbility. In
fact, if there is any agitation for any
such military adventure it may be set
down as pro-German, tor nothing could
be more injurious to the Allies than to
divert large numbers from productive
occupations here, or to employ a large
part OF our shippi z to send armies
abroad and maintain them in Europe.
Shipping is the big consideration.
1t was probably the cost in shipping
as much as anything else that checked
the effort of the Allies at Salonica.
Mr.. Hoover, of the American Commits
sion for the Relief of Belgium, when
he was here said that the British had
found it required four and one-half
tons Of shipping to maintain one man
in the field at Salonica. This was not
to send trooper there, but to main
tain him after he was there; that is,
to feed him, to munition him, to clothe
him, to keep up a hospital service and
supply all the other needs of a soldier
in active duty. Salonica is long way
from England. France is only short
way, but England has found that it re-
quired two tons of shipping to keep each
soldier of hers on the West front, only
guess is possible as to the tonnage of
shipping required to maintain an Ameri-
can army in Europe. The guess down
here runs as high as eight tons per man,
WHICH seems excessive, until you con-
slider that 1t takes two tons per man
just across the English Channel.
Some figuring has been done here on
what it would mean to put half a mil
lion American soldiers in France. It
would take all the shipping we now
possess suitable for the purpose, in
Guiding vessels now in coastwise trade
and all the ships now building which
will be finished in year, ten.months to
transport 500, 900 men to France along
with the arms, ammunition. supplies,
stores. food and other necessities suf-
ficient to last two months.
This is the estimate of military ex-
pert. 1t means that year from now,
when we have half million men train
ed, by using all our available shipping
for nearly year more we can get
them in the field along with two
months supplies. If we can maintain
them in the field with the tonnage re-
CURED TO maintain English troops at
Salonica, 2,25O,OOO tons Of shipping
constantly busy would keep our half
million men in food and other supplies.
If the estimate of eight tons per man
is correct, it would take 1000, 900 tons
of shipping to keep them fed, clothed
and munitioned.
To divert any large amount of our
shipping to transporting and supplying
troops would mean that England and
France would starye, or that the troops
of England and France in the field
would 20 without military supplies. The
danger Of hurrah over a big army, as
sane friends Of the Allies here see it. is
that the country will feel that it is do
ing its full duty in raising such an
army, whereas the real problem is one
ships, and more ships, and then again
more ships to make up for the destruc-
ton of the submarines. and perhaps
finally to enable US to send men abroad,
and also the raising and the economical
use of food so that our allies, even if
there is bad harvest again, may not
go hungry. Food control and ship
building are much less satisfying to the
emotions than army raising, but in this
case they are many times more I'M
portant.