The Tacoma times. [volume] (Tacoma, Wash.) 1903-1949, 1917-07-20
By Gibson Gardner

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WASHINGTON, ID. c., July 20.
American soldiers are going to
France just as fast as transports
can be pressed into service to take
them.
Just how fast this will be is
somewhat problematical. If there
were enough transports available
now, and the situation in respect
Of cargo ships were satisfactory,
1t is probable the great bulk of the
regular army and the federalized
militia would be in France with
In the next few months.
Cargo ships are just as import
ant as transports, as the amount
of supplies that must be taken to
France for an army of any con-
siderable size is tremendous.
BEND Every Energy
or course, 1t would be more
than folly to send troops to Europe
any faster than they can be sup
piled with food, munitions, trans
port of every character and the
thousand and one things that go
to make up the complete equip
ment OF a modern army.
The war department, from
the secretary down, is work.
ing with almost superhuman
energy to overcome what at
times seems insurmountable
obstacles to land an effective
fighting force I'm France at
the earliest possible moment.
| Up to few weeks ago 1t was
net thought good strategy to send
more American soldiers to France
this year than was necessary to
evidence our good faith to our al
lies and for moral effect on Ger
many.
The allies had about given up
all hope OF landing the Knockout
blow on Germany this year.
Then Russia Strikes.
Russia's ability to renew an Of
fensive on the eastern front was
! doubted, and 1t was thought
America could best contribute to
the final overthrow of the kaiser
by diverting all possible shipping
to the feeding of her allies and
supplying them with necessary
war material, while training her
armies here.
suddenly Russia, contrary to
expectations, gathered herself to.
/ gether and began to strike. Then
came well authenticated rumors
of great dissatisfac tion and un-
rest among the people of Ger
many.
The possibility of defeating
|; Germany THIS YEAR again
claimed the attention of the
allied strategists, aad il was
decided to press The cucInv
on every front and try to
force a decision.
1t is not too much to say that the
allies hope the German people are
sufficiently disheartened SO that
six months pounding on all
fronts will convince them they are
doomed to certain defeat, and
cause them to turn against their
rulers.
UNDER THESE SUDDENLY
CHANGED CONDITIONS. 1T
WAS DECIDED THAT AMERI-
CA COULD DBFST CONTRIB
UTE TO THE END SOUGHT BY
ADDING TO THE ALLIES
STRENGTH ON THE WEST
ERN FRONT AS LARGE AN
ARMY AS POSSIBLE DELIV-
FRED AS SOON AS POSSIBLE.
The reason for this is only
partly military. The bigger rea-
son is to prove to the German
people that their rulers lied TO
them when they told them
America would fight only with
her dollars, and could not send
more than a handful of soldiers to
Europe in less than two years.
! When the news filters into
Germany that shipload after ship
load Of American soldiers are
landing in France a year and a
half before the kaiser and Won
Hindenburg said they could, 1t IL
going to be pretty hard to restore
the morale OF the German people
at least this is the reasoning of
the allied strategists and states-
men, and it seems both rational
and logical
While IL is impossible to
get any figures from the war
department, IL is probable
there will be 100000 Ameri-
can soldiers I'm France before
the snow flies. It is Posi-.
BILE there will be twice that
number.
The Pershing expedition is
merely the advance guard. Per-
shing has half a division, about
$4,000 men. This will be made 4
whole division; after which a
division of militia will follow and
to be followed by a division of
regulars, and SO on.
Get German Ships.
It has not yet been determined
in what order the militia divisions
will be sent.
The militia has been formally
called to the colors. The presi-
dents proclamation names Aup-