The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1918-08-17
Department Plans To Have
100000 by Next June.
The 1,45O,O00 Include Those
Sent to Russia, Siberia, Italy.
AMERICANS NOT SINGLED OUT
Captured Yanks Treated Same
as British and French.
Heavy Casualties. Must Be Ex-
pected From Battle.

Washington, Aug. 17.-Total Amer
ican troops in Europe and en- route
now number 1.450,O0O, Chief of staff
March is quoted as having told men,
bers of the senate military committee
today. 1t is hoped to have 100000
in Europe by June of next year, COM
mittee members said.
Speed with which American soldiers
are being sent to Europe is again on
the increase, due to improved facili-
ties. Because of the high speed at
tanned earlier in the summer some de-
lays of transports for repairs have re-
Gently been necessary.
Includes Troops to Siberia and Italy.
March said that the 100000 Amer
leans which have left this country to
fight, include those to France, Siberia,
Italy and Russia proper.
In the future all figures of Ameri-
can eXpeditionary forces will include
those sent to all parts of the world,
March stated.
High praise of American valor in
action has been given by French COM
manders, March said.
American Troops Praised.
The second artillery brigade, which
is a part of the second division, which
operated at Chateau Thierry, received
the praise of the French.
In the days of severe fighting which
these troops experienced, their quail
ties of energy, ability and devotion
won high respect of their French
comrades, March said.
General March announced that Adjt.
Gen. H. T. Mccain, in recognition OF
/ his efficient work on this side, would
be placed in command of the Twelfth
division at Camp Devens, Massachu-
settS.
He will be succeeded by Brig Gen.
Peter Harris, who will be acting ad-
/ iutant general. Harris has shown
great efficiency in handling the mus
/ ter rolls, March said.
The Eightieth division is now in
training with the British in Flanders
and the Eighty-second division is
. holding a part of the line north of
/ Toul.
| The S2eth Field artillery has not yet
| been enga ged in action. American
| troops in Italy have not been put into
! the fighting.
Americans Not Singled Out.
! Reports that American prisoners in
+. Germany have been singled out for
/ bad treatment were denied by March.
/ who said that after careful inveStiga-
| tion thru Spanish representatives,
! American prisoners had been found to
/ be treated the same as those of otner
allied nations
| The men were inspected, unan-
nounced by the Spanish representa-
! tives, March said.
! When congress reconvenes a num-
ber of brigadier generals will be Iec-
commended for promotion to the --ank
| of major general, March said.
| Heavy Casualties to Come.
| Among those singled out for bril-
! liant work was Major General Dun
can. who was the first officer to re-
/ ceive the French croix de guerre.
! Warning that heavy casualties are to
| be expected from the fighting was
| given when March declared that the
| 10th regiment of the Twenty eighth
| division, containing many Pittsburgh
| men, had been in extremely heavy
fighting, for over two weeks, and that
| casualties would be commensurate
with the fighting.
Only Local Fighting Now.
The general fighting has become
largely local within the last few days,
March said. The Germans have been
retreating gradually and consolidating
their lines along the 1916-1917 front,
and there has been little material
change in the situation.
Resistance by the Germans has
been stronger and allied attacks are
more or less isolated.
General March pointed out that for
the fourth time in the present often
given up lines, the last instance being
part of a small sector near Al
bert, which sector was evacuated vol
unfairly by the Germans and taken
possession of by the British
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