The Meridian times. (Meridian, Idaho) 1909-1938, 1918-04-12
UNITED STATES At
WAR ONE YEAR
Expansion Of Armed Forces Out
standing Feature Of Period.
1873, s24 MEN IN THE ARMY
officlai Review Of Twelve Months
Activities Shows What Various
Departments Of Government
Have Done.


The United States has been an ac-
tive participant in the great world war
for one year. At the opening Of the
second year the government commit
tee on public information has issued a
review Of tho first twelve months Of
hostllities, showing what has been
done by various branches Of the gov
eminent to place the United States In
position TO play an effective part In
tho ultimate defeat of Germany and
her allies. The committee on public
information says that all statements
contained ia the following summary of
the review are authorized by the war
department, navy department, United
States shipping board and treasury
department.
The outstanding feature Of the FIRST
year OF war, 1t is pointed out
in the review, has been the transfor-
nation OF the standing army and Ma
tlonal Guard. composed OF 1924 Off
Gers and 02,51O men into lighting
force that now aggregates 123,S0l Of
ficers and 1,52s,924 enlisted men.
statement of the adiutant general
shows that the regular army which in
April. 1917, comprised 5,791 officers
and 121 ,797 men. now is made up Of
10.6gs officers and sos, 142 men. The
National Guard in April. 1917, includ-
ed 1888 officers and 76,718 men, while
now It comprises 1898 officers and
49l ,5S8 men. The reserve corps In
service one year ago included 1000
men. Now It includes e6,210 officers
and 1880 men. The National army,
which did not exist one year ago, now
Includes SIG. $50 men.
A substantial vanguard military
expedlency prohibiting publication of
actual numbersl of this army Is meet
ing the enemy In France today or is en-
camped there awaiting the call to the
trenches In 10 environments and 10
camps and on numerous aviation fields
and In variety Of other schools In
all parts OF the United States the men
OF the remaining army are hardening
and training for their part in the great
contest overseas
Behind tho activities of this vast
force lies great Industry organized
20 produce an adequate supply OF mu-
nltions equipment and provisions,
and TO provide transportation to the
firing line, almost every branch OF
essential Industry OF the country hay
Ing been drawn upon to produce these
material requirements.
Expedltionary Forces.
Military necessity particularly for
bids a detailed review Of the activities
n the American expedltlonary forces.
General Pershing and his stan ar
rived In Paris on June IA, 1917, 90
days after the declaration of war. The
first American troops arrived in
France ON June 20. ON July A. In cell
ebratlon Of our natal day and u new
| fight for liberty, American troops pa
raded the streets Of Paris and were
greeted as the forerunners Of great
/ American armies and vast quantities
Of supplies and ammunltions.
ON October 10, 1917, 1S7 days after
| the war was declared, American sol
dlers went on the firing line, In Jan.
uary American soldiers took over per-
manently a part OF the line as an
American sector, and this line Is grad
ually lengthenlng.
Behind the lighting line In France
the American forces have scientifically
prepared groundwork of camps, com
uunications, supply bases, and works
In anticipation of operations by this
full force OF the army. They ar'
building and have built railroads, hos
pitfalls, ordnance bases, and docks II
France. They have constructed i'm
mense barracks, erected sawmills, re
claimed agricultural lands, and car
ried forward many incidental enter
priKss,
The construction OF an ordnanc
base In France. costing s2o.ooo,o0O, 1
now well under way. Great quantitis
OF material used In the foreign con
struetion work have been shipped fror
, the United stsses--from fsbricate
lroawork for an ordnance shop to nail
! and crosstiss for railroads, and eve
the piles TO build docks.
All the while there has been a fairi
, even now OF men and materials froI
the United States to France. The me
In the trenches, back OF the lines, o
the construction projects, and In n
hospitals have been steadily supplies
Our losses at sea. In men and mat,
rlals, have been gratityingly small
The greatest single loss occurred Q
February s. when the British shl
I ruscnhla was terpedoed and sun
The bodies Of ia soldiers, en- route
Franco. have been found and IS othe
{ were SIN missing on March 10.
2 TO secure IN adequate number I
n competent officers 10 lead the ne
!. armies various plans were devise
> Two classes at West Point were gra
uated in advance Of the usual grad
ating dates and special examination
!, were held In various parts of the cou
]. try for appointments from civil III
= Three series OF officers training cam
have hesp held. OF e2203 eandidat
2. In the ftrst two series Of camps as