Gilpin observer., 1918-04-11

The United States has been at war
for one year. What has it accom-
plished in that time? The govern
ment's committee on public informa-
ton answers that question In a re-
view of the first year of the war which
1t has issued on the first anniversary
Of the beginning Of the war. The war
and navy departments, the shipping
board and the treasury department
have authorized the statements con-
tained in this review, 1t is declared.
The outstanding feature Of the first
year Of war, It IL pointed out
In the review. has been the transfor-
nation Of the standing army and Ma
donal Guard, composed Of 0.524 off,
GERS and 202,510 men into fighting
force that now aggregates 123,SO1 Of
ficers and 1.52s.924 enlisted men.
A statement Of the adjutant general
shows that the regular army which In
April, 1917. comprised 5.791 officers
and 121, ,797 men, now 10 made up of
10,698 officers and 608,14 men. The
National Guard in April. 1917, includ-
ed S,7SS officers and 78.713 men. while
now It comprises 1888 officers and
4S1, ,5SS men. The reserve CORDS in
service one year ago included 1000
men. Now 1t includes 96,21O officers
and 1890 men. The National army,
which did not exist one year ago, now
includes 516,SS9 men.
substantial vanguard military
expediency prohibiting publication Of
actual numbers) of this army is meet
ing the enemy In France today or is en-
-camped there, awaiting the call to the
trenches; in 16 cantonments and 16
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.
force lies q great industry organized
to produce an adequate supply Of mu-
nitions, equipment, and provisions,
and to provide transportation to the
firing line, almost every branch Of
essential industry of the country hav-
ing been drawn upon to produce these
material requirements.
Expeditlonary Forces.
Military necessity particularly for
bids detailed review of the activities
of the American expeditionary forces.
General Pershing and his staff ar
rived in Paris ON June IA, 1917, 80
days after the declaration Of war. The
first American troops arrived in
France on June 26. On July 4, in ceI-
ebration Of our natal day and a 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 ammunitiOns.
On October 10, 1917. 1877 days after
the war was declared, American SOL
diers 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 lengthening.
Behind the fighting line In France
the American forces have scientifically
prepared groundwork of camps, COM
munications. supply bases, and works
in anticipation Of. operations by the
full force of the army. They are
building and have built railroads. hos
pitfalls, ordnance bases. and. docks in
France. They have constructed i'm
mense barracks, erected sawmills, re-
claimed agricultural lands. and car
ried forward many incidental enter
prises.
The construction of an ordnance
base In France, costing 25,0O0,000, is
now well under way. Great quantities
Of material used in the foreign con-
struction work have been shipped from
the United States-from fabricated
ironwork for an ordnance shop to nails
and crossties for railroads. and even
the piles to build docks.
All the while there has been n fairly
even flow Of men and materials from
the United States to France. The men
in the trenches, back of the lines, on
the construction projects, and in the
hospitals have been steadily supplied.
Our losses Mt sea. in men and mate
rials, have been gratifyingly small.
The greatest single loss occurred on
February 8, when the British ship
Tuscania was torpedoed and sunk.
The bodies Of IA soldiers. en- route to
France, have been found and 55 others
were still missing on March 10.
To secure an adequate number OF
competent officers to lead the new
armies various plans were devised.
Two classes at West Point were grad
uated in advance Of the usual gradu-
ating dates and special examinations
were held In various parts Of the coun-
try for appointments from civil life.
Three series Of officers training camps
have been held. or 63,203 candidates
IN the first two series Of camps 44,57S
qualified and were awarded commits