Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1918-05-09

Washington, May Q. American
| troops in France have passed the half
million mark, Secretary Of War Baker
announced late yesterday.
This announcement of the strength
of General Pershing's forces, the frs
official word Secretary Baker ha:
spoken on the subject, was given out as
proof that the prediction made earlier
in the year by Mr.. Baker had been full
filled. Secretary Baker said:
In January / told the senate COM
mittee that the strong likelihood was
that early in the present year 100000
American troops would be dispatched
to France.
Il can not, either now or perhaps
later, discuss in detail the number OF
American troops in France, but am
glad to be able to say that the forecas,
l made in January has been passed"
No New Prediction.
Mr.. Baker declined to make any pre-
dictions as to whether the million ad-
ditional men he mentioned in his state
ment before the senate military com
liilllce also VIII Dc sent ACROSS the AZ
lantic this year.
When he appeared before the senate
committee in January, Secretary
Baker said the United States would
have 100000 men in France early in
1915" and that there are 100000 men
in the training camps ready TO go as
soon as ships are available.
While the secretary confined himself
to announcing that his prediction ha q
been made good and declined to make
any further statement regarding the
number Of men on the other side. in
process of crossing ready TO sail
it is known that estimates Of war de-
partment officials call for the following
future troop totals in France:
In France June 1............. 100000
In France July l .............1 !, 900, 600
Plan to Send Million.
1t is frankly stated that this is only
an estimate. based on the results
achieved in the new accelerated over
seas troop movement. No official would
predict that this million total will be in
France at the end of the present fiscal
year, but this is the total the depart
ment is striving for.
per men that the half million mark
has been passed In sending troops to
France. Officials have been pressed
to give out the figures and head off
the wild speculation Of optimists, who
have been exaggerating the size Of the
overseas force, and the gloomy views
Of others who underestimated the
strength Of General Pershing's force.
With the growth of the overseas army
it was indicated there will be more pub
licity in future as to numbers.
No Machine Gun Lack.
AS a result Of personal investiga-
ton of machine gun production during
the last few days the secretary an
nounced that there is no present short
age Of light or heavy types of these
weapons either in France or America,
and no shortage is in prospect.
Mr.. Baker said there had been no
question brought up as to the supplies
Of light type Browning guns, which
were coming forward in quantities. He
would not say whether shipment of
these guns to France had been started.
AS to the heavy Brownings he said
Early manufacturers estimates as
to the production Of the heavy type
perhaps were more optimistic than was
justified. The estimate of the ordnance
department in January has been met
and is being met. Some of these heavy
guns have been produced and there is
every indication Of Forthcoming pro-
duction in increasing and substantial
numbers"