Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1918-11-21
Military Achievement in
War Unparalleled in
World History.
SEND NEARLY TWO
MILLION TO FRANCE
Gigantic Work Of Engineers Amaxes
Allies and Enemy Alike-Great Food
Supplies Stored in Europe to Keep
Armies Thru Long campaisn-En-
try Of America Acknowledged TO
Have Ended Germany's Hope.
tBy the Associated Press. !

fhh'i III
Nov. 19.-The extent of. Americas
military efforts in France at the time
the armistice was declared is shown
in statistics which the American Press
is now permitted to make public. While
the fig ures are in themselves amazing
1t should be remembered they show
. preparations.
On the morning Of Nov. II the United
States had in France 1881 officers
and hSSi,S76 men. a total of almost
100000. As has already been an
nounced there were 10000 combat
troops in the Argonne action. This
number does not include the American
/ units engaged on other parts OF the
front. -.
Great Transport Accom- pIishme nts.
The American army has brought to
France and has in operation 967 stand
ard gauge locomotives and 1874
standard gauge freight cars of Amer
lean manufacture. In addition it has
{ In service $50 locomotives and 973 cars
of foreign origin. To meet demands
which the existing. French, railways
! were unable to meet -s-SS43 fhiie5s of
I, standard gauge railroad was con-
structed. Five hundred miles have
been built since June l.
On top of this the department Of
light railways reports the construction
of l15 miles and 140 miles of German
| light railways were repaired ana put
. into operation.
Two hundred twenty-five miles OF
French railway was operated by the
Americans.
In building new roads as the ex
egiencies Of battle operations required.
in keeping French roads repaired un.
der the ceaseless tide OF war trans
port and in constructing bridges. Am
er.can engineers worked day and night
Great Road Building Program.
The whole region behind the Amer
lean lines is full OF typical American
road machinery. much OF 1t Of a char
acter never before seen in Europe
To do this work the Americans had
| In operation more than $4,000 motor
vehicles Of all descriptions. Even at
the present time it is Not permitted to
hint OF the vast stores Of munitions and
arms held in store.
The American Press. however. is al
lowed to give approximate figures
showing what has been accomplished
in accumulation OF food supplies.
Huge Stores Of Food.
It will be seen that the expcditionary
forces were in no danger Of being put
on short rations had the war continued.
altho the government had promised the
oil I,v NJ
a ration constitutes the food supply
for man for one day. The Americans
have 900, 900, 900 rations Of beans. 1884,
100000 rations Of flour and flour sub
stitutes. 267,000,000 rations Of milk.
1S1.0oO,000 rations Of butter or sub
stitutes. 143,0e0.O00 rations Of sugar.
SO 900 900 srations OF meat. 100000
rations OF coffee, and 113.000,o0o RAJ
tions Of rice. hominy and other foods.
There are requisites such as flavoring.
! fruits. candy and fruits in proportion.
while for smokers there are 75l,00o.-
900 rations of cigarets and tobacco in
other forms.
Represent Economics at Home.
Army officials point out that these
vast supplies represent food economies
by the people at home. Without such
economics the work would have been
Virtually impossible nor would the
Americans have been able to promise
certain Of the allies certain assistance
infmeetipg their requirements during
the winter.
| The Associated Press Is informed
that the American army had engaged
to give the. French 100000 pounds OF
meat, 6,500.000 pounds OF beans and
rice. flour and milk in proportion. TO
the British 100000 pounds Of meat
ware promised. while the Belgians
were to receive 4.500. 900 pounds OF ra-
tions OF all kinds.
Engineer Corps Great Work.
Ten steamer bcrths have been built
at Bordeaux. having a total length OF
400 feet. At Monitor. near St. Naz-
aire, eight berths are under construc-
ticn with a total length Of over 5000
feet. These, however, do not indicate
the magnitude OF the effort Of tho en-
gineer corps. In this phase Of i'm
I provement to French ports great labor
has been expended in dredging opera
tions. repairing docks and increasing
railway terminals.
Loss o. Ports Unimportant.
Warehouses having floor area Of
almost "a. .006, 900 square feet have
been constructed. The department OF
French ports Increased facilities to
such n extoiitt THAT even haaa the Ger