Grand Forks herald. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1916-1955, 1918-07-10
ESTIMATE0F !
! U..S.FORCE' IN !.
!. FRANCE MADE
Army and Navy Journal
Thinks Pershing Has rs
Trained Divisions.

That the United States now has at
fewest twenty-five divisions Of trained
electives at the front in France is the
statement Of yesterdays Army and
Navy Journal. The editorial, which is
headed. "our Afny's First Annivers-
ary Abroad" lauds the work Of the
war department.. and says that when
Secretary Baker announced that the
years work had been satisfactory that
statement was echoed not only by the
people but by the army
The editorial, in part is as follows:
According to the statement made
on June 21 by members Of the house
OF representatives who attended the
weekly meeting Of the war council, the
American expeditionary force units
holding thirty-nine miles Of front were
all commanded by American officers
and were stationed at six different
points along the allied line in France.
On the customary basis Of a division
OF troops to one and a third miles of
front. this would require twenty-rine
divisions of American troops to such
a length Of front unless the line was
very thinly held, as may be the case
wnere some OF our men are in Alsace.
On g basis Of $4,000 to division, this
"VAAu Wo1A OuS W OEZ,UUU men.
81 Since the total number Of our fore
esin France on June Is was 100000
men. not all OF which were Thoroughly
trained electives. it would appear
that either parts Of this line were
more thinly held than is the most re-
cent practice or. we have lessened the
number OF mon in<R division. On a 10
per cent basis; our 100000 men OF
tJuneAlb wouldssproduce $50, 900, com
That ths American army is hold:
ing sthat length Of the allied line 1s IN
itself y no mean achievement, by the
t.mes We are marking the, Anniversary
ol the hrst landing Of. American troops
tn: France THAT we are holdinGs4he
line ii proof of the fact that Ne mus
nave at least twenty-five divisions, OF
trained electives in the field, for 9th
erW1se General Foch would not in
trust SO considerable proportion of
the front to General PershinR. (
Cantigny proved the merits OF that
oHlcer as q commanding. general and
the ABILITY Of the officers, and men un-
der him to hght. in the war of posi-
tons with perfect mastery Of the
tactics OF that order of warfare. Cha.
teau -Thierry; and now Belleau wood
1ustifies the trust put in our men. as
does the unanimous praise Of gallant
~, their discipline. their perfection in
tactical methods. Although less spec.
tacular, the work Of the quartermas-
ter corps in equipping the men for
service abroad and providing for them
while IN France has been the most re-
markable achievement Of that re-
sourceful body Of officers; and the
same thing must be said for the corps
OF engineers. whose work in France
alone furnishes one of the most thrill.
ins features Of this anniversary.
retrospect. =,
The accomplishm ents Of the med.
zeal corps in France not only have
been Of the highest order technica11v
but also have aroused in the French
surgeons and people the most pro-
found admiration and gratitude Sec
retaly baker's comment, I think this
years work is satisfactory Ia one thai
will be echoed by the American peo.
PIE and by the American army" -.