The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1918-05-11
ARMY IN FRANCE.
HALF MILLION AMERICANS HAVE
BEEN SENT OVERSEAS
THIS YEAR.
Cabinet Member I'm Charge OF War
Preparation Told senate Commit.
tee I'm January That Five Hundred
Thousand Would Go.

half q million American soldiers have
been sent to France. said Secretary
Baker today, authorizing the state
ment that his forecast to congress in
January that 100000 troops would be
dispatched to France early in the
present year now had been surpassed.
Mr.. Baker dictated the following
state ment:
I'm January Z told the senate COM
mittee that there was strong lkli-
hood that early in the present year
100000 American troops would be dis
patched to France. I can not either
now or perhaps later, discuss the
number of American troops in France,
but l am glad to be able to say that
the forecast 1 made in January has
been surpassed"
AS result of a personal investi.
CATION of machine gun production
during the past few days, the secre.
tary announced that there is no pres
ent shortage of light or heavy types
of these weapons either in France or
America, and no shortage is in pros.
pect.
Mr.. Baker said there has been no
question brought up as to the sup
plies of light type Browning guns.
which were coming forward in guam
titles. 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 or
dnance department in January has
been met ard Is being met. Some of
the heavy guns are being produced
and there is evidence forthcoming
that production will continue in in
creasing and substantial number.
The secretary chose his words
about the troops in France with ut
most care. He would not amplify
the statement in any way and specif-
caily asked that the press refrain
from speculation as to what precise
figures his gparded remarks covered
or as to what possibilities OF early ad-
ditional increase in the force on tb
other side there might be.
There has been repeated official an
nouncement. however. that the gov
ernment is bending every energy to
rush men across to back up the al
lied lines in France and officials di-
rectly In charge of transportation
have expressed satisfaction with the
progress made.
There are indications that the wa
department had adhered strictly to
its policy of equipping fully before
his departure every man sent across
That Is the consideration in check
Ing of supplies of clothing and arms
Secretary Bakers conclusion as to
machine guns follows on the heels
or pessmistic statements by MEM
bers OF congress in this regard. In
the discussion of the production OF
Browning machine guns, contracts
for other types both here and abroad
apparently have been lost sight of
These contracts preceded the placing
of orders for the Brownings and that
supply was designed to meet the
emergency until the new gun was
available in quantities.
The present practice Of brigading
American units with French and
British divisions. it is pointed out
makes the artillery question less
pressing as an immediate independent
supply. The allied divisions to which
the Americans are assigned alreadv
have the artillery necessary and the
fact that American infantry is added |
to them does not mean 81 proportion-
ate increase in guns.
Today's statement regarding the
movement to France is the first Of
hcial utterance made during the war
indicating even indirectly the number
OF men sent abroad The first force
to 40 over was never described ex-
cept as division. although as n mat
ter of fact IT was constituted In two
divisions soon after It's arrival on the
other side. The fact that more than
100000 have gone this year also shows
the accelerated rate at which the men
have been moving forward since the
winter passed and eased the shipping
and embarkation situation