Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1918-04-07
YEAR OF WAR ENDS
WTHU.S. PREPARING
Uncle Sans Army Now Num-
bers Something in Neighbor-
hood of 100000 Men.
GREATEST DESTROYER FLEET
Navy Now About Five Times as
Large as 1t Was
Year Ago.
GREATEST DESTROYER FLEET

coming into tho struggle, but rapidly
being prepared
me achievements OF tho first year are
chleNy divided between the army, which
mas been supplying aud training fight
ing forces; the navy, which has been
hunting the submarine and conveying
troops and supplies to Europe: the snip
PING Board. which has been building a
merchant marine, and the Treasury.
which has been advancing credits 10
the allies.
Ia all other departments OF the gov
frnrnent there has been "A tremendous
'hcrt 10 bring all tho force OF the coun-
try resources and power 10 the aid Of
Tue actual lighting machine.
For military reasons, it Is not per-
FniFsihlc 70 state the exact number OF
American troops IN France with Con
era! Pcrshiitgs expedition, but Score
tary Baker 80 recent testimony before
the senate Military Committee. pre-
dictcd half :, million men would b..
tHerc carly this year. and that another
million would bc ready to go during
the year.
jANIERICtNS T,I,E
FART ~ THE BATTLE
.tincrican troops have taken up SOW
Irr.co 49, .,,i,
! own nor,hu,s -. RI ~,
u,n,cr.,,s ,.c,,,.. I,
mans omcrl ,,..n,r,a-,,, ,..,, ,,i..
and German ar,v ho.d,,n,r,nr 49,
shown ma; Corral, A,ncric,, o,,,,T.'o
1fo-ccs Yer. ,bro,,. ia a., ,,,a
hrough, on hy the .rea, German ofion.
sive this .rr!uG. tn. British war Office
Z * 80, ar, |fr
der To shoulder with tho british and
French troops !u the vicinity Of Ioyc.
BY referring TO the combined forces
Of the regular aruy AND National Guard
e year ago and comparing the Strength
OF the regular army now. The National
Guard mustered into Icderl! service
and tho mon OF the frs, draft in can
comments II Is apparent that the total
rumhcr OF ready nght!ng men has been
decreased from mcaEcr 100000 10
'om"thing like l5ooooo. with ::2out
ie'"oe'Ooo men registered under the
TRAIT SIN available for calls to the
Ico!orS'
Military "Nports have cstimntcd that
should the war be prolonged and 1t
become necessary for the United
states 10 assume tho burden OF car
~" men w"u!d not be improbable. The
ninens" AMI sudden expansion OF the
army mas not been without criticism
Put IL Us "eG."rc!, TINS was expected
~ INC conversion INTO lighting force
'i nau"" tTadit'o"aii% welded To
nc pursuits OF peace
NAVY CONTRACTS Eon
ONE THOUSAND SuIps
! ,I...
has been characterized in Congress
~ many as praiscwor,ny The .xae;
ictails hero. too, are shroudcd in
ccrcCy rs q military measure. but 1t
5 wei! known that au emergency war
,uildinS program has been pushed
with such rapid!ty that the United
;,atcs Is Wc!l on Ia" way 10 Il place
ccond only - Great Britain A. u naval
orcc, and mot in iea;roycrs alone
most proved and deadly weapon o.,
he .uhmarinc-thc navy by neNt year
sill hav" tho greatest :lcct on the
even seas. since TIA. United states
vent TO war The navy has placed con-
racts for practically l.olp vessels. ana
,csdc that took charge Of repairing
he seized German and Austrian ships
damaged by thcir crews a, the orders
The case Of the great lincr Water
and. now the United states ship Lee
latham. Is II fair example Of the ell
icncy and speed with which the naval
neinccrs conducted that work. When
he Germans finished their work of
cstruction the Na:crland's commander
cmarkcd That he would take off his
at To the Americans who could pm:
he ship IN shape in time TO be OF any
ervicc.
Within sis months from the time
is words were spoken the Natcrland
iaS in running order, and since. the
avy has announced, has carried mum
fcrs OF american troops and great
uantiti"s or supplies TO the lighting
nos in France.
by ''''"H Wv H"P' anu "ch -