The Washington herald., 1918-06-23
100000 YANKS
ALREADY IN
FRANCE
Going 100000 a Week
Says Chief Of Staff
March. B
TRANSPORT S MONTHS
AHEAD OF SCHEDULE
1000, 900 Overseas by
Winter If Present Rate
Is Not Reduced.
MARINES THERE 0UTNUMBER
PERSHINc'S ARMY IN MEXICO
Austrian Drive in Italy Nets Enemy
Gains. but Lost Ground
Largely Rewon. -
TRANSPORT S MONTHS
AHEAD OF SCHEDULE
MARINES THERE 0UTNUMBER
PERSHING,S ARMY IN MEXICO

American soldiers are moving to
France at the rate Of 100000 a
week.
More than 100000 are now on
the other side, Maj. Gen. Peyton
c. March, Chief of Staff of the
army, announced yesterday at his
weekly conference with Washing
ton newspaper correspondents. A
week ago he announced the pass
ing of the 100000 mark in the
overseas movement.
He left no doubt in the minds
of any who heard him that by
July I more than a million United
States soldiers, combatants, sup
ply line forces and medical men,
will be in Europe.
Already the United States is
five minths ahead of the ambi-
tious schedule it set for itself, when
President Wilson gave the word
to spare no effort to get the men
across. If the present rate of
transportation is continued, there
is no question but that more than
2,ooo, 600 will be on the other side
by the time winter sets in to
check the speed of the movements.
There are now $4,000 American
Marines in the Expeditionary
Forces-constituting in themselves
a larger command than Perish
ing had when he invaded Mexico
two years ago.
Interest In Italy.
This weeks interest is primarily
along the Italian front. The opera
tons in France have been Of minor
character throughout.
The Italian drive is an entirely
different matter. The Austrian-ftal-
ian front, before this weeks drive
began. was something like 200 miles.
The drive, Of course. as far as the
army's interest Ii concerned, 10 con-
fined to the portion Of the line from
Lake Garda down to the sea
The Austrians penetrated the Dor
tons of the lines held by Great Bri-
tain, France and I.aly, for short dis
tances, but the =, Jund was recovered.
''DoYn all me Piave In the fats,
conditions were different. At three
substantial places the Austrians
crossed the Piave far enough to make
their advance a matter of concern
to the allies. The southernmost front
is in actual distance about six miles
long, and the furthest point the Aus
trians penetrated there is some four
miles. The Italians have driven them
back.
Austrians Advance
along the next salient on the
Piave the Austrians advanced one
and one-half miles on a four and one
half mile front, and terminated seven
and one-half miles from the city of
Treviso. The other advance brought
them within some thirteen miles OF
Venice
Near the Montello Hills the ad-
vance was three and one-half miles
on a nine-mile front During this
movement, during the Austrian drive
along their front, the allies were
helped tremendously by the foods
which occurred in the Piave. The
floods tore out the entire Austrian
bridge system.
The Austrians have constructed in
the rear Of the Sportion of their ad-
vance south Of Ponte di Piave seven
temporary bridges, so they can get
their troops and supplies over at these
points. and get their men back IL II
becomes necessary to do so. But, as
there are no bridges left behind the
Montello Hills, the drive at that point
assumes a formidable character.
West Front Quiet. .. .
The lack of fighting along the
French front, to which 1 have re-
ferred above. is of primary importance
to the allies by giving us a chance
to get more man power. The United
States has now crossed the 800, GOO
mark Of troops shipped from ports in
America This includes men in France
and on the high seas, combatants
and noncombatants. in which class
are counted medical people and the
service of supply.
'One of the most striking things
noticeable in the situation is the su,
CONTINUED ON PAGE TWO.