The Mena weekly star., 1918-06-13
7OO,OOOANERICAN
 TROOPS IN FRANCE
More Than That Number Sent, Secre- tary Baker Tells Blue Devils"-- Praises French Soldiers and Pre-
 diets Victory Soon.

Washington, June li-More than 100000 American soldiers have been sent to France, Secretary Baker said today in speech to French Blue Devils," who came to the United States to aid in the Third Liberty Loan campaign. Mir Bakers last of ficial announcement some weeks ago. was that more than half a million had gone over,
 The war secretary's last announce ment some weeks ago concerning the size of the American forces abroad was that 100000 men had sailed for the battlefront.
 The Alpine Chasseurs, better known as the "Blue Devils" of France, came to America last month to assist in the third Liberty loan campaign and since have toured the South and Middle West They were reviewed and re- ceived by the secretary of war yester- day before leaving for Baltimore, Newark, New York and Boston en route back to their native land
 Praises French Soldiers.
 Your soldiers of France" said MT. Baker, in addressing the chasseurs, "eame to this country in order that the people of America might see with their own eyes in your persons the kind of men who have written new page in the record of human heroism and success. You were welcomed in this country from one end of it to the other The hearts of our people went out to you and to your people. As the embodiment of the determination, the courage and heroism of France you have been accepted and received. Nearly all of you, am told, are battle scared veterans. You are members of the army which has never known defeat and you are representatives of people who would rather die than not be free.
 "You are going back to your own country-still, thank God, your own and when you get there you will find that the small beginning of our army which you left there has grown into a mighty manifestation. When you left France, the American army was there in small representation, but now more than 100000 Americans have sailed from their shores to carry back to your army and your people the en- couragement and teh assistance which Lafayette and Rochambeau brought to America in the early and strug- gling days of American freedom.
 About to Win Victory.
 "They are trying to learn from you, emulating the virtues which you ex- emplify, learning the art of war as you have learned it, in the hard school of strenuous experience. They and you are about to accomplish the great wonder in the world of winning victory which will forever set the stamp of mankind's approval upon the true theory of civilization.
 Instead of believing in mere phy- sical force, hereafter we are going to believe in the strength of moral force, instead of divorcing the things of material character from their moral intent and purpose we are col- lecting now for the children of men rest on moral foundations.
 'T trust you will have safe and pleasant journey home. know where your hearts are. They are in the trenches where danger lies and no doubt many of you will return to those exhiIarating and ennobling ex- periences which soldiers have. trust that when this great war ends, each of you will be alive and we'll to share the glory of your success and to bid a kindly and friendly farewell to the American soldiers who leave your country to return home in order that you speed the part guests you may emphasize the emotion which l have tried to express that always in the future, as in the past, the French people and the French army, the American people and the American army are co-partners in liberty and equality and valorous defenders of the principles of freedom"
 Secretary Baker. appearing yester- day before the Senate Military Com mitttee at the start of hearings on the army appropriation bill, said the orders holding Major General Wood in this country were regarded flor the good of the service" and present ed plan for appointing successors to Major Generals Crozier and Sharpe, who have ben relieved, respectively, from from their active jurisdiction over the ordnance and quartermaster's bu- reaus. Some senators urged that General Wood be sent across.