The Bridgeport times and evening farmer., 1918-02-07
US. TROOPS NOW
IN FRANCE OVER
$4,000, REPORT
M. Tardieu Declares That
Expeditionary Force Has
Attained Big Figure.
AMERICAS EFFORTS
ARE HIGHLY LAUnED
France Able to Supply Can
non for Twenty Divisions
By July First.

United States entered the war. and at
that time it had 1924 officers and
202,51 men.
America today has in all 10000 Of
fcers and 100000 men.
This revelation, more specific even
than the testimony of Secretary
Baker on the same point before the
Senate Committee, came last night
from Andre Tardieu, the French
High Commissioner to the United
States, at a dinner in the Hotel
Plaza as part of the celebration of
the treaty between the American
Colonies and France in 1878 univer-
sally observed yesterday throughout
the United States and Canada.
MI Tardieu gave the further assur-
ance that France will be able before
July 1, to manufacture enough artil-
lery to supply 20 American divisions,
or approximately 100000 troops, if the
United States adheres to the under
standing that will give France the
| necessary raw material.
Able to Arm Allies
1--WE have in the line 5000 guns of
every calibre, and every day more
than 100000 shells are turned out by
our factories Mr.. Tardieu said. '"To
get those guns, to produce those shells
we created an industry which did not
exist before the war, and which has
enabled us not only to arm ourselves
but to arm our Allies.
Without speaking of what we man.
ufacture for you, and that is several
hundred guns month, we nave, dur
ing the past three years, given to our
Allies in Europe 1,35O,00O rifles, 49,
900 automatic rifles, 10000 machine
guns, 500 millions of cartridges, $500
guns ALSO aeroplanes.
And the day when faithful Italy
found herself in peril-a peril which
is now averted-we within a few
hours brought reinforcements to her
from the troops, which proves the I'M
breakable brotherhood Of our alli-
Rnce.'
Asserting that secrecy ought to be
a thing of the past, because our dem
| ocracies want to know in order to
will" the commissioner said that the
results achieved by America in it's
war Preparations were stimulant for
effort and that nobody has the right
| to refuse to the American people this
stimulant"
| He praised first Americas wisdom
in adopting the draft as a means of
raising her army. After giving the
figures showing the strength of the
American army today he said:
. Time Counts Much in War.
| I'm order to equip this army, SO
camps of instruction had to be Gre
ated. You will do there as far as
practical instruction is concerned
everything that can be done far away
from the front. France has taken
every necessary measure so that you
can complete on our territory the
training begun here. For that pur-
pose it is necessary and it is enough
that the unity of method should be
| completely secured by an intimate
collaboration between the two coltn-
sells.
ITO equip this army with guns and
aeroplanes, you called upon your al
lies for the supply of your immediate
needs and you started simultaneously
a program of American manufacture
ing. Some people, in Europe as well
as here, have been wondering why YOU
should not, in that respect have dona
everything by yourselves. This criti-
cism shows that those people ignore
firstly, what time means in war, and
secondly, how infinitely complicated is
the industrial war organization which
from the very start is required by an
extensive production of ordnance anc
aviation.
''As regards aviation, the results al
ready obtained in the United State.
are, in my opinion, above all expecta-
ton. Within six months you have
brought out the Liberty motor, which
if not of higher value than the bes
existing type, is equal to them, anG
once standardized will be manufac
tured in large quantities, by the thou
F. sands. On the other hand, my tech
meal experts declare that the organi
zation of your aviation schools is ex.
cellent in general, and that almos
after a final training to start thei
Ordnance Situation Safe.
GAS regards ordnance, the adoption
without any modification of our vari
Gus types of guns would certainl
/ have saved some time to the benef
of the American production, and som
delays may be the consequence of tn
improvements you are looking for, al
ways, and rightly at that, aiming a
better results. But as we hav
E agreed, it was understood that 20
=, should supply and transport to Franc
. the necessary raw material; we will
- under such conditions, be able, i
;. France, to deliver to you before Jul
i enough guns to thoroughly equi
twenty of your divisions. The situa
p ton, therefore, is completely safe i
g that respect"
a Mr.. Tardieu praised the food AID
: ninistration, the Railroad Admins
S t1ation, the Shipping Board, the Fue
= Administration and the War Trad
Board as being ''methodical and sus
: tanned" but he added:
: 81 am in daily touch with thes
boards. know the difficulties the
q have to contend with. I know tn
: results they achieve Their technice
: operations may - discussed, however
t ir a free country Discussion is
= spur to action. You will allow MI
without taking part in the discussio
It to quote a few facts which need n
n comment.
d During the month of Decembe
# last. the High Commission called tn
Il attention of the Shipping Board to
crisis affecting very seriously GU
st supnlv of gasoline and oil for the frs
two months of 1918. Today the meas
= ures taken by the board allow me t
p state that this imminent peril is al
4 ;olutely conquered for those tw