Evening star., 1918-04-07
.. S. ACHIEVEMENTS
FIRST YEAR IN WAR
Army and Navy Expanded,
ShipbuiIding Rushed, Ameri-
cans on Fighting Line.
REVIEW ON ANNIVERSARY

The first anniversary Of the entrance
Of the United States into the war flnds
the great resources Of the country just
!. coming into the struggle. but rapidly
being prepared.
The ACHE, ements of the first year are
chiefly divided between the Army,
which has been supplying and train
Ing fighting forces; the Navy, which
has been hunting the submarine and
conveying troops and supplies to Eu-
rope; the shipping board. which has
been building a merchant marine. and
the Treasury, which has been advanc-
ing credits to the allies.
In all other departments of the gov
ernment there has been tremendous
effort to bring all the force OF the
eountry's resources and power to the
aid Of the actual lighting machine.
For military reasons it is not per-
missible to state the exact number or
American troops in France with Gen.
Pershing's expedition. but Secretary
Senate military committee. predicted
half q million men would be there early
this year and that another million
would be ready to go during the year.
Americans on Firing Line.
American troops have taken up sew
0ral positions on the fighting line In
France have occupied a sector OF their
own northwest OF Toul and have had
numerous encounters with the Ger
mans. Ofhcial statements from British
and German army headquarters have
shown that certain American lighting
forces were thrown into the battle
brought on by the great German OF
fsnsive this spring. the British war
once first reporting them as hghtin6
shoulder to shoulder with the British
and French troops in the vicinity OF
By referring to combined forces Of
ne Regular Army and National Guard
. year ago. and comparing the etrength
Of the Regular Army now. the National
and the mon Of the hrst draft In can,
tonments, It II apparent that the total
number Of ready fighting men has been
thousand to something like million
( and . half, with about ton million mon
registered under the draft stin avail
abls for calls to the colors.
Military experts have estimated that
should the war be prolonged and 1t be-
comes necessary for the United States
TO assume the burden Of carrying on
the conflict. an Army Of 100000 men
would not be improbable. The immense
and sudden expansion Of the Army has
not been without criticism. but, 1t fs
declared, this was expected in the con-
: ver~ion into q nxhtinR force Of n na-
ton traditionally welded to the pur-
suits Of peace.
Naval Forces Expanded.
The expansion Of the naval forces has
been Characterised in Congress by
many ~ praissworthy. The exact de-
a. q military measure, but 1t 10 Wen
hOWn that an emergency war build
sne program has been pushed with
sch rapidity that the United States II
wen on the way to place second only
70 Great Britain n naval force. and
thxt In destroyers alone-rost proved
and deadly weapon against the sub
marine-the Navy by next year VIII
have the greatest neet on the seven
seas. Since the United States went to
prac<icaIly q thousand vessels. and BE-
sides that took charge Of repairing the
seixed German and Austrian ships
damaged by their crews at the orders
Of the German government.
Tho case Of the great liner vaterland,
NV the United States ship Lsviathan.
n fair example Of the efaciency and
apeed with which the naval engineers
annAucted that work When the Ger-
mans finished their work Of destruction
the vaterland's commander remarked
he would take his hat on to the Ameri-
time to be of any service. Within six
months from the time his words were
spoken the Vaterland was in running
order. and since, the Navy has announc-
Cd. has carried numbers Of American
troops and great quantities OF supplies
to the fighting lines in France.
BY taking the ships and men Of the
coast guard into its fleets. by the merg.
ing Of naval volunteers and naval MI
ittla and with the growth OF the Ma
- khA Va hoa Al n
forces practically hve times since the
0ountry went to war.
In its immense task Of conveying
troops there have been some losses,
tut the losses of life have been for
tunately small in comparison with the
numbers Of troops transported. At the
same time the American destroyers.
marine zone. have made themselves .
: eerror to the undersea boats. How
many Of these craft they have ac-
counted for remains military secret
Treasury Supplying Funds.
The Treasury, concerned with hnanc-
ing the war. has raised from liberty
bonds and war savings stamp sales
more than 81. 00o. .000. 900. and on this, the
Arst anniversary Of the declaration Of
war on Germany. is launching the third
liberty loan. Treasury estimates put
the expense Of the first year Of the
war at about $4,000, ,o00. 900. exclusive
Of the advances to the allies.
These advances to all the allies have
totaled. up to the close Of March, 81
ee0.600,000. The United States has been
secured with the bonds or obligations
of the countries to which the money
was advanced. More than $125 5,000. 900
of the sum went to Russia before the
debacle put the country out Of the war.
What return the United States will get,
II any, Is considered doubtful.
Chairman Hurley Of the shipping board,
in recent speech in New York. at
which he outlined the shipbuilding pro-
gram fully for the first time. declared
the great building program which is to
make the bridge of ships to France Is
- per cent toward completion. He