Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1918-02-11
PLAN TO SEND 100000
MEN TO FRANCE IN 1878
Officials Believe Question OF Ships
Necessary TO Transport Men
Is Answered.
RUSH VESSELS TO .iMERICA a
Allied Nations Are Sending Every
Available Craft to United States
to Facilitate and Rush Troop
Movement.
RUSH VESSELS TO AMERIC.
Ispccial,o The Times-Disna tch. ]

Especial 20 The Times Dispatch.l
WASIIi%GTON, February IA mill
lion Amc; ican soldiers will be sent to
France during tho calendar year 1918.
unless the war comes to en6 before
the. year dccs. And this million is in
addition TO the several hundred thou-
sand already under General Fei shirG's
INN n'cGi;tc command.
The question CT ships has been an
swcred in par; and will be Gr.sS'cre Il
in whole before many moro months
have pas: cd. No official OF the gov
ern!ncnt now feels any serious unccr-
tainty upon that score. The tonnage is
TO bc had and will hc had. whatever
the Price may he necessary IL pay
for il.
All "f the ships needed for this vast
movement OF mon ann material will not
be luilt by this country, and perhaps
could not be built if every condition
for shipbuildns Were absolutely ideal.
Not ono of the conditions. however. is
ideal. aud vessels demanded fc carry
ou; this expedition viii not all como
from American sources.
The fact is, Tie allied governments
have alreaG; iYcd upon Il definite
amoun, OF tonnage TO be placed n,
,+he disposal OF the United States for
troop movement. This tonnage is be-
inc diverted to America as swiftly as
II IL possible TO do SC The Tuscania,
torpedocd off the Irish coast "A few.
days ago. was part OF the great
Britisn-FrcDch fleet turned over 10 the
United States
The extent CT this allied TONNAGE
which is now or soon will be employed
FOR the transport Of American troops
Is not G:von officially. but il can he
stated that IL IL in excess OF 1000. coo
tons. ard all OF il trained in the bus; :
ness of moving troops and troop sup
phe*. There IL nothing green or un-
pIa"ii"cd about il. These ships have
hecn in the war game for more than
three years. mos; OF them, ana ore
fully equipped and manned for trans
port service.
JAPAN no PROVIDE
SHIPPING FACILITIES
But this is not all. Japan is being
relied Upon for about 10000 tons
more Of transport shipping. The nc
go;iations 10 this end have not been
concluded, but it is learned that tnc.
have progressed to the point where
success seems certain. Since the de-
parture OF the Japanese war mission
these negotiations have been carried
forward by the slipping Beard with
the Japanese emhs ssy, and this gov
crnmcnt confidently expects 10 have
the use OF great feet of Japanese
merchantmen in the Atlantic se~vicc
within a few more weeks. And in re-
turn. this government will guarantee
tho delivery OF steel, particularly shin
plates. in sufficient quantity Ia more
than replace the vessels which Will be
loaned TO this country.
In dealing with Japan. the United
States is dealing. Of course. with an
ally. The bending negotiations prch.
ably would have been concluded
months ago if the Japanese govern.
men, had not been fearful of possible
cvcniuali:icS I'm the Orient Ent with
tho collapse Of Euesia. the adjustment
OF intcrua tioual differences with re-
'p"ct to China ana the moral certainty
that Germany viii make no peace With
tho E"lshevihi threatening japanese
interests in the Pacific. the Japanese.
Il is said. feel more disposed to ac-
commodate tho United States in the
matter of tonnage.
FIVE HuSDHED THOUSAND
TONNAGE Of DuTCu SHIPS
Once more tic United States has
practically closed deal for Che use
o; somcwha, less than 100000 tons of
Dutch shipping which has been tied ,ip
In American ports AZ a result OF tho
American export embargo. This tom