Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1918-11-22
AMERICAS PART
Stupendous Effort in
Great War

shown ~ Seriea ~ Figures and Facts
Now Made Pvbie-Aan Power
Only Part Of Great Preparations to
Defeat hvns-Gnormeu Guam.
titles 81 Material and Supplies 70
Back W Troops
American Headquarters in France,
Nov. 1s.-(By the Associated Press)
The extent of Americas military
effort In France at the time the arm
istice was declared Is shown by sta
tistics which the Associated Press is
now permitted to make public.
While the stupendous figures re-
quired to tell the story are in them
selves amasing, It should be remem-
berod that they show only a part of
the great effort made in war prepar-
atoms In men. money and material.
On the morning OF November II.
the United states had in France
1891 officers and 1.sS1.376 men. a
total Of l.s5s.7s7. As has already
been announced, there were 100000
combat troops in the Argonne action.
This number does not include the
American units engaged on other
parts of the front.
Man. power alone, however. was but
one factor in the preparations for
American participation in the war.
Behind it lay vast machinery which
was required in operations. Rail-
md v1ntor rnndS xyoro Cnp-
structed and across the sea were
brought locomotives. cars. rails and
motor transport Of every kind.
Behind this again were the requis-
lite food. clothing and general sup
plies for the men. as we'll as dockage
and warehouse construction. Every
effort Of civil life, plus the require,
ments Of war. was exerted.
The American army has brought
over to France and has in operation
a67 standard guAge locomotives and
1s.l74 standard guage freight cars Of
, American manufacture. In addition
it has in service $50 locomotives and
973 cars Of foreign origin. To meet
demands which the existing French
railways wore unable to meet. 843
miles Of standard guage railway were
constructed. Five hundred miles Of
this have been built since June /. On
top Of this the department Of light
railways reports the construction of
IFS miles Of road and 40 miles Of
German light railway were repaired
and put into operation. Two hun
dred and Is miles Of French railway
were operated by the Americans.
These figures represent a fairly good
sized American railway company. but
railways represent only fraction Of
, the transport effort. Modern war;
fare is motor warfare and it is virtu-
ally impossible to present in figures
lean Army.
In building new roads as the exiger-
cies of battle operations required. N
keeping French roads repaired under
the ceaseless tide of war transport, aal
in constructing bridges in devastated
battle regions. American engineers
worked day and night. The whole re-
! sion behind the American line is fall Of
F.! typica, American road machinery, C;uch
Of it Of a character never before se"1
IN Europe. To do this work the Aroeri-
| can EXpeditionary forces had in op-
Grafton on Nov. II more than -, COO me-
| tor vehicles of all description. Even
, at the present stage of the armstics it
| is not permissible to hint at the vast
stores of munitions and armament.
brought over and held in readiness. TIA
! Associated Press. however. is allow. d
to give approximate figures showing
what has been accomplished In the at
cumulation Of food supplies. 1t will b.
, seen that tho American Expeditionary
Forces we're in no danger of bel :;
! placed or short rations had the war
| continued. although the Americans had
promised the Allies vast quantities Of
| food, in addition to their own needs.
In army terms. one ration represents
the quantity Of each article each man
is entitled to daily. II is Interesting 10
| note the supply OF some of the pin
cipal ration components on hand today.
For instance, the Americans have 80.
100000 rations Of beans alone. 1ss. 60 coo
rations OF -four and flour substitutes.
267, 10000 rauons Of milk, 1S1. COCOON ra.
| tons OF butter or substitutes, 143, 90
! rations Of sugar. Ss00.UU rations Of
meat. 100000 rations of coffee. ard
600 tations OF rice. hominy AMI
other foods. There are requisites snci
as favorings. fruits. candy and pcta.
toes in preparation. while for smokers
there ore 76l 10000 rations of cigarettes
and tobacco in other forms.
Army authorities point out that .hcsn
vast necessary supplies for the army
represent food economies on the part 81
the people at home Without such cc,n-
ornies the work would have been yirtr-
ally impossible, nor would the Ameri-
cans have been able to promise certain
OF the Allies great assistance in meat
ing their requirements during the win
ter
The Associated Press is informed
that the American army had engaged
to give the French 3,060,0 900 pounds
of meat. 5,50O.0o0 pounds ,of beans
and rice and flour, and milk in pro-
portion. To tho British 5000, 900
pounds OF meat were promised. while
the Beigians were assured that they
would receive $4,000 pounds Of ra-
tons Of all kinds.
II Is difficult to describe in exact
figures what the American Expedi-
tionary Forces have done in the CON
struction and improvement OF dock
age and warehouses since the FIRST
troops landed. This work has been
proportionate to the whole effort in
other directions. Ten steamer berths
have been built at Bordeaux having