The Wilson times. [volume] (Wilson, N.C.) 1896-19??, 1918-04-23
HELP FOR THE
BRITISH IN FRANCE
Italy Sending Troops and u. S.
Will Have Two Million
On the Front
BY THE FIRST OF JULY

The number of Italian troops sent
into France has not been disclosed
for military reasons, but the contia,
gents already there are being IN
creased, and the total ,mbcr will
be determined by the neo.!s and pro-
gress of the battles to be fought. 1t
was asserted today that Italy coulG
easily send 100000 men to the
French front without endangering
the Italian front, and that this num-
ber might even be increased to l.
100000 men, although j; is not t"u-
sidered that anything like the latter
number will be sent.
Premier Orlando speaks q the
Italian contirgents as t,rm!ng the
right wing of the army in France.
This is susceptible of several inter-
|pretations. There is right wing in
Flanders and right wing on the
Picardy front; but there il ~ right
wing on the whole front, represent
ed by the southern sectors of the
lime which have been intrustcd to
the French. 1t is known that Amer
ican troops have been placed in ro-
sitions along the line at points be-
tween Laon and the Swiss border,
relieving French veterans, who were
sent to the Picardy and Flanders
fronts for use in the present great
battle, and it may be thac some Of
the Italians sent to France have been
placed in sections of that line, pOssi-
bly, near the Swiss border and III The
Vossages, the Italians be ng used to
mountain fighting, thu; relieving
other French contingents for servic"
further north along the Flanders
and Picardy fronts.
What Italy and the United States
are doing in supplying forces for the
immediate use of General Foch will
have vital bearing on the whole
capaign of 1918 against the Ger
mans. The American forces avail
able are being utilized in three ways.
First in guarding their own sections
of the line, from the responsibility
for which some time ago they re-
lieved the French; guarding other
sections Of the line which they re-
Gently took over to enable French
veterans to go to the Picardy and
Flanders fronts, and acting as a re-
serve force which General Foch Is
free to use in any way he elects.
The American Government now
has approximately 100000 men
under arms in its three groups OF
armies-the regular army, the Ma
tional Guard army, and the national
draft army. How many of the H.
900 are in France cannot be stated,
but Secretary Baker told the Senate
Military Committee there would be
500, 900 in France by April, and ev-
cry effort has been made to live W
Ito that prediction. American troops
are being sent to France more rap
idly now than was thought possible
several months ago. The transports
are making quicker trips, so that the
same number Of transports can han
Idle a large number of men eacn
month; embarkation and disembark-
alton has been more rapid, and in
formation given to members of tbs
|Senate and House Military Affairs
Committees by the War Department
has convinced them that great prog
|ress has been made in this direction.
When the estimates for the sup
port of the army during the flscai
year, starting July /, were submit
ted they were for 100000 men.
More than that number are now un-
der arms, and enlistments of a voi-
unteering character are adding near
lily 10000 men a month to the regu-
lar army. Plans for calling 100000
men to the colors in the second draft
have been completely revised as a re-
suit of the German drives, and, as
previously stated, i s'now certain
that 100000 mem will be put into
training camps in| the next twelve
months.
For the month If April, to movc
to training campY next week, 1907
900 men Of the Second draft have
been called. A like, number will hc
called under. the secpnd draft In
May, and probably more in June.
the House Military Affairs Commit
tee, yesterday gave to 'ths members
Of tat comittee q revised \estimate
Continued on Page Ski.