Evening star., 1918-07-27
j. s. FIGHTING MEN
FROM FRANCE ARE
ARRIVING IN ITALY
Number and Location of
Americans Not Now
Known Here.
D. C. CONTINGENT IS TN
NEW FIFTH ARMY CORPS
$1,000 Troops Sent Last Week
100000 for July Is
Program.

Program.
Trained combatant American troops
from France have begun to arrive in
Italy. Gen. March announced today at
his regular conference with news
paper men.
Neither the number nor the place
where they are to be used has been
communicated to the department, he
said.
Two New Corps in France.
Two new army corps have been or
ganized in France, Gen. March also
said.
In summarizing the results so far
tions the chief of staf said the Ger
mans had been driven eleven miles
farther from Paris than they were
when the drive began.
At the outset the enemy was within
thirty-eight miles of Paris. but now
= the nearest point is forty-nine miles.
The 10th Division, commanded by
Maj. Gen. Joseph E. Kuhn. which
trained at Camp Meade. has been in
eorporated in the new 5th Army
Corps. This division includes District
of Columbia troops.
The two new Army Corps. to be
known as the fourth and fifth. will
be commanded by Maj. Gen. George
W. Reed, and Maj. Gen. Omar Bundy.
respectively.
$1,000 Sent Last Week.
with $4,000 troops sent last week
the number of Americans transported
overseas during July is expected to
reach 100000 Secretary Baker and
the Senate military committee. whom
they met before Gen. March's con-
ference with the newspaper men.
Discusses Situation at Front. > ~
The positions on the tanks. Of the
salient near Scissors and Rheims are
relatively unchanged. he said.
The German withdrawal from Cha
teau Thierry toward the center Of the
salient continues, and the important
German center of Fere-en-TardenoiS
is now within three and one-half miles
of the allied lines and under con-
slant shellfire.
The most striking advance since last
Wednesday which Gen. March noted
was the dash of the British reinforce
ments just west of Rheims. This ad-
vance, of a mile and a half on a four
, mile front. he said. marked a special
source of danger to the enemy, plac-
ward position.
Americans Move Forward.
delayed the American progress, and
these troops are again moving for
ward.
AS a result. he said. the French al
ward from the Marne against the
enemy forces in the pocket on that
side of the salient.
The French advance from Dormans
northward on the Marne. the chief of
staff pointed out, is across precipitous
and wooded terrain and progress
necessarily is slow.
Comments on New Corps.
In announcing the formation of
two more corps Gen. Marsh explained
that the divisions comprising them
and other corps are assigned before
leaving this country, to be mobilized
as corps when their training has been
completed.
With this understanding, he said, the
s3d National Army (Maj. Gen. E. F.
GLENN. S9th National Army Orig
Gen. John s. Winn), 37th National
Guard (Gen. William s. Farnsworth),
2sth National Guard (Maj. Gen.
Charles G. Morton), Goth National
Army (Maj. Gen. Henry B. Allen) and
92d (negro) National Army (Maj. Gen.
C. c. Ballou) have been assigned to
the 4th Corps.
Gen. March announced the following
as temporary commanders: 1st Corps,
Mai. Gen. Hunter Liggett; I'd Corps,
Maj Gen. Robert L. Bullard; Sd, Mai.
Gen. William NJ Wright 4th. Maj.
Gen. George W. Reed; 5th, Mai. Gen.
Omar Bundy.
In answer to a question Gen. March
said the 32d National Guard Division,
composed principally of Michigan
troops and commanded by Maj. Gen.
Ham. now is in the Vosges on a quiet
sector.
1,25O,ooo Embarked Thus Far.
At the conference with the Senate
military committee it was disclosed
that, with the shipment of men last
week, the total number of troops en-
barking for France was 1,250,00O.
Justicia would not interfere with the
program of transporting troops, Sec
retary Baker said.
The military situation on the west
ern front was explained to the sena-
tors and was said to be satisfactory.
Production of the Haviland airplane
and Browning machine guns was dis
cussed with the Senate committee.
Secretary Baker said that SO far 753
of the Haviland machines have been
completed in this country and more
than 400 shipped to France
The last report to Gen. Pershing
said that sfxty-seven had been re-
ceived. but no report regarding the
number actually used on the Ameri-
can front was recorded.
5000 Finished Guns Still Here.
Secretary Baker said Gen. Pershfns
had criticised some of the Havilan1i
machines suggesting structural
changes. Five thousand heavy Brown
ing machine gums. Secretary Baker
faid. have been completed, but have
not yet been sent to Gen. Pershing.
Quantity of production of both the
heavy and Light Browning. he added,
Is increasing.
Mai Gen. John Ruckman, recently
commander Of the Southern Depart
ment, has been assigned to command
the north Atlantic coast artillery dis
trict, Cen March announced.
In connection with the recent order
for organizing six new divisions, the
chief Of STAFF said 1t would be policy
of the War Department to continue
organizing additional divisions as
those In this country arc shipDeds
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