Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1918-07-03
OF 1,o19,115 WHO HAVE GONE,
100000 ARE FIGHTING MEN
United States Will Have Army
of 100000 by jan
uary /.
JUNE SAW 27o,s72 MEN SAIL
Secretary OF War Says Supplies and
Equipment in France Are
Adequate.

p" Jul: moro IMAM
100000 American soldiers have gone
TO France. Tho exact numbcr-l,Ulo,-
i15-was disclosed in correspondence
between President Wilson and Secre-
tary Of War Baker. dated yesterday
and made public to-day
or this number Approximately 100000
are hghting troops.
Shortly before the announcement
was made the House Appropriations
Committee made public testimony be-
fore that body in connection with the
army budget In it General r. l..
Wood. acting luartermaster-E General Of
The army. disclosed the fact that by
January /, the United States will havc
in uniform an army of 1000 600
Said the President this afternoon. ST.
suing the statement:
Il have to-day received the following
letter from the Secretary OF War.
which seems to me TO contain informa-
zion which will be SO satisfactory to
the country that It's publication Will he
welcomed, and will give additional zest
TO national celebration OF the
Fourth OF July:
War Department.
Washington. II. C.. July !. 1915.
Ny Dear Mr. President:
More than 100000 American SOL
d!crs have sailed from the ports In
this country to participate in the war
IN France. In reporting this fact 10
you. feet that YOU VIII be interested
in a few data showing the progress
OF our ove:seas military effort.
FIRST SHIPMENT MAS
MADE NAY S, 10I7
The frs, ship carrying military
personnel sailed May 6. 1917. having
on board Base Hospital No. 4. and mem
bers Of the reserve nurses corps.
"'Gcneral Pershing and his staff
sailed on May 80. 1917. The cmharka-
tons in the months OF May, 1917. 10
and including June, 1915. are as fol-
lows:
"'lsl7 May, LIS: June, l2.2el; July.
i2.ess; August. 1929; September. &c.
52s; October. Ss.5e; November. 23.ols:
December. 4s,s4o.
ISIS: January. 4G,776: February.
iS.oo7 March. s3,sll; April. ll7.2l2;
May. 2i4.3+5; June 276.372.
"'Mar!nes. l4.Gii.
'Agsregat!ns l,el9.ll5.
THE total number OF troops re-
turned from abroad lost at sea and
casualties is s,l65. and Of these. by
lion which the navy has given our
transport system, only :sl have been
lost at
THE supplies and equipment in
France for all troops sent is, by our
latest report adequate and the out
put Of our war industries in this coun-
try Is showing marked Improvement in
practically ali lines OF necessary equip
ment and supply.
Respectfully yours.
".NEwTON II. BAKER
ITO which / replied:
The White House.
Washington, d. c.. July .. 1918.
My Dear MIR. Secretary:
"'Your letter of July lst contains
very significant piece OF news and an
equally significant report of the for
warding Of troops during the past year
to the other side OF the water. 1t is
record which ] think must cause uni
He.sal satisfaction. because tho heart of
the country is unquestionably in this
war. and the people Of the United states
rejoice to see their force put faster and
faster into the great struggle which
is destined TO redeem the world.
"'Cordialy and sincerely yours.
WOODROW WILSON,"
OUT SIGNIFICANT FEATURE:
ITO me-" said Secretary Baker. dis
cussinG his report later with the news
paper correspondents. IA significant
feature of this report is this:
That the German submarine menace
made its appearance on this side Of the
Atlantic early in June. Our answer TO
that challenge was to send more troops
Inf in
any other"
The I.O19.1l5 represent approximate
ly twenty-fv divisions on the basis Of
between 10000 and $4,000 men-fghters
and ancilary units--to IL division. And
of this number nearly 200, 900 have re-
ccived six months training or more
back of the lines in France or on the
fighting front
When the United States entered the
war. and before the President took the
decision into his own hands as to over
seas movement. the general staff of the
army assured him that II would be a
miracle Of achievement If as many as
100000 troops were placed in France
during the first year of the war.
Assuming that between now and No
vember ] the War Department did not
move monthly more than the average
transported monthly since January I.
there would be in France by tho time
winter sets in more than 1,550,000.
Secretary Bakers promise to the Sem
ate Military Affairs Committee last
winter. when the investigation of the
governments conduct of the war was
in progress, was that there would be 500,.
600 men in Franco early In 1918 and
100000 available and ready to be
Continued on Second Page.)