Wausau pilot. [volume] (Wausau, Wis.) 1896-1940, 1918-04-16
UNITED STATES At
WAR ONE YEAR
Expansion of Armed Forces Out
standing Feature of Period.
i,52S,924 MEN IN THE ARMY
Official Review of Twelve Months
Activities Shows What Various
Departments of Government
Have Done.

Have Done.
The United States has been an ac-
tive participant in the great world war
for one year. At the opening of the
second year The government commit
tee on public information has issued
review of the first twelve months OF
hostilities, showing what has been
done by various branches of the gov
eminent to place the United States In
position to play an effective part in
the ultimate defeat of Germany and
ler allies. The committee ON public
information says that all statements
contained in the following summary of
The review are authorized by the war
department, navy department, United
States shipping board and treasury
department.
The outstanding feature of the first
year of war, it is pointed out
in the review, has been the transfer
nation of the standing army and Ma
ti0nal Guard, composed of 1914 ON
GERS and POPS men INTO lighting
force that now aggregates 123,S0l Of
ticerS and 1,528,924 enlisted men.
A statement of the adjutant general
shows that the regular army which in
April, 1917, comprised 5,791 officers
and III, 1917 men, now is made up of
1858 officers and 503,l42 men. The
National Guard in April, 1917, incud-
ed 3.733 officers and 1918 men, while
now it comprises 1898 officers and
.I3I, $50 men. The reserve corps in
service one year ago included 1000
men. Now it includes 96,21O officers
and II. $50 men. The National army,
which did not exist one year ago, now
includes 516S39 men,
substantial vanguard (military
eXpedieucy prohibiting publication OF
actual numbers) of this army is meet
ing the enemy in France today or is en-
caIuped there awaiting the call to the
trenches; in IS environments and 16
CAMPS and on numerous aviation fields
am in variety of other schools in
all parts of the United States the men
nf The remaining army are hardening
and training for their part in the great
contest overseas.
Behind the activities of this vast
force lies great industry organized
10 produce an adequate supply of nlu-
nitionS equipment, and provisions,
and to provide transportation to the
firing line, almost every branch of
essential industry of the country hav-
ing been drawn upon to produce these
material requirements.
Expedtionary Forces.
Military necessity particularly for
bids q detailed review of the activities
q The American eXpeditionary forces.
General Pershing and his staff ar
:lved in Paris on June IA, 1917, 50
days after the declaration of war. The
first American troops arrived in
France on June 20. On July 4, in Gel
ehratiOn of our natal day and new
ii"ht for liberty, American troops pa
raded the streets of Paris and were
greeted as the forerUnners of great
American armie and vast quantities
OF supplies and ammunitionS.
Ou October TO- 1917, 1877 days after
the war was declared. American sol
dies went on the firing line. In Jan
ua.y American soldiers took over per
nl>nently a part Of the line as an
American sector. and this line is grad
ualiy frightening.
Behind the fighting line in France
the American forces have scientifically
prepared q groundwork of camps, com
muuicati0ns, supply bases. and works
In anticipation of operations by the
fun force of the army They are
building and have built railroads, hos
pitfalls. ordnance bases, and docks in
France They have constructed inn
menSe barracks, erected SawmillS, re-
claimed agricultural lands. and car
ried forward many Incidental enter
priseS.
The construction of an ordnance
base in France. costing $25.0O0,0O0 is
now well under way. Great quantities
OF material used in the foreign con
Struction work have been shipped from
the United States-from fabricated
irrnwOrk for an ordnance shop to nails
and crossties for railroads, and even
the piles to build docks
All the while there has been fairly
even dow of men and materials from
the United States to France. The men
in the trenches, back of the lines, on
the construction projects, aud in the
hospitals have been steadily supplied
our losses mt sea, in men and mate
ria!S, have been gratifyingly small
The greatest single loss occurred on
February .. when the British ship
Tuscana was torpedOed and sunk
The bodies of la soldiers, en- route tC
France. have been found and 55 Others
were still missing on Marcel Is.
To secure an adequate number OF
Competent officers TO lead the new
armieS various plans We're devised
Two classes at West Point We're grad
uated in advance of the usual gradu
ating dates and special examinations
were held In various parts of the c6un
try for appointments from civil life
Three series of officers training camps
have been held. OF 63,20S candidates
ia the first two series of camps 44,5Ts
qualified and were awarded commits
stems In the third series of camps
opened January ;, 1918, about lS00t
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Sarbed Wire on Barrel Hoops