Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1918-04-30
MAY ASK TEN MILLION
MEN FOR U. S. ARMY
Experts Figure 1t Will BE
Necessary to Maintain
Full Man-Powcr
TO MEET WASTA G L
Washington, April 80.

NdSuhlElOils Aplll pVs
War Department officials are study.
ing closely the few authenticated fig.
ures which arc available to them con.
cerning the numerical strength of the
French and British armies on the
western front. with a view Of deter
mining how many men it will be nee.
essary for the United States to raise
in the next two years to bring a
crushing weight of man-power against
the German military machine.
Since the beginning Of the war
France has raised an army of 100000
men, but at no time has she been
able to maintain more than 100000
men at or near the front in what is
known as the zone Of the armies"
Great Britain has raised between
100000 and 100000 men, but has
never been able to maintain more than
approximately 100000 men in the
zone of the armies in France.
The question naturally arises then
as to how many men the United States
must call out in order to maintain an
army of 1000 0GO to 100000 men in
France. France, Of course, had TO
meet no serious transportation prob
lens. The bulk of the British army
had before it "a journey of only q few
miles across the British Channel be-
fore being landed direct in its own
army zone. The United States, on the
other hand, is faced by the continu-
ing problem of transporting her men
over 5000 miles of danger-strewn
waters, with long railway journeys at
both ends of the line.
1000, 900 TO 10000, 900
There are some army experts who
are convinced the United States will
have 10 call out between 1000 600 and
10,OO0,O0O men in the next two years
to maintain an army i'm France at
fixed strength of 100000 troops \
smaller army than this, it is admitted
would not be a decisive element in the
war. 1t should also be Remembered
that maintaining 100000 men in the
fighting zone does nuL mean an actual
fighting force of anything like that
figure. The French and British GgurCs
already given include all the auxiliary
trSops which 90 to make up an army
the workers behind the front ana
along the lines of communication,
without whom the fighting men could
not have the means of carrying on.
Estimates vary as to the number OF
men required behind the front for
every man actually in the line. As
a matter Of fact, there is 10 fixed
rule to go 10y. There necessarily is a
fiexibility i'm the arrangement. During
quiet times, when only a few men are
required in the battle positions, the
rumber behind the lines at work and
resting may be three or four or five
to one. In times of stress, when every
possible man is sent into the firing
line, the ratio dwindleS to two or one
and one-half to one.
IL the problem before the American
military authorities merely had to do
with the transport of 2,50O OO0 men to
Frahce, it might quite easily be met.
But during the process Of building up
an army of anything approaching that
size the wastage to be overcome is
enormous, especially when the army
is fighting as the Americans are likely
TO be during all the coming summer
4 and autumn. The requirements re-
quired in an army of 100000 men
will keep a steady flow of troops mov-
ing to Europe and as the army in.
creases toward the 100000 mark the
problem of requirements expands, Of
course, i'm a ratio that corresponds to
compound interest on a loan.
Surprised at Figures
American army officers frankly have
been surprised at the figures they
have obtained regarding the size or
the Allied armies. They also have
been amazed at the number Of auNll. !
iary troops General Pershlug has
called for from time TO time They
are beginning to realize now, how
ever, what the building up of big
army in Europe actually means. On
paper il is a very easy matter to fig |
ure how so many millions Of men
can be flung into the fighting, but
actual, experience Of the Allies has
shown how difficult it is to maintain a
force in the field in anything like the
proportions required in this super
war of the worId.
Far from being daunted by the i'm. /
mensity of the task before them, how /
ever, the army authorities have been
'stirred to deep sense OF responsl- !
(ility and realization as to what this .
country must do to bring y:ctory 10
The Allied cause. The task, after AN .
is said and done, is so easily within
the scope of the United States that
only the will to accomplish it is
needed.
The whole question Of 'nan-power
is to be taken up with the committees