The daily Gate City and constitution-Democrat. (Keokuk, Iowa) 1916-1922, 1918-07-26
FORCES OF us.
TO END CONFLICT
German offensive Was Forced by
Coming Of Yankees and Wars
Finish is in
Sight.
IN WAR SIXTEEN MONTHS
army Operations in France Have
Swept Ahead Of All caIeuIa-
tions and Antiei-
pations.
rBy Carl D. Groat, United Press Staff
Correspondent

rBy Carl D. Groat, United Press Staff
Correspondent
rcopyright 1918, by United Press.]
WASHINGTON, July 26.-The great
war. closing it's fourth bloody year,
finds America rushing across the
seas with her millions Of men, bill
lions of dollars and her ever increas-
ing flotillas of war vesSels-to thrash
the kaiser.
The advent of new year in the
war sees Americas military forces
rapidly approaching the size of Eng
lands, and destined soon to equal
those of France.
With an army strength of nearly
5000 900 men today; a navy OF nearly
half a million, and with hundreds OF
ships, tons upon tons of munitions,
and a vast food reserve for the allies.
this nations effort has amazed the
allied world and startled the German
war lords.
When she entered the war America
had only 213,000 officers and men,
including the national guard units
trained on the Texas border. We
now have over half that many Off
GERS alone. Latest official figures
Snow tuS dIlhy oLlCholli " oS' NAAA
GERS, 100000; men, 2,010,000. Nearly
100000 men are in training at
home or have just qualified for over
seas duty.
The jump in the size Of the navy
is equally startling, both in enlist
ments and in new ship strength.
When we declared war sixteen
months ago, the navy's manpower
was $4,000. 1t is now well over the
half million mark. The United
States fleet has been enlarged by
over 1875 ships since April, 1917.
Nearly 500 smaller craft are under
construction. This is exclusive OF
dreadnaughts, battle cruisers and
other major fighting vessels.
The new naval appropriations just
granted by congress will swell these
figures tremendously, though details
cannot be given. for military rea-
sons. They will make possible one
of the largest fleets afloat, it is in
dicated.
All Classes Of Ships.
European waters are dotted with
American craft, ranging from the
monster dreadnaughts down to the
tiniest submarine chasers.
4NcN COii-
struction which will be the largest
guns ever mounted on ships will
equip these super-fighters.
Navy recruiting is speeding to
man these new ships. Under Stimu-
lus from recent submarine raids Off
the Atlantic coast, recruiting for the
navy is averaging 1000 daily, and
has reached as high as 1000 day.
American warships are in practi-
cally all European waters-from the
RUSSIAN coast to southern Europe.
They recently arrived at Venice to
assist land operations of the Italians.
The largest naval force consistent
with safety of our own shores and
maintenance of communications
across the Atlantic is now on &C
tive duty on the European side. The
frst destroyers sailed for Europe
three weeks after we declared war,
and they have speeded across in in
creasing numbers as the war went
en-.
The Army over There.
Army operations in France have
swept ahead of all calculations. We
are months ahead of our program
and the climax has yet to be reached.
The magnitude of this task ap-
pears greater when it is remembered
mat the American army had to build
us own railways, construct it's own
cocks and loading facilities, build
is own warehouses on French soil,
ana, in effect, almost establish
new battlefront. American officers
give the French and English full
credit for the material assistance
rendered and the valuable expert ad-
wee offered, but the job remaining
LOT Americas expeditionary army
was a staggering one.
Nine regiments of railway engi-
neers have been at work in France
since last August-an army of nearly
oo'oOo men welding the pick and the
shovel
carpenters hammered on large
warehouses; to keep American sup
pnes from the weather Road build
ers paved paths for the fleets of
motor trucks which have been among
.ue most valuable adjuncts to the ex
peoiuonary army.
Workers at Home.
supporting this vast undertaking
abroad are millions of skilled work
lsen at home, turning ont munitions,
Siotnlng, equipment and everything
Neeued by the fighting soldier.
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