Republican farmer. [volume] (Bridgeport, Conn.) 1810-1920, 1918-02-08
us. TROOPS NOW
in FRANCE over
$4,000, REPORT
M. Tardieu Declares That
Expeditionary Force Has
Attained Big Figure.
AMERICAS EFFORTS
ARE HIGHLY LAUDED
France Able to Supply Can
non for Twenty Divisions
By July First.

Americans under arms in France to-
day than there were in the entire
American Army when last April the
United States entered the war, and at
that time it had 1884 officers and
202,510 men.
America today has in all tic, 900 Of
ficers and 100000 men.
This revelation, more specific even
than the testimony Of Secretary
Baker on the same point before the
Senate Committee, came last night
from Andre Tardieu, the French
High Commissioner to the United
States, at dinner in the Hotel
Plaza as part of the celebration of
the treaty between the American
Colonies and France in 1878 univer-
sally observed yesterday throughout
The United States and Canada.
Mr.. Tardieu gave the further assur-
ance that France will be able before
July 1, to manufacture enough artil-
lery to supply 20 American divisions,
or approximately 100000 troops, if the
United States adheres to the under
standing that will give France the
necessary raw material.
Able to Arm Allies
I'VE have in the line $1,000 guns of
every calibre, and every day more
than 100000 shells are turned out by
our factories" Mr.. Tardieu said. ''To
get those guns, to produce those shells
we created an industry which did not
exist before the war, and which has
enabled us not only to arm ourselves
but to arm our Allies
Without speaking of what we man
ufacture for you, and that is several
hundred guns month, we have, dur
ing the past three years, given to our
Allies in Europe 1850 rifles, 49,
900 automatic rifles, 10000 machine
guns 500 millions of cartridges, $500
guns, ALSO aeroplanes.
"And the day when faithful Italy
found herself in peril-a peril which
is now averted-we within a few
hours brought reinforcements to her
from the troops, which proves the un-
breakable brotherhood of our alli-
ance."
Asserting that secrecy ought to be
thing of the past, because our dem
ocracies want to know in order to
WILL" the commissioner said that the
results achieved by America in its
war preparations were a stimulant for
effort and that nobody has the right
to refuse to the American people this
stimuIant"
He praised first Americas wisdom
in adopting the draft as a means Of
raising her army. After giving the
figures showing the strength of the
American army today he said:
Time Counts Much in War.
"In order to equip this army, Sc
camps of instruction had to be Gre
ated. You will do there as far as
practical instruction is concerned
everything that can be done far away
from the front. France has taken
every necessary measure so that you
can complete on our territory the
training begun here. For that pur-
pose it is necessary and it is enough
that the unity of method should be
completely secured by an intimate
collaboration between the two coun-
sells.
ITO equip this army with guns and
aeroplanes, you called upon your al
lies for the supply of your immediate
needs and you started simultaneously
program of American manufacture
ing. Some people, in Europe as wei
as here, have been wondering why yor
should not, in that respect have don.
everything by yourselves. This crit.
cism shows that those people ignore
firstly, what time means in war, and
secondly, how infinitely complicated is
the industrial war organization which
from the very start is required by ar
extensive production of ordnance anC
aviation.
''As regards aviation, the results al
ready obtained in the United State!
are, in my opinion, above all expecta
ton. Within six months you hav,
brought out the Liberty motor, which
if not Of higher value than the hes
existing type, is equal to them, anc
once standardized will be manufac
tured in large quantities, by the thou
sands. On the other hand, my tech
ntcal experts declare that the organi
zation of your aviation schools is ex
cellent In general, and that almos
after final training to start thei
Ordnance Situation Safe.
las regards ordnance, the adoptio
without any modification of our vari
Gus types of guns would certainl
have saved some time to the benef
of the American production, and som
delays may be the consequence of tn
Improvements you are looking for, a.
ways, and rightly at that, aiming g
better results. But as we hay
agreed, it was understood that yo
should supply and transport to Franc
the necessary raw material; we will
under such conditions, be able, i
France, to deliver to you before Jul
1 enough guns to thoroughly equi
twenty of your divisions. The situa
ton, therefore, is completely safe j
that respect"
Mr.. Tardieu praised the Food Az
ministration, the Railroad Admins
tIation, the Shipping Board, the Flu
Administration and the War Trad
Board as being "methodicaI and SUI
tanned" but he added:
ct am in daily touch with thei
boards. know the difficulties the
have to contend with. I know IL
results they achieve. Their technic
operations may be discussed, howeve
in a free country. Discussion is
spur to action. You will allow m
without taking part in the discussiC
to quote a few facts which need
comment.
During the month of Decemb
last, the High Commission called Il
attention of the Shipping Board to
crisis affecting very seriously O
supply of gasoline and oil for the fiji
two months of 1918. Today the mea
trea taken bv the board allow me