The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1918-12-11
Gen. March in Annual Report
Gives Facts of the Army
Program.
PLANS WERE MADE FOR
THE CAMPAIGN IN 1919
Chief of Staff in Annual Report
to Secretary Baker Tells OF
Part Played By United States
in Victory-Deep Study Of
Whole Situation Made Long
Ago.

Washington, Dec. 5-The army pro-
gram of so divisions in France by
June 80, 1919, was embarked upon
with complete confidence that Ger
many could and would be defeated
during 1919 if the project was car
ried, General March, chief of staff, de-
clared in his annual report to Secre-
tary Baker, made public today. That
! conviction was based on a compre-
hensive study Of the whole war stu
alton, ordered by General March i'm
mediately after he assumed his duties
at, the head Of the army last March.
After a study of the entire situa-
tion," the report says, including as
accurate an estimate of the potential
strength Of our allies on the western
front and of the probable German
strength as was possible, I came to
the conclusion that the war might be
| brought to an end in 1918, provided
we were able to land in France by
June 80 of that year so American di-
visions of strength of 1850, 900 men
On July 1S, 1918, submitted to you
formal memorandum, accompanied
by a, study of methods by which the
men could be obtained, the supplies
procured and an analysis of the ship
ping which must be obtained in order
to accomplish this very large mill
! tary program. This was accompanied
by an estimate of the cost Of the pro-
posed program.
In this study I recommended to
you the adoption, as the American
program, of SO divisions in France
and Is at home by June 80, 1919, bas-
ed on a total strength Of the Ameri-
can army of 4,S50,000 men. This was
approved by you and by the presi-
dent Of the United States and adopt
ed as our formal military program. To
carry this program into effect re-
quired the adoption by congress of a
change in the draft ages so as tc
| include men between the ages Of IL
and IS years, and also created de-
fciency over the enormous approprla-
some $1,000, 100000. The presentation
of the program to congress, accom-
panied by the statement that this in
crease in the army Il laws were passed
by congress which would make it eff
fective, would lead to success in 1919,
produced prompt and favorable con-
sideration by that body.
"Up to the signing of the armistic2
troops were being .transprted to
that program The results speak for
themselves"
The remainder Of the report is de-
voted to a presentation of the steps
it was found necessary to take tc
build up an adequate general staff and
the announcement that complete
! plan of reorganization for the army.
including the staff, is being worked
out.
II have directed the divisions of
the general staff concerned to study
and submit for your consideration
plan for the reorganization Of QUO
army, which will take advantage Of
our experience in this war, which has
brought about many changes in Or
ganization of all arms Of the service,
and has developed new arms not
known when the war started. The
air service, the tank corps, the de-
velopment of heavy mobile artillery.
the proper organization Of divisions.
corps and armies all will be set forth
in the scheme which will be submit
ted to you with the recommendation
that it be transmitted for the con-
sideration Of congress" !"
The modesty and gallantry of the
individual American soldier in France
SIS a matter Of pride to all Ameri-
cans" General March declared, add
ing:
General Persning and his COM
nand have earned the thanks Of the
American people"
The chief of staff also commerds
the work of Gen. Bliss at Versailles,
which, he says, was of the great
est value to the department.
Appended to the report is a terse
chronology Of the operations Of the
American army in France and a day
TO day sketch of the campaign begin
ming on April %, 1917, and conclud-
ing November II, 1918, when the hos
an;