Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1918-05-17
WAR DEPARTMENT MAY HAVE
IMMENSE ARMY IN SERVICE
BY JAN. 1, 1919.
TWO MILLION IN FRANCE
AT END OF PERIOD
Additional Transport Service Will Per-
NIT Increase Of Number of Men Go.
ing to France Monthly To Call
10000 Each Month to Replace Men
in Cantonments Now Going Abroad.

Washington, May 1.-THE war de-
partment has fixed a goal of /, 100000
| fighting men and 100000 men of all
branches of the service in France be-
| fore the end Of 1918.
The program also calls for the mo-
biization Of approximately 100000
men of the second draft in training
camps on this side during the period
from May to December, inclusive, per-
hitting the army to match man for
man the troops sent to France with
new drafts called out for training.
United Statess Troop Table.
Taking Secretary Bakers official
statement that the number of Amer
lean troops now overseas has passed
the 10000 mark. as of May l, the fol-
lowing summary may be made:
Troops in France May Eek
CeeOlNg) 0VU.VVU
Estimated total June l ...... 10000
Estimated July (nearIy) 81, 000.0 600
Goal set for end OF year $50. q, 00O, OOJ
These estimates, however, require
explanation. The number Of troops in
France May l was far, beyond 500, 900,
Secretary Baker having confined him
self to the announcement that this
mark had been passed, without giving
exact numbers.
For the last two month the number
Of troops sent 10 France has been more
than 10000 a month. The movement
has been so heavy as to make the
June l estimate of 100000 conserva-
tive and the July / estimate of ap-
proximately a million about the num-
Der that may be expected on past per-
fnrmances
Get Additional Transport.
At the normal rate of 10000 men u
France month, the total for the six
months from July to December inclu-
sive would be 500. 900. but the war de-
partn1ent believes it can exceed this
number, as additional transportation
facilities become available during the
year. The mark, therefore, has been
fixed at 100000.
dispatch from Paris quotes
Premier Clemenceau's newspaper. the
LHomme Libre, as saying that the
United States has promised TO send
1900, 900 lighting men, and 100000
men, including specialists and nom
combatants by the end of 1918. 1t Is
hardly accurate, officials said, to say
a definite program of this kinds was
made. but it is fair to say the French
government has been advised this is
the number the United States hopes to
send in 1918
Draft Call Schedule.
Final plans for calling second draft
incre!nents this year have not been
worked out, but the tentative plan,
using May as the starting point, calls
for the mobilization as follows:
Called 10 colors in May. 100000
Each succeeding month 10000
Total. May to December 1850, 900
Under the policy of no limit" TO
the size of the American army as
enunciated by Secretary Baker in ask
ing congress FOR blanket authority to
call out as many troops as may he
needed to beat the Huns, it Is impossi-
bic TO make any estimates made in
May binding for the remainder Of the
year. War department officials frank
" admit this.
But the program they have fixed Is
ca pable of expansion possibly to
years total of 100000 under arms, II
facilities can be found for sending
troops to France faster than they have
gone in the past, and If the training
camp and supply facilities can meet
the strain that will be placed upon
them by accommodating future draft
contingents.
Explains Brieading Problem.
The problem of moving approximate
" 100000 men to camps during May
brought the greatest troop movement
strain American railroads ever have
rad to face This troop movement has
held back freight shipments and there
probably will be further arrangements
of the traffic. The war department has
adopted the advice of the British and
French, however, to send troops first
and let supplies come later.
Secretary Baker explained his
view as to what the new practice OF
brigad;ng American units with French
and British divisions and the appoint
ment Of Gen. Foch as supreme com
mander might bring about in the way
Of producing mixed army corps or dl-
visions. It Is entirely possible. he said,
that American division OR higher com
manders will have command OF French
or British troops, or both, under the
movements ordered by Gen Foch
Where a mixed division or corps is
constituted and American troops pre-