New Britain herald., 1918-07-03
President Wilson Authorizes Publication of Exact Num- Der Shipped, 1,O19,115 as Independence Day Gift to Public.

Washington. July 3.-More than 3ne million American troops have been sent overseas. The exact figures are 1, ,019,116. Announcement to this effect was authorized last night by President Wilson, who said in a pre- pared statement that its publication will be welcomed and will give addi- tional zest to our national celebration of the Fourth of July
 Government officials. army officers, in fact, all who knew of the an nouncement, were elated over the splendid showing of troops sent to Europe. Detailed figures of ship nents of troops were included in the official statement, and it is apparent from these that the desire of the gov ernment to have army of 1,500,- 900 men at the front by the end of 1918 can be fulfilled before Septenl- Der if the present rate of transporta.- tton is continued. Tn June, the ban ner month, 276,572 men were sent overseas.
 Tn line with the statement author tzed by the president was the action of the house committee on appropria- tions in removing the seal of secrecy from testimony given by Brig. Gen. R. B. Wood acting quartermaster general, army to the effect that tho military strength of the country by January, 1919, would be 100000 men. And to this General Wood add ed the encouraging information tha these 4,000,000 would be thoroughly equipped, and those sent overseas would carry supplies and equipment for three months
 It was evident from General Woods testimony that the difficulties affecting the furnishing of 8 proper amount of clothing and sufficient oth- er equipment for our troops had been overcome.
 The presidents announcement took the form of authorization of the pub lication of a letter which he received from the secretary of war yesterday, giving detailed figures of the ship ment Of troops since the first con- tingent went to Europe in May, 1917. A table of shipments contained in Secretary Bakers letter shows how troops transportation has grown from mere handful to the great ship n1ent accomplished in June. Tn the last three months the movement has gone forward by leaps and bounds, and If the figures are published in Germany the people of that country will gee that the American army of "a few doctors and woodchoppers"
 
 benefit of the Germans it may be said between 65 and 70 per cent of the 1,019,11 belong to fighting units. Taking 6S per cent as the proportion (fcr Secretary Baker has stated that the percentage was nearer 70 than 65, it is apparent that the con1batant or fighting units of Pershing's army numbe 692,9sS men.
 The number of casualties given by Secretary Baker are net, that is, they do not include men who were re- ported as casualties and have since returned to active duty.
 The figures on troop shipments show that there was substantial foundation for the charges by mem bers of the senate committee on mil itary affairs last winter that the over seas n1ovem ent of soldiers had been 90 small 10 be almost negligible in these days of huge armies. It was not until September, 1917, when the United States had been at war with Germany for five months that the overseas movement approximated one thousand soldiers a day. At the end of October, when the United States had been 8 party to the great con- dict more than six months, the mum i, Der of American troops of all arms sent to Europe was only 116,072.
 The end of 1917 saw 187,928 Ameri- can soldiers in Europe and on their way across the Atlantic It was at this time that the investigation of the senate committee on military affairs was assuming it's most interesting and sensational phase. There appeared to have been 8 general supposition that 9 considerable army had been sent to General Pershing, but the revelations before the senate committee brought doubt. No figures of the overseas forces were authorized by the gov ernment but 8 little later when senators and representatives got the official figures in confidence, there was keen disappointment over the meagre showing.
 At the end of January 1918, the number of American troops sent over seas was 234,70 At the end of Feb ruary it was 282,731.
 Up to that time the transportation of soldiers in any one month had not reached 50,000. There was a spurt in March, when the exgencies of the allied military situation due to the German drive against Paris and the Channel ports caused the British and French governments to appeal to the United States for men. Lord Reading, the British ambassador, under in structions from the London ca bi- net, went personally to President Wilson, explained the dangers that threatened the allied armies, and asked for imm ediate assistance of an intensive character. Great Britain wanted men most of all. Infantry and machine gun forces were desired, -J r;4I