The Washington herald., 1918-08-18
THREE MILLION
MEN ALREADY
IN ARMS
900 Afloat or Over
seas; l,550,0O0 in Camps
Here, Says March.
$500, 900 ARE TO BE IN
FRANCE BY JUNE 80
Will Yield 200, 900 Actual
Combatants on Firing
Line There.
HEALTH OF ARMY EXCELLENT;
DEATH RATE TWO PER CENT
Shipping Situation Good and In
provins-Protest Against Pad
ding" Pershins Reports.
;, 800, 900 ARE TO BE IN
FRANCE BY JUNE 80
HEALTH OF ARMY EXCELLENT;
DEATH RATE TWO PER CENT

Seh' feyton Z. March, Chief
OF Staff, at his conference with
members of the Senate Military
Affairs Committee, yesterday an
nounced that the United States
had I,4So,ooo men under arms
overseas, and r,55o,ooo under arms
IN camps in the United States.
The last official report was that
100000 men were in camp in the
United States. The statement
yesterday would indicate that
10000 troops are on their way
to France, and verihes the state
ment from q high official quarter
that the United States armed
forces in France will amount TO
100000 men by September I.
Gen. March also told the SEN
ators that there had been little
change in the Western front since
their last conference and that
German resistance to the allied
and American thrusts appears to
have stiffened. The Teutonic
forces evidently will make a de-
termined stand on the old Hin
denburg line.
Rassisa Status Bad.
The situation in Russia, as viewed
by Gen. March, is very bad. 1t is so
mixed up that IL IL well-nigh impos-
sible for observers to get q clear Ere.
From the allied standpoint there il no
change.
Gen. March was able to give the
committee very encouraging reports
on the improvement of the health of
the army. The present average year
ly death rate is but 2 per cent or ~
to the 1000. Constant improvement is
being noted both in camps and field
service.
Another encouraging report from
Gen. March was that the shipping sit
uation. as affecting the Increment OF
troops and military supplies, was verv
good and constantly improving. a
recent survey showed that the turn
around, or round trips of transpoi is
and cargo ships, was being accom-
plished I'm faster time than hitherto.
The speeding up Of the troop and
cargo ships is due to improved port
facilities both in the United States and
France.
Exaggerated Reports.
Gen. March uttered a protest TO the
members Of the Senate committee
against the padding" and undue am
plification Of ofdcial dispatches in
press reports from Washington.
He took as an example some of
the reports sent to newspapers from
Washington about the flight of eigh-
teen de Haviland machines in France.
He said that the official dispatch was
not more than 100 words and reported
a flight under command Of Brig. Gen.
Foulois in Lorraine.
The official report stated that all
the machines had returned safely. AS
the flight took place over peaceful
terrain. the note that the machines.
had returned safely meant simply
there had been no accidents Of night.
II was seized upon. however. by
some Washington correspondents as
indicating that the fight had Been
over the German lines. and long dis
patches were sent out telling how the
de Havilands had toyed with the
enemy's defenses.
Huns Prepare to Fight
In his subsequent interview with the
press, Gen March went into detail
about the situation on the Western
front and drew the conclusion that
the Teutonic armies are consolidating
their retreat resistance. and that the
next great battle Of the allies and
Americans against the Kaiser's forces
will be an attack along the general
alignment that the Huns now seek
to establish.
Gen. March renewed his statement
made to the Senate Military Affairs
Committee that there will be at
least eighty American Divisions or
$500. 900 men of all arms and capa-
cities. under q united command on
the Western front by June 90. 1913.
OF actual combatants. he said. there
will be on the firing line. or In
touch with Il, at least 100000
American troops.
Commenting ON capable press re-
ports about inhuman treatment Of
American prisoners by the Germans,
Gen. March said that no testimony
has bean received by ne that pAmeri-
can prisoners Of war have been
singled out for any treatment dif-
ferent from that which All the rest
get"
Spanish authorities. setting for the
- <..~uu-.-. - - -,