Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1918-07-03
SENT OVERSEAS
Continued from Page ons)

\SOUSiNuoo ITo" rage Onoy
erica's man-power could exert its full
force. How long the present rate Of
transportation will be maintained de.
Ponds upon developments in France
and the length of time the surplus
ship tonnage furnished by Great
Britain can be employed for this
work.
In this connection. Secretary Ba-
ker said tonight that he disapproved
of speculation as to the future rec
ords in troop movements. declaring
that he did not desire TO have past
performances made the basis of spec
ulations for the future"
AS reserves for the million and
more men now in France, more than
another million are now in training
in the United States. 1t has been
officially announced that 100000
American sol.iers will be under arms
by the end of this month. while in
formation recently furnished to Con-
gress by Brigadier General r. E.
Wood. acting quartermaster-gener
disclosed that his department is
planning to clothe 100000 men on
next January |.
General Crowder recently told the
Senate military committee that class
one registrants would be exhausted
by the first Of the year and he added
the significant statement that every
body expected heavy calls to be made
during the first six months OF next
year"
In discussing the heavy movement
of troops in the last three months. Mr..
Baker said it was worthy of mention
that the month in which German
submarines were operating off our
coast was the month in which we
made the record number of ship
ments."
In this connection. is was recalled
that not single American transport
carrying troops to Europe had been
sunk by Germany.s Sc. wolves. the
only two destroyed having been at
tackled when returning home without
the protection of American destroy-
ers and other naval craft. The Brit
ish vessels carrying American sold
iers have been torpedord and third
was sunk last month when returning
to this country withou. convoy.
Secretary Bakers letter reveals for
the first time the number OF marine
sent to France.
The American airmen, acting as pa
trolling party, came upon the enemy
shortly after Z O'Clock in the morning
and Immediately attacked. with the
advantage OF the offensive, the Ameri-
in "a
adversaries and, after furious eX-
changes at an altitude of more than
two miles. drove the Germans down
distance of mile. Two of the Amert-
can ayiators sa W one of the Nieuports.
driven by an American pilot, go into
dive and disappear. but three Am crican
pilots have reported that they observed
tracers go through the fusilage of three
enemy machines within few minutes
of each other, the planes crashing
earthward.
The lighting was fast and furious and
all kinds OF maneuvers were brought
into play. Finally the Germans made
off hurriedly.
When the Americans returned to their
field they found that two of the ma
chimes of the patrol were missing and
they have not been heard from so far.
The nature Of the engagement was evil
denced by the numerous bullet holes In
the machines which returned. One Of
these had been struck IL times; one
bullet grazed the gas tank, another
cut strut while the fusilage was like
a sieve
The American pilots credited with
bringing down the German planes are
William J. Hoover of Huntsville. S. c. !;
Alfred A. Grant. Denton. Tex. and
John Macarthur, Buffalo, y. Y.