The Watertown news. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1917-1919, 1918-11-22
EXTENT OF U. s.
EFFORT is TOLD
About 100000 Men in France
When Truce Came; Enor.
nous Tasks.
READY TO CONTINUE WAR

Amazing Facts of America's War
Work 10 Rsveaied-Vast Stores Of
Food and Munitions Taken to
France--Raiiroads Built
Americas Headquarters Ia France,
Nov. 22.-The extent OF Americas mil
itary effort in France at the time the
armistice was declared Is shown by
statistics which the correspondent is
now permitted to make public. While
the stupendous figures required to tell
the story are In themselves amazing,
show only a part of the great effort
made In war preparations in men.
money and material
On the morning Of November IL the
United States had In France 1891
officers and 1881, ,378 mea. total of
almost 100000. As has already been
announced there were 760,O combat
troops in the Argonne section. This
number does not include the American
units engaged on other parts OF the
front. y
Man power alone, however, was but
one factor in the preparations for
American participation IN the war. Be-
hind 1t lay vast machinery, which was
required In operations. Railways and
motor roads were constructed, and
across the sea were brought locomo-
,,rt
Of every kind.
Every Effort Of Civil Life, Plus.
Behind this again was the requisite
food, clothing and general supplies for
the men, as well as dockage and ware
house construction. Every effort Of
civil life, plus the requirements Of
war, was exerted.
The American army has brought
over to France and has In operation
e67 standard gauge locomotives and
18,174 standard gauge freight. cars Of
American manufacture. In addition 1t
has in service $50 locomotives and 973
cars Of foreign origin. To meet de-
mands which the existing French rail-
ways were unable to lieet, 84S miles
Of standard gauge railway were con-
structed. Five hundred miles Of this
have been built since June 1.
On top Of this the department Of
light railways reports the construc-
Of German light railways were re-
paired ard put In operation. Two hun
dred and twenty-five miles Of French
railway were operated by the Ameri-
cans.
Motor Transport System vast.
These figures represent a fairly
good-sized American railway company,
but railways represent only fraction
of the transport effort. Modern war
fare Is motor warfare and It is virtu-
ally impossible to present In figures
this phase Of the work Of the Ameri-
can army.
In building new roads as the exigen-
cies Of battle operations required, In
keeping French roads repaired under
the ceaseless tide of war transport and
In constructing bridges In devastated
battle regions, American engineers
worked day and night. The whole
region behind the American lines is
full Of typical American road machin-
cry, much Of 1t Of character never
seen before In Europe.
To do this work the American ex-
peditionary forces had in operation
November II more than $1,000 motor
vehicles Of all description.
Even at the present stage Of the
armistice, which may precede peace,
II is not permissible to hind at the
vast stores Of munitions and arma-
ment brought over and held In readi-
ness.
The correspondent, however, is al
lowed to give approximate figures
showing what has been accomplished
In the accumulation of food supplies,
Il will be seen that the American ex-
padtt1onary forces were in no danger
Of being placed on short ratdons had
the war continued, although the Amer
leans had promised the allies vast
quantities Of food in addition to their
own needs.
Millions Of Bean Rations Alone.
In army terms, one raticn represents
the quantity Of each article each man
Is entitled to daily. 1t Is interesting
to note the supply Of some Of the prin.
cipal ration components on hand to-
day. For instance, the Americans
have 3oO,OOOOOO radons of beans
alone. 100000 rations Of -four an6
-four substitutes, 267 100000 rations Of
milk, 1o1 100000 rations Of butter OF
substitutes, 143,OOO,O00 rations , O.
sugar, 100000 rations Of meat, 81.
1000 rations Of coffee and liz, 900,
600 rations of rice, hominy and othel
foods. There ere requisites, such al
favorings, fruits, candy and potatoe.
in proportion. while for smokers ther.
are 761, 100000 rations Of cigarette,
and tobacco IN other forms.