New-York tribune., 1918-12-05

N~t.%s Vi psvVS,VVO iuSIls more tnHn EsUUV,-
uooof whom were in Europe, as COM
pared with strength of lS9,674 in
March 1917 week before war was
declared.
10 illustrate the speed of this ex-
panslon. the report cites the fact that
the British army in France had re-
achcd its high mark in the summer Of
l9l', three years after the beginning
OF the war, and that figures was
shghtly more than 100000 men,.
it took l9 months for the United States
TO reach the same strength there, but
Mr. Baker points out that during those
years of battle, British manpower had
been heavily called upon to replace
casualties, while for many months the
How Of American troops all went to
augment the force being assembled.
10 some extent this was offset, he adds,
by the far greater transportation diff
culties 0 fthe American project.
Speaking of the selective service, Mr..
Baker makes this observation, with
out discussing the question of un-
iversal military training, soon to arise:
AT that time (when his preceding
annual report was issued) there was
ample evidence that the selective draft
was a swift. effective and just means of
securing the military strength nee
NNSoiN lOl lIC CCIOuCI VI a great WdI.
The experience of the past year has
strongly re-enforced that conviction"
Engineering Problems Discussed
Discussing the extensive engineering
undertakings in France, the need for
which has ended with the signing of
the armistice, Mr.. Baker gives this
hint at the policy the government
pursuing.
Steps have been taken to reduce or
ders and cancel contracts for such items
as will not be needed in France. In
this connection, however, care is being
taken to assure ourselves that we are
not depriving France of material which
she so urgently needs to replace that
worn out during her terrific selfdenials
of the last your years. We cannot re-
fuse to render all the assistance posi-
bic in the reconstruction of that heroic
nation"
Under the heading of "Fighting
Equipment for the Army" Mr.. Baker
gives a summary Of what was accom-
plished in providing ordnance for the
army. When the armistice was signed
30,SSl complete units had been con-
tracted for. On November 1864 had
been delivered, divided as follows:
Trench, 5000; light (field guns), 1850;
medium, l,070; heavy, COS; railway, 19.
The contracts were divided as follows:
Trench, 11,7O0; light, 1918; medium,
5'as5; heavy S,472; railway, 211.
been accepted prior to November l..
Browning machine gun production is
given as follows: Light, 47,019; heavy,
1886. The following cablegram is
quoted to show the performance of the
Browning guns in action:
Experience of the 18th Division in
offensive operations, September 25 to
October 21, Browning machine guns.
Thirteen machine gu accompanies en-
gagged; weather conditions, continuous
ram and mud. There was not
operate due to muddy and wet belts.
On the whole, it may be said
that the performance of the Browning
machine gun and automatic rifle in &C
tive operation has been so satisfactory
as to create an insstent demand for
these weapons from machine gun units
and from division commanders"
Thirty-two Air Squadrons at Front
Mr.. Baker gives much space to air.
craft problems, including the produc-
ton figures published from time to
time i'll the past. He shows that 3,189
De Havlind and 101 Handley-Page ma
chimes were produced in this country
and 1900 planes had been shipped to
France before the armistice was signed.
On the other side 2,676 planes of SER
vice types had been provided for the
American squadrons by the French gov
ernment. On September 80 General
Pershing had thirty-two air squadrons
at the front, the first of them to be
eqipped with American planes having
reached the battle areas in July.
The general health of the army has
been surprisingly good, the report
shows.
Discussing the embarkation service.
Mr.. Baker says that in nineteen months
q total of 2075,834 men and 5,153,OO0
cons of cargo were shipped overseas,
the great bulk of these movements
having been handled after January of
this year, When hostilities ceased the
service was engaging 5000 900 dead
weight tons of American shipping and
S0O,0O0 more tons had been allocated
ITS use, with half million tons addi-
tlonal month being delivered
The Home Army's Record
In closing his report Mr.. Baker
speaks tins word for the men who
fought the war at home:
desire again to express regret for
It's (the report's) insufficiencies. am
conscious of how far it falls short in
the matter of just recognition of the
accomplishments of my associates. of
exhibiting IN adequate measure the
heroic achievements of our soldiers
abroad or of our soldiers and civilians
at home, who have worked together to
make this demonstration Of Americas
purpose and efficiency successful.
"Perhaps a special word ought to be
said in recognition of those who from
civil life have come at the country's
call to places of exacting toll and have
been denied the opportunity to partici
pate abroad in the heroic adventure,
but have. nevertheless, worked on,
sometimes in uniform and sometimes IS
without even that badge of distinction.
Theirs has been in an unusual degree
the call to self-sacrifce. but they have
been none the less soldiers and have
contributed in no small way to what
ever success has attended our arms"