The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1918-05-17
u. s. MAY HAVE
100000 men
ARMED IN 1918
Men Will Be Called to the
Colors as Fast as They Can
Be Equipped.


WASHINGTON, D. c., May 1.-THE
war department has fixed a goal of
100000 fighting men and 100000
men of all branches of the service in
France before the end of 1918.
The program also calls for the mo-
bilization of approximately 100000
men of the second draft in training
camps on this side during the period
from May to December, inclusive, per-
mitting the army to match man for
man the troops sent to France with
new drafts called out for training.
United States Troops Table.
Taking Secretary Bakers Official
sctatement that the number of Amer
lean troops now overseas has passed
the 100000 mark as of May 1, the fol-
lowing summary may be made:
Troops in France May
(eXceeding) .............. 100000
Estimated total June 1..... 100000
Estimated July 1 (nearly) -. / ZOO, 900
Goal set for end of year. -. 100000
These estimates, however, require
explanation. The number of troops in
l.
Secretary Baker having confined him
self to the announcement that this
mark had been passed without giving
exact numbers.
For the last two months the number
of troops sent to France has been
more than 100000 a month. The move
ment has been SO heavy as to make
the June estimate Of 100000 conserva-
tive, and the July l estimate of ap-
proximately million about the num-
Der that may be expected on past per-
formances.
Get Additional Transport
At the normal rate of $4,000 men to
France month, the total for the six
months from July to December inclu-
sive would be 100000, but the war de-
partment believes it can exceed this
number as additional transportation
facilities become available during the
year. The mark, therefore, has been
fixed at 100000.
Draft Call Schedule.
Final plans for calling second draft
increments this year have not been
worked out, but the tentative plan,
using May l as the starting point, calls
for the mobilization as follows:
Called to cOlors in May go. 40O, 900
Each succeeding month. ..... 10000
Total, May to December ,45O, 900
Under the policy of mo limit" to
the size of the American army as
enunciated by Secretary Baker in ask
ing congress for blanket authority to
call out as many troops as may be
needed to beat the Huns, it is impos-
sible to make any estimates made in
May binding for the remainder of the
year War department officials frank
ly admit this.
But the program they have fixed is
capable of expansion possibly to
years total of 100000 under arms, if
facilities can be found for sending
troops to France faster than they have
gone in the past. and if the training
camp and supply facilities can meet
the strain that will be placed upon
them by accommodating future draft
contingents.
Explains Brieading Problem.
The problem of moving approximate
ly 100000 men TO camps during Nav
brought the greatest troop movement
strain American railroads ever have
had to face, This troop movement has
held back freight shipments and there
probably will be further derangements
of the traffic. The war department
has adopted the advice of the British
and French, however, to send troops
first and let supplies come later.
Italy Asks Y. s. Troops.
Italy. in an informal way, has made
known to the United States that the
presence of American troops on the
Italy front is greatly to be desired. 1t
became known here today. A few
thousand men under the American
flag, Italian officials feel, :sould heart
en- the Italian civilian population and
their troops
Italy has an abundance Of man DOW
er but desires the inspiration that
would be afforded by the presence of
American forces. In the face of
threatened Austro-German offensive on
the Italian front the dispatch of Amer.
lean troops to Italy. it is declared,
would convince the Italian people that
America stands firmly behind their
country.
Cite Enemy Propaganda.
German propaganda is active in
Italy from Sicily to the Alps telling
the people they are left to their own
resources. that they are fighting hone
lessly. and that America has been
1t is to combat this propa-
ganda that the Italian government has
suggested the presentation to Italians
of the proof of American determina-
ton In the shape of American soldiers
under the American flag, on Italian
soil
American Red Cross and Y. M. c..
A. workers and American aviators al
ready have gone into Italy in consid-
cradle numbers with beneficial results.
What is now wanted by the Italian
government is American fighting men.
Italian officials have declared the
force need not be numerous and that
few thousand men would answer the
purpose, as they could be transferred
from one point to another