Evening journal., 1918-04-30
U. 5. MAY CALL OUT
ARMY OF 1O,OOO.OOO.
Experts Figure 1t Will Be
Necessary TO Maintain
Full Man.Power
QUESTION OF MEETING
NEUTRAL WASTAGE

WASHINGTON. April 3o.-War De-
partment officials are studyns closely
he few authenticated figures which
Bre available TO them aancorning the
numerical strength Of the French and
British armies on the western 'front.'
NTH a view o. determining how many
men it viii be necessary for The United
States TO raise IN the next two years
70 bring a crushing weight Of man-
power against tho German military ma
thinc.
Since the beginning OF tho war France
has raised an army OF 100000 mon,
but at no time has she been able TO
maintain more than 100000 men at or
near the front In what is known as
'the zone Of the armies
Great Britain has raised between g.
100000 and 100000 men. but has never
been able to maintain more than ap-
proximalely 100000 men in the zone
OF the armies in France
The question naturally arises then as
70 how many men the United states
must call out IN order 10 maintain an
army Of 2,OoO.O00 TO 100000 men in
France. France. OF course, had TO meet
no serious transportation problems.
The bulk OF the British army had be-
fore II a journey OF only a few miles
across the British Channel before bene
landed direct IN its own army zone. The
United States, on the other hand, =
faced by The continuing problem Of
Transporting her men over 300 miles
OF danger-streWn waters, with long
railway journeys at both ends OF the
line.
There are some army experts who
are convinced the United States viii
have to call out between 100000 and
100000 men in the next two years
10 maintain an army IN France at a
fixed strength Of 250O000 troops. A
smaller army than this, 70 is admitted,
would not be a decisive element In the
war. Il should also be remembers
that maintaining 2500,000 men In the
lighting zone does not mean an actual
fighting force Of anything Ike that
figure. The French and British figures
already given include an The auxiliary
troops which go 20 make up an army
tho workers behind The front and along
The lines Of communication, without
whom the fighting men could not have
the means OF carrying on.
Estimates vary as 30 the number OF
men required behind the front for
every man actually in the line. As
a matter Of fact. there is no fixed rule
to so by. There necessarily Is a ilex-
ibility in the arrangement. During
oniei times. when only a few mon are
required IN the battle positions, the
number behind the lines at work and
rcsting may be three OF four or fley
20 one In times OF stress when every
possible man is sent into the firing
linz. tho ratio dwindlcs to two or one
'Nfpd onc-half 10 one.
N The problem before the American
military authorities merely had to do
with the transport OF 2.5o00oo men "a
France. it might quite easily be met
But during The process Of building ur
on army of anything approaching thai
size the Wasiagc 20 be overcome Is
enormous. especially when the army is
fSh.in< as lhe Americans are likely e
he during 3l the coming summer anc
autumn. The replaccmenis required
ia an army az 100000 men will keep 9
siesdy 1ow Of troops moving 90 EUROPE
and as the army increases toward ihg
100000 mark the problem Of replace
mems expands. Of course. I'm a ratio
that corresponds TO compound interest
on a loan
American army officers frankly hav'
been surprised at the figures they have
obtained regarding the size of the Al
lied armies. They also have beer
amazed st the number OF auxiisr.
troops General Pershing has called fo'
from time 90 time. They are heginnlng
10 realize now however. what On.
building up OF a big army IN Europe
actually means. On paper Is Is
very easy matter 10 fglre how 81
many millions OF men can be funs int,
the hghting but actual experience o