Carroll County democrat. (Huntingdon, Tenn.) 188?-1971, 1918-04-19
FIRST YEAR OF
WAR REVIEWED
achievements Of United States
ReCOunted in Official State
mentS.
GREAT ARMY IN TRAINING
Land Forces Now Aggregate t2s,eo1
officers and 1.s2s,s2a Snlissed
Msn--Navy Personnel Is
Trlpled.


The United States is now entering
apon its second year of war. On the
irst anniversary Of the beginning Of
hostllities between this country and
Germany, the people are interested in
knowing what has been done by the
United States in waging and prepar-
ing to wage war upon the forces Of
Prussian autocracy. The committee
on public information of the United
States government In a review of the
first year of the war, gives a resume
Of the activities of the various de-
partments of the government as they
are concerned with prosecution of the
war. The committee announces that
all statements made are authorized
by the war department, the navy de-
partment, the United States shipping
board and the treasury department.
The outstanding feature Of the first
year Of war, it is pointed out
In the review, has been the transfer
nation Of the standing army and Ma
tlonal Guard composed of 9,524 Off
GERS and 202,510 men into a fighting
force that now aggregates 123,801 Of
ficers and 1,528,924 enlisted men.
A statement of the adjutant general
shows that the regular army which in
April 1917, comprised 5,791 officers
and 121, 1877 men, now is made up Of
1069S officers and 503, 142 men. The
National Guard in April, 1917, includ-
ed 1888 officers and 1918 men, while
now 1t comprises 1898 officers and
431, 583 men. The reserve corps in
service one year ago included 1000
men. Now 1t includes 96,21O officers
and 1880 men. The National army,
which did not exist one year ago, now
includes 516,S39 men.
A substantial vanguard military
expedlency prohibiting publication of
actual numbers) of this army is meet
ing the enemy i'll France today or is en-
camped there awaiting the call to the
trenches; in IS environments and 10
camps and on numerous aviation fields
and In a variety of other schools in
all parts of the United States the men
Of the remaining army are hardening
and training for their part in the great
contest overseas.
Behind the activities of this vast
force lies a great industry organized
to produce an adequate supply of mu-
nitl0ns, equipment, and provisions,
and to provide transportation to the
firing line, almost every branch Of
essential industry of the country hav-
ing been drawn upon to produce these
material requirements.
Expedltionary Forces.
Military necessity particularly for
bids,a detailed review of the activities
of the American expeditionary forces.
General Pershing and his staff ar
rived In Paris on June IA, 1917, SO
days after the declaration of war. The
first American troops arrived in
France on June 26. On July 4, in cell
ebratiOn of our natal day and a new
fight for liberty, American troops pa
raded the streets of Paris and were
greeted as the forerunners Of great
armies and vast quantities
of supplies and ammunitions.
On October 10, 1917, 1877 days after
the war was declared, American sol
diers went on the firing lire. In jan
uary American soldiers took over per-
a part Of the line as an
American sector, and this line Is grad
ually lengthening.
Behind the fighting line In France
the American forces have scientifically
a groundwork Of camps, COM
supply bases, and works
In anticipation of operations by the
full force of the army. They are
building and have built railroads, hos
pitfalls, ordnance bases, and docks in
France. They have constructed Inn
nense barracks, erected sawmills, re-
claimed agricultural lands, and car
RED forward many Incidental enter
)rises.
The construction Of an ordnance
base in France, costing $25,000,000, is
low well under way, Great quantities
If material used in the foreign con-
work have been shipped from
he United States-from fabricated
ronwork for an ordnance shop to nails
md erossties for railroads, and even
he piles to build docks.
All the while there has been fairly |
even flow of men and materials from
he United States to France. The men |
n the trenches, back of the lines, on
he construction projects, and in the
hospitals have been steadily supplied.
OUR losses at sea, In men and mate
ials, have been gratifyingly small.
Che greatest single loss occurred on |
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