Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1918-08-18
V|RG|N|ANS TRAIN
WITH BRITISH ARMY
ON NFLANDERS FRONT
Elghtieth Division, Long at
Camp Lee, Located by
Official Statement.
AMERICANS SENT OVERSEAS
NOW EXCEED 1,45O,OOO MEN
March Confident Able to Send 80
Divisions Across by June
80, 1919.
EXPRESSES GRATEFUL THANKS
French General Tells Of His Admiru-
ton OF Services Rendered
by L. s. Soldiers.
EXPRESSES GRATEFUL THANKS
French General Tells of His Admiru-
ton Of Services Rendered
by L. s. Soldiers.
tBy A..oclntcd pr.h.l

i-N' l'N, August 1.-THE
D"''Ie now going on in ricardy was
'i''ma!iy characterized as the German
retreat to-day by Gcueral March. chief
oi STAR. IN his scmiweekly conference
with newspaper men, at which he dis
ai'sed that American troops embarked
overseas now number more than l.
$4,000
General March said the EiEht!c,h Di-
vision, composed OF Virginia and Penn
s!lyania troops. was training with the
Hi.tish IN Flanders, while the Eighty
second Division, composed of Alabama.
/. 'ieorGia and Tennessee troops. was IN
the battle line north OF Toul. where
II arrived carly In July Reports DO
not SHOW ,ha, the E.ighty-aecond Di-
VISION has yet been engaged, General
March said
"h!i" he made 40 predictions and
dld not discuss the significance OF any
move on the 'front.' General March took
occasion 10 point out that the Ger
mans have voluntarily surrendered
ground in local sa!!ents four separate
times since the Picardy attack was
liunched by General Foch. /, was evil
dent tnat these Withdrawals. coupled
with tho other information contained
in other Official adviccs. has created
here the impression that = general
enemy re;ircmcn. is TO nc expected.
Taking UP American war plans Cen
cral March formally reiterated the pur-
pose to get eighty divisions of troops
INTO France by June 30. 1919. Dis
cussing conditions with members OF
tho Senate Military Committee earlier
In the day. General March had said
there was steady increase both in
numbers and efficiency in the transport
service. insur.ng accelerated lroop
movements.
TOTAL FIG URES INCLUDE
TROOPS TO ALL FRONTS
The total cmbarkat!on OF American
troops now announced includes men
sent TO Italy and Siberia AS well as 10
France. Hereafter total figures for
embarkations will include all expcdi-
tionary forces wherever sent.
General March would not talk figures
on army plans outside OF his state
ment regarding eight divisions II
was evident. however. that he has
complete confidence in the ability Of
the War Department TO execute its
: plans ahead of schedule. He had
said previously that for purposes OF
calculation "a division represented a
total OF 10000 men.
General March said official reports
through the Spanish embassy give no
evidence that American prisoners in
Germany are singled out for mistreat-
ment. as has been reported. Very de-
tailed reports, including the daily
menus. are received and show that the
question OF the treatment OF prisoners
has largely become standardized
on the Nesle front. where the Amer
lean troops are in line. only artillery
! fire and raids have been reported, Cen
eral March said. He read a French
divisional order paying high tribute to
the va!or and efficiency OF the second
artillery brigade of the Second Amer
lean Division, commanded by BriEa-
dier-Gencral Bowley, which was at
tached TO the Twelfth French Infan-
try after the infantry of it's own divi-
sion had been sent elsewhere.
FRENCH COMMANDER
EXPRESSES ADMIRATION
The American artillery aided the
French in two days of fierce fighting
at Chateau Thierry, and. the French
commander expressed his thanks and
admiration for their bravery, energy
and devotion.
/, General March announced that Ma
jor-General Henry B. Mccain. adjutant-
general. as a reward for efficient work,
Rad been assigned to command the
twelfth Division now being organized
a, Camp Devens. Mass.
Brigadier-General Peter c. Harris
VIII be made acting adjutant- general
Announcement was made that Major
General George B. Duncan, one OF the
American officers to win the French
War Cross for distinguished galIantry
in action. was being sent home for
q rest. General March said the case
was typical, and showed the tremen-
dous strain under which both officers
and men worked at the front. He in
djcated that number Of cases similar
$50 that of General Duncan would fol-
low.
Answering question. General March
said the losses Of the One Hundred and
Tenth Regiment pennsylvania troops)
nj the Twenty-eighth Division prob
ab,y we're proportionatc to the heavy
tphting in which that division had
hcen engaged lie gave no figures.
,ut pointed out that the Twenty-eighth
had held the American center during
The crossing of the Ourcq and was
: again in line along the Vesle. where
further sharp lighting had occurred.
Announcement was made also that
colonel John w. Heavey had been ap-
pointed head OF the militia bureau,
succeeding Major-General Jesse Mel.
!, carter, who has taken command of
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