Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1918-05-09
After Personal investigation of
Machine Gun Production As
Serts There Is No Shortage
of Different Types,
BROWNING GUNS ARE
BEING BUILT RAPIDLY
Secretary viii Not Commit
Himself as to Whether Any
Have Been Shipped Over
seas for Use Of Our Men.
tsv MORNING JouRNAt SPECIAL LtAsro wlss,

tbN MORNING JOURNAL SPECIAL LGLsEp wiREr
Washington, May S.---More than
half million American soldiers have
been sent TO France
Secretary Baker today authorized
the statement that his forecast TO
congress in January that 500, 900
troops would be dispatched to France
carly in the present year now had
been surpassed
Mr.. Baker dictated the following
statement:
I'm January | told the senate
committee that there was strong
likelihood that early in the pres
ent year 500.000 American troops
would be dispatched to France
| can not either now or perhaps
later discuss the number OF
American troops in France; but
am glad to be able to say that
the forecast I made In January
has been surpassed"
No Shortage of Machine Guns.
As result of personal investiga-
ton of machine gun production dur
ing the past few days. the secretary
shortage of light or heavy types of
these weapons either in France or
America and no shortage Is in pros
pect.
Mr. Baker said there had been no
question brought up as to the sup
plies of light type Browning guns.
which were coming forward in guam
titles. He would not say whether
shipment of these guns to France had
been started. AS to the heavy Brown
ings, he said:
EARLY manufacturers esti-
mates as to the production of the
heavy type perhaps were more
optimistic than was Justified The
estimate of the ordnance depart
ment inJanuary has been met and
is being met Some OF these
heavy guns have been produced
and there Is every indication OF
forthcoming production In in
creasing and substantial num-
bersp
Press IL Cautioned.
The secretary chose his words about
the troops in France with the utmost
care. He would not amplify the state
ment in any way and specially asked
that the press refrain from specula-
ton as to what precise figures his
guarded remarks covered or as to
what possibilities of early further In
crease in the force on the other side
there might be.
There have been repeated official
however. that the
government is bending every energy
to rush men across to back up the
allied lines in France. and officers
directly in charge of the transporta-
tion have expressed satisfaction with
the progress being made. There Is no
doubt that the present force of
American troops there represents only
a small part of the total strength that
will be available for employment by
General Foch before the summer
ends.
First official Statement.
Today's statement regarding the
to France is the first Of
ficial utterance made during the war
even indirectly the number
of men sent abroad. The first force to
go over was never described except
as division. although as matter of
fact, it was constituted Into two di-
visions soon after its arrival on the
0ther side.
The fact that more than 100000
have gone this year also shows the
accelerated rate at which the men
have been moving forward since the
winter passed and eased the shipping
and embarkation situation.
The effect of Mr. Bakers announce
ment in Germany and Austria il it is
allowed to reach those countries. will
he watched with interest. There is
little doubt that the German general
staff has known that some hundreds
Of thousands of men have been sent
across by the United States but the
size of the force has been carefully
kept from the rank and file of the
German army as well as from the
o,x. To as~A II .if