Middletown transcript., 1918-07-20
OVERSEAS TROOPS
EXCEED 100000
Americas First Field Army Put
in France.
Three CORPS ARE FORMED
Major-GeneraI Hunter Ligqett Heads
First, With Rainbow Division,
Including Marylanders, In
His Charge.

Observation-Disclosures by half oil
the time it was originally estimated il
would take to put Americas first field
army in France was disclosed with
the formal announcement by General
March that three full army corps had
been organized by General Pershing
! and that the number of soldiers sent
overseas now numbered more than l.,
100000.
The 10 divisions comprising the
corps, consisting Of four Regular, nine
National Guard and five National
Army divisional units, probably will
compose the first army, which, with
supplemental army troops such as
heavy artillery, will total million
men.
Instead of one field army on Janu-
airy l, 1919, as originally planned, it
now appears probable that two such
armies will be operating in France
by that date, backed by full American
built and maintained supply lines. The
great project of establishing the
American Army as the right flank OF
the battle line will then be within
sight.
General March said organization of
the first field army had not yet been
completed. The formation of the three
corps, however, and his announcement
that troop movements to France were
proceeding at the same astonishing
rate that has been the rule for the
last three months, made the American
military program clear.
Major General Hunter Liggett tenn
porarily commands the first corps.
The two other commanders have not
been selected, but when the corps
commanders finally are chosen they
will have the rank of lieutenant gen.
erals.
Besides this, the Chief of Staff dis
closed important facts about the exact
troops which go to make up the corps.
Never before has this information
been given to the people at home.
The rate of transportation of troops
for July General March said, was
keeping up with previous months.
More than 10000 troops were trans
ported last week alone.
The most important developments
of the week, the Chief of Staff pointed
out, had been in the Albanian theatre
Of war. There is no indication at the
War Department of when the next
German thrust will come on the West
ern front, but all the Allied command
ers are confident of their ability to
withstand it.
In Albania, aided by British and
Italian monitors operating from the
sea, general advance over
sector of 80 miles in
length has been made, the advance
being % miles at it's deepest point.
The former crescent into the Allied
line there has been wiped out and
straight front substituted.
The advance was carried out largely
by Italian troops, General March said,
but they were assisted on the right
flank by French.
General March said no official re.
ports attempting to explain the delay
in the German offensive had reached
the War Department. He indicated
his own opinion, however, that the
time that has now elapsed since the
last German drive is not greater than
would have been necessary to prepare
for an assault of the scope
Of that which the Germans are be-
lieved to be contemplating.
The fact that American forces are
being rapidly, shipped to France is
regadred as possibly the reason for
even more extensive German prepara-
lions.