The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1918-08-17
BIGGER ARMY FEASIBLE
Plans for Equipping,
Training and Trans
porting Fighters.
UP TO CONGRESS
Tremendously Expended
Program, Impossible
Last Year, Is Now
Clearly Possible.
UP TO CONGRESS

Washington. Aug. 16.-tsencrai
Peyton c. March. chief OF stan,
told the senate military affairs
committee that an American army
of 100000 men in France could
go through the German lines at
any point at will. That would
mean defeat for the German
army.
Today figures compiled in high
official quarters indicate a pro-
gram calling for force of g.
O50.000 Americans overseas by
July 1. 1919. With the exception
of 900. 900 men OF the navy these
are all land forces. and the war
program therefore calls for half
as many men again as General
March indicated would he neces-
sary to a military decision over
the troops of the kaiser.
The following summary from
official figures show the makeup
of the overseas forces next sum-
mer according to the present
program:
Men IN der present
draft .......... 1900, 900
Men under new draft 1890 900
EnlistInents. regular
army and National
Gnard ... SOC, 900
Marines " 10000
Navy " 800 900
Grand Total . S.O5oOo0
Even this tremendously cN-
banded program Of military ac-
tivity overseas does not disturb
or dismay any of the departments
OF the government that viii In
any way have anything to do with
the movement and equipment of
troops and their maintenance
while abroad.
Provost Marshal General crowder.
with the draft machinery enlarged
upon the present structure. will bring
the men into service. Director Cen
eral McAdoo will move any number
to and from camps and to the sea
board. Chairman Edward y. Hurley.
of the shipping board, will arrange for
the requisite amount OF shipping to
transport them overseas and keep
them supplied. and the quartermas-
ter's and ordnance departments will
supply uniforms. equipments and
arms.
The task that a few months ago
would have been called Impossible by
the greatest optimsts in official life
in Washington. is now simply a ques-
ton of expansion of the present struc-
lures that have been built up by the
United States for war work, In the
achievement OF facilities to handle
such tremendous program the United
States has outstripped herself in her
own high estimation OF her potential
strength, has surprised the world and
given a killing shock To the military
autocrats of the central powers.
Rapid production of ships under
the present program will keep pace
with the mobilization of troops and
will furnish overseas transport for
troops and supplies with the aid of
British and French tonnage which has
already been utilized for American
transport service.
Seventy large army transports, cap
able of taking 100000 men overseas
each month. will be built at the great
Hog Island yards. Deliveries will
commence next spring, Thirty addi-
tional transports will be turned out
from other yards. and the army will
have all these ships allocated for mill
tary service alone. together with the
big fleet of Communicated vessels. in
GLIDING the German liners. now taking
thousands of troops weekly from the
United States to France.
Harhor improvements on this side
are undergoing rapid expansion and
Improvement and General Pershing
and his aides with representatives of
the shipping board. recently made an
inspection of the harbor facilities in
France and found a very satisfactory
condition. The French government
has granted further harbor space for
the use of the ~-''t'a~-' H~-ces of the
sd States and expansion will star.
iIilI uSuldteiy. .NCN.4~.DladI StevedOre
forces will soon be sent to France.
Orders have already gone out from
Washington for the expansion of
training camp facilities in this coun-
try to take care of the men called out
under the new draft, and the additions
will be ready as fast as the accom-
are needed under the plan
for calling out the new registrants
Provost-General Crowder has work :,
ed out the entire scheme of calling out
the men under the new draft and
simply is awaiting action by congress
before putting the several stages of his
scheme into effect.
The organization Of the troops over
seas will be another work of expansion
along present lines in effect one great
field army under a single command
operating under the skillful leadership
OF Generalissimo Foch
The positive statement was made in
a high quarter today that 10000
men Of the American expeditionary
force would be on French.soil by Sep
TENDER |. and the army 81 1000, 600
men which General March predicted
would bring victory over the Ger
man arms will surely be in the field
in France by the middle OF next sum-
mer.
Under the new and greater program
outlined today all Of the effectives
would be sent overseas in order to