The Owosso times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1897-1926, 1918-12-27
extent Of YANK
| military POWER
| NOW DISCLOSED
Stupendous Figures Tell Story
of American Effort.
100000 MEN IN FRANCE

Complete Railroad System One OF tho
Many Undertakings Completed by
Amerieans-53,00 900 Auto Trucks in
operation-Every Effort Of Civil
Life Plus the Requirements Of War
Was Exerted-steamer Berths Built.
The extent of Americas military ef-
fort In France at the time the armis-
tice was declared is shown by sta
ustics which the Associated Press is
now permitted to make public. While
the stupendous figures required to tell
the story are In themselves amazing,
It should be remembered that they
show only a part Of the great effort
made In war preparations In men,
money and material.
On the morning of November II, the
United States had in France 1891
officers and 1,SS1,376 men, total of
almost 100000. AS has already been
announced there were 10000 combat
troops in the Argonne action. This
number does not include the American
units engaged on other parts Of the
front.
Man power, alone, however, was but
one factor in the preparations for
American participation in the war. Be
hind 1t lay vast machinery, which was
required In operations. Railways and
motor roads were constructed and
across the sea were brought locomo-
tives, cars. rails and motor transport
Of every kind.
Every Effort Exerted.
Behind this again was the requisite
food. clothing and general supplies for
the men, as well as dockage and ware
house construction. Every effort of
civil life, plus the requirements Of
war, was exerted.
The American army took over
to France and had in operation
967 standard gauge locomotives and
1874 standard gauge freight cars Of
American manufacture. In. addition
1t had in service $50 locomotives and
'973 cars of foreign origin. To meet
demands which the existing French
railways were unable to meet, S43
miles Of standard gauge railway were
constructed. Five hundred miles Of
this have been built since June 1. On
top Of this, the. department of light
railways reports the construction of
115 miles of road and 40 miles of
German light railways were repaired
and put in operation. Two hundred
way were operated by the Americans.
Engineers Always Busy.
These figures represent fairly good
sized American railway company, but
railways represent, only fraction of
the transport effort. Modern warfare
Is motor warfare, and It is virtually
impossible to present In figures this
phase of the work of the American
army. In building new roads, as the
exigencies of battle operations requir-
ed, In keeping French roads repaired
under the ceaseless tide of war trans
port and in constructing bridges In de-
vastated battle regions, American en-
gineers worked day and night. The
whole region behind the American
lines was full of typical American road
machinery, much of 1t character new
Ier before seen in europe. To do this
work the American expeditionary
forces had In operation November IL
more than $1,000 motor vehicles OF all
description.
Even at the present stage Of the
armistice, which may precede peace,
1t Is not permissible to hint at the
vast stores of munitions and armament
taken over and held in readiness.
The Associated Press, however, is al
lowed to give approximate figures
showing what has been accomplished
In the accumulation of food supplies.
1t Will be seen that the American ex-
peditionary forces were In no danger
OF being placed on short rations, had
the war continued, although the Amer
leans had promised the allies vast
Quantities of food, in addition to their
own needs.
Sso,oooy0oo Rations Of Beans.
In army terms, one ration represents
the quantity of each article each man
Is entitled to daily. 1t Is interesting
to note the supply of some of the
principal ration components on hand
today. For instance, the Americans
have 390,000,000 rations Of beans
alone, 183,000,000 rations of -four and
aour substitutes. 287 100000 rations Of
milk, 161, 100000 rations Of sugar. 3d.
100000 rations Of meat, 67,O00,O00 ra-
lions Of rice, hominy and otlier foods.
There are requisites such as flavorings,
efuits, candy and potatoes In proper
Don, while for Gmokers, there are 49,
o0oo ratlone q clRnrottos and tobao-