The Idaho Springs siftings-news., 1918-04-12
FIRST YEAR Of
war REVIEWED
Achievements Of United States
Recounted in Official State
a.. mentA
GREAT ARMY N TRAINING
Land Ferese Now Aggregate S,oof
oSsiesss and 1,620,ez Sniiseed
Men-Navy Psrsennsi 10
Tnpled.

Msn-Navy Psrsennsi 10
THpIsd.
The United States 10 now entering
upon its second year Of war. On the
FIRST anniversary Of the beginning OF
hostilities between this country and
Germany. the people are interested in
knowing what has been done by the
United States In waging and prepar-
ing to wage war upon the forces of
Prussian autocracy. The committee
States government, In q review Of the
nrst year of the war. gives a resume
Of the activities Of the various de-
partments Of the government as they
are concerned with prosecution Of the
war. The committee announces that
all statements made are authorized
by the war department, the navy de-
pArtment, the United States shipping
board and the treasury department.
The outstanding feature Of the nrst
year Of war. 1t 10 pointed out
In the review, has been the transfor-
nation Of the standing army and Ma
donal Guard. composed Of 9624 on
eers and 202,b10 men into q fighting
force that now aggregates 12S.601 Of
Acers and 1,62s.924 enlisted men.
4 statement Of the adjutant general
shows that the regular army which in
April. 1917. comprised 5.7o1 officers
and 121. .797 men. now 10 made up Of
1O,6es oficers and 508.142 men. The
National Guard in April. 1917. includ-
Cd 8.733 officers and 76.71s men. while
now It comprises 1888 officers and
AS1, ,6eS men. The reserve corps in
service one year ago included 4,0O0
men. Now It includes 96,210 Officers
and 1880 men. The National army,
which did not exist one year ago, now
includes 61e.ss9 men.
A substantial vanguard military
Cysdiency prohibiting publication Of
letual numbers) Of this army II meet
ing the enemy In France today or 10 e.
camped there awaiting the call to the
trenches; In 16 cantonments and 16
camps and on numerous aviation fields
and in q variety Of other schools IN
all parts Of the United States the men
ef the remaining army are hardening
and training for their part in the great
contest overseas.
Behind the activities Of this vast
force lies q great industry organised
70 produce an adequate supply Of mu-
nitions, equipment and provisionA.
and to provide transportation to the
firing line. admost every branch OF
essential Industry Of the country hav-
ing been drawn upon to produce these
material requirements.
Gxpsdltionary Forces.
Military necessity particularly for
bids a detailed review Of the activities
Of the American expeditionary forces
General Pershing and his staR ar
rived In Paris on June IA, 1917, 50
days after the declaration Of war. The
nrst American troops arrived in
France on June %. On July 4. In eel
ebratiou Of our natal day and new
fight for liberty. American troops pa
raded the streets Of Paris and were
greeted as the forerunners Of great
American armies and vast quantities
of supplies and ammunitons.
On October 10, 1917, 1877 days after
the war was declared, American SOL
diers went on the firing line. In jan
uary American soldiers took over per-
manently q part Of the line ~ an
American sector, and this line II grad
ually lengthening.
Behind the fighting line in France
the American forces have scientifically
prepared q groundwork Of camps, COM
munications. supply bases. and works
In anticipation Of operations By the
full force Of the army. They are
building and have built railroads, hos
pitals, ordnance bases, and docks in
France. They have constructed I'M
mense barracks, erected sawmills, ~
claimed agricultural lands, and car
ried forward many incidental enter
prises.
The construction Of an ordnance
base In France, costing 5000 900. p
now we'll under way. Great quantities
Of material used in the foreign con-
struction work have been shipped from
the United States-from fabricated
ironwork for an ordnance shop to nails
and crossties for railroads, and even
the piles to build docks.
All the while there has been . fairly
even flow Of men and materials from
the United States to France. The men
in the trenches, back Of the lines, on
the construction projects, and In the
hospitals have been steadily supplied.
Our losses at go, In men and mate
rials. have been sratifyinsly small.
The greatest single loss occurred on
ahsli-cap cgoor Lighter.