Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1918-07-03
PRESIDENT WILSON TELLS or
VAST ARMY NOW FACING
GERMANS.
TOTAL OF 1,ote,115 MEN
HAVE SAILED OVERSEAS
Loss at Sea Has Been Only 2s1, De-
spite Menace Of Submarines-Nearly
5000 Soldiers Dispatched During
June-Adequate Supplies Also Sent
Across Atlantic.

Washington, July 13-More than
100000 American soldiers are IN
France today, and of these 100000 are
actual fighting men!
AS Fourth of July greeting to the
American people, President Wilson
made the official announcement Tues
day upon receipt of a letter from
Secretary Of War Baker, giving in de-
tail the number of troops landed in
France since The movement of the
American army began fourteen months
ago.
Altogether 1.019.115 soldiers have
been sent abroad, with the loss Of 2sf
at sea. graphic testimonial to the
efficiency Of the navy in protecting
transports from German submarines.
OF the total number, S,165 have died
or have been invaded home.
Helps luIy 4 Celebration.
1t was with unconcealed pride that
the president reported the turning Of
the million mark by July /. In his
official statement he said that the in
formation will be so satisfactory to
the country that its publication will be
welcomed and will give additional
zest to our national celebration of the
Fourth of July"
In letter to Secretary Baker Pres
ident Wilson said that the record will
cause universal satisfaction because
the heart of the country is unques-
tionably in this war and the people Of
the United States rejoice that their
force is put faster and faster into the
great struggle which is destined to
redeem the world
Can Keep UP Fast Pace.
Secretary Bakers letter showed the
steady augmentation Of troop ship
ments from May, 1917, when ITS doc
tors and nurses were sent to France,
until June. 1918, when 2I6,372 soldiers
were sent over.
Discussing the situation after the
announcement Mr. Baker said that 1t
would be physically possible to MAIN
tain the present rate of troop shipment
but that for various reasons there
may be a reduction of the rate dur
ing the remainder of this year. One
OF these is military reason which
can not be disclosed. Another reason
is that the allies may be compelled
to withdraw some transports after
Aug. ] to repl irish food stocks abroad.
Up to Supreme War Council.
The whole question Of the number
Of American troops to be dispatched
to France jurng the remainder of
the year is now up to the supreme
war council ut Versailles. The council
will decide how many Americans are
needed, how much additional food is
needed by England, France and Italy
and then adjust the ALLEGATION OF ships
for troops and food transportation.
The allies have cut their food ra-
tons 20 the bone in order to spare
ships for the transport of American
troops. When it became apparent in
March on the eve OF the great Ger
man drive that the Germans had IL
considerable numerical advantage on
the western front, England and France
we're compelled TO choose between food
and fighters. They chose fighters, and
scores of ships that had been carrying;
foodstuffs were diverted to the Amer
lean transport service.
276,372 Left in June.
The result was Immediately appar-
ent in the augmentation of the over
seas troop movement beginning with
117,212 in April and ascending to 24i,-
S45 in May, and o7s,372 in June. Until
the allied Transports were placed at
our disposal and American troops
were brigadcd, armed aud maintained
with the French and British, the
United States even with the addition
of nearly 200 German and Dutch ships,
vas unable to transport more than
s3.S11 men in a single month.
II the supreme war council sees the
way clear to maintaining the present
rate of transportation. there will be
more than 2 100000 American troops
in France by the end Of the year. Sec
rotary Baker said that the government
IS no.. six months ahead of the pro-
gram as 1t stood when he promised
congress that there would be 100000
men in France early in 1915"
Instead OF the 1900 900 additional
zen he promised would be ready to
go overseas ~ Jan. /. 1919. there will
be 100000 the secretary said.
Supplies in France Adequate.
In his letter to the president Mr..
Baker declared adequate supplies and
equipment were now in France, and
added that "t'tr output o. our war in
dustr:es III this country is showing
markt d Improvement in practically all
lines of necessary equipment and sup
plies
Secretary Of War Baker. 1t also was
learned. has written Representative
Dent Of Alabama, chairman Of the
house military committee, long let
ter reviewing the war departments
achievements in the war to date.