The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1918-08-18
ARMY KEEPS GROWING
America Has | $50, 900
Men in France, Says
March.
SHIPS ARE SPEEDY
Chief of Staff Expects
Germans to Make
Stand on linden
burg Line.

"hE2uU&LDH, AUX Ib-~-sss'ittFdA
Peyton q. March, chief OF staff.
at his conference with members
of the senate military affairs
committee today. announced that
the United States had f.450,0n0
men under arms overseas and
1850 900 under arms In camps in
the United States.
The last official report was that
100. 900 men were IN camp In
the United States. The statement
today would indicate that 100000
troops are on their way to France
and vertfies the statement from
high official quarter that the
United States armed forces In
France viii amount TO 100000
men by September i.
General March also told the sena-
tors that there had been little change
on the western front since their last
conference and that German resist
ance TO the allied and American
thrusfs appears to have stiffcucd. Tae
Teutonic forces evidently VIII make a
determined stand on the old linden
burg line.
The situation in Russia as viewed
by General March Is very bad Il Is
s0 mixed Mp HAT It is well nigh i'm
possible for observers to get a clear
lire From she allied standpoint
Harding troops or giving assistance 10
ihe people of Russia in resisting Ger
n}tn rucroaehmeuts and influence
General March was able TO give the
C,FouNt,ee very encouraging reports
u lie .mpro> eiileut of the health Of
army TIE present average year
l. aea rate il hut g per cent, or
5ats aasf@aae are tllonaand. Constant ira
IL verseHt r. being noted Doth in
camps ard field service aud the Amer
ican people have nothing 10 fear on
tte score OF lhe health conditions of
lheir soldiers
Transports Speeding Up.
Another encouraging report from
General March was that the shipping
situation "a afTectinE the movement nj
troops and military supplies was very
good and constantly improving.
recent survey showed that the turn
around. or round trips. OF transports
and cargo ships was being accom-
plished in twenty -eiGrt days Cargo
achieved.
There are many instances where
transports have made the round trip
In nineteen days and the average
round trip OF transports is now accom-
plisred In twenty eight days. cargo
carriers have made the round trip re-
Gently in twenty-nine days. hut the
general average is higher The speed
Ing up of the troop aud cargo ships
in due to improved port facilities
both In the United states and France.
and the transport of the army Will be
constantly bettered AS the movement
OF troops progresses
General March uttered a protest to
,ha mem hers of the senate committee
against the padding" and undue am
MITIGATION of official dispatches In
press reports from Washington. He
look as an example some OF the re-
ports sent to newspapers from Wash
Y ington about the flight OF eighteen De
Haviland machines in France. He
said that the official dispatch was not
more than 90 words and reported n
flight under command of Brlgadler-
General Fouiois in Lorraine, The Of
1cial report stated that all the ma
chimes had returned safely
As the flight took place over peace
ful terrain the note that the machines
had returned safely meant simply
there had been no accidents OF flight.
n was seized upon. however, by some
Washington correspondents as tndicat-
ing that the flight had been over the
German lines and long dispatches
were sent out telling how the de Hav-
Hands had toyed with the enemy's de-
lenses.
N In his subsequent interview with
the press, General March went into
detail about the situation on the west
rrn front and drew the conclusion
| that the Teutonic armies are CONSOLE
dating their retreat to the old linden
burg line, where the allies are meet
irp strong resistance and that the next
| great battle OF the allies and Ameri-
cans against the kaiser's forces Will be
an attack along the general alignment
fContinued on Second Page.)