Evening journal., 1918-07-27
lnER|CA'S forces
| TO END CONFLICT
6efman Offensive Was
Forced by Coming of
Yankee Troops
MANY n ORKERS
: IN THE INDUSTRIES
~ CARL d. GROAT

WASHINGTON, July aT-The great
war. closing its fourth bloody year.
ends America rushing aoorss the seas
with her millions OF men, billions OF
dollars and her ever increasing flotillas
of war vessels-to thrash the Kaiser.
Approximately 100000 men have left
American shores for the battleflelds
over half million now comprise Uncle
Sans navy and Congress is preparing
b launch the greatest tax bills In the
worlds history 20 bring added billion.
for the struggle.
Within a few weeks the War De-
oartment will launch Its new man
bower plans, carrying need for the
largest army appropriation this nation
has ever passed.
The advent OF new year In the war
sees Americas military forces rapidly
approaching the size Of England's, and
destined soon to equal those OF France.
With an army strength OF nearly g.
10000 men today, a navy Of nearly
half a million, and with hundreds OF
ships, tons upon tons Of munitions ant |
1 vast food reserve for the Allies, this /
nations effort has amazed the allied
world and startled the German war
lords.
When she entered the war America
had only 2i3OOO officers and men, in
cludlng the national guard units trained
on the Texas border. We now have
half that many officers alone Latest /
Official figures show the army strength ]
10 be- Oflcers, 10000; men, 100000
Nearly 100000 men are in training ct '
Some or have Just qualified for over
yeas duty. Q
: The jump in the size OF the navy is {
Equally startling, both in enlistments {
and IN new ship strength, When we ;
declared war i6 months ago, the nsvy's r
man power was $1,000. It is now well :
over the half million mark The United /,
States fleet has been enlarged by over
t27h ships since April, 1917. Nearly :
BOO smaller craft are under construction. !
This is exclusive Of dreadnaughts, bat
lie cruisers and other major lighting i,
Vessels.
: The new naval appropriations just :
fransed by congress VIII swell these
figures. tremendously, though details !
sannot be given, for military reasons.
They will make possible one Of the
largest fleets afoat. 1t is indicated.
European waters are dotted with
american craft, ranging from the mon
tter dreadnaughts down 10 the tiniest
submarine chasers.
New dreadnaughts are under cor
struciion which will be the largest bat |
teships aflost. The largest naval guns
ever mounted on ships will equip these |
super-flghters.
Navy recruiting is speeding to man
these new ships. Under stimulus from
recent submarine raids on the Atlantic
coast recruiting for the navy is averag-
ing 2O00 daily, and has reached as high
as 1000 q day.
American warships are in practically
lll European wsters-from the Russian
past to Southern Europe. They re-
emily arrived at Venice to assist land (
peratons of the Italians. The largest
avail force consistent with safety OF
r own shores and maintenance OF
across the Atlantic is
Aw on active duty on the Europeon
de. The first destroyers sailed for
urope three weeks after we declared
ar and they have speeded across in !
lcreasing numbers as the war went on
Army operations in France have ]
vept ahead Of all calculations We are y
Ionths ahead Of our program and the
iiildA has Vet 10 De reached.
The magnitude OF this task appears
reater when II is remembered that the
merican army had TO build its own
silwsys, construct its own docks and
osding facilities build its own ware
ouses on French soil. and. in effect.
lmost establish a new battlefront
'merican officers give the French and
,nglish full credit for the material as
istancs rendered and the valuable ex-
'ert advice offered, but the Job remain v
ng for Americas expeditionary army 4
vas a staggering one.
Nine regiments OF railway engineers :
lave been at work in France since last I
,ugust-an army OF nearly 5000 men
Welding the pick and the shovel.
Carpenters hammered on large ware Z
ouses to keep American supplies from 4,
be weather Road builders paved paths
Or the fleets Of motor trucks which r
ave been among the most valuable 4.
diuncts to the expeditionary army
Supporting this vast undertaking
broad are millions Of skilled workmen !.
home turning out munitions. cloth
lg. equipment and everything needle, =
Y the fighting soldier. Rifles sufficient -
, equip an entire division are being II