Pine Bluff daily graphic., 1918-07-14

Drafted in May ... - 233,742
 TOTALS 14S,32S 1S89,S
 Our reservoir of men for the army is such as to insure force of at least 4,000,000 men by next year with out extending the age limitations Of the draft. In other words, We have at least that number of men on hand in the best years of life for strenuous army work. Of course, millions more would be needed for other than active trench work.
 Registration of the young men who have become of age since last June alone insures 750,000 more to those we had registered. In June. 1919. there will be another 75O,0O0 of age the best age for army life.
 As matter of fact. if we use all men within the draft limitations who are physically fit We will easily have an army of more than 6,000,0O0, and all authortes agree that this is a greater number than will be neces- sary to put the quotas on the the kaiser.
 This article, however, is not about what we can do, but what we have done.
 England waited two years before resorting to the draft; we did not wait at all.
 We have inauguarted the greatest soldier insurance system in the world, thus adequately providing for the needs of the dependents of killed or maimed warriors.
 In cpito cf thiC draft 600 men day are volunteering-and this amounts to a great deal in month or a year.
 The average who have gone over" since last December numbers 95,OOG formation; but the number has in creaed monthly until now, as pre- viously state, the 100000 mark has been reached and is being passed.
 By the end of this year there will be more than 2,OO0,O Americans in France.
 The Navy
 The history of the American navy in the present war is short and sweet. The personnel has been raised from 5O.000 men at the beginning of the war, to more than 35O,00O men, This huge naval force comprises volun- teers-there is no draft regarding the navy. And the qualifications for the navy are so high that only one out of every five applicants has been se- lected.
 The result is high class person. mel.
 More than 700 ships in the navy are on duty. AlO, guns and gun crews from the navy are on more than 700 merchant ships.
 About 150 of our naval ships are in English waters.
 The navy holds 55,000 men in con- stant reservc-a larger reserve than it har men all told at the beginning of the war.
 Everything in connection with the navy-ships, guns, equipment, ma terial and men-has been of the high est class from the beginning, and there has not even been an attempt at criticism.
 And the navy has seen some cas- ualties too. The hardships on de stroyers and small naval vessels are severe These destroycrs that keep the usbmarine menace under cover are swept by seas during rough weather and officers and men eat their meals strapped to chairs. Men are often swept overheard despite precautions. Ninety-five per cent of the casualties in the navy due to this cause so far, and only five per cent has been due to the encmy's shells.
 The American navy prepared for war before it occurred and as a result was ready the day prepared for war before it occurred and as result was ready the day hostilities opened. That's why Admiral Simms was able to tell the British. we are able to start at once, sir"
 Machine Guns
 According to best information from Washington, there has been no lack of machine guns despite the failure to get out the Browning gun in quan- titles. There have been plenty of Lew is guns, Colts and other makes. The Brownings are net quite ready, though many of the light Brownings have been turned out. The heavy Brownings will be produced in great CT quantities in about four yeeks.
 Artillery
 There is much light American ar tillery abroad; this can be stated. There is also some heavy American artillery abroad, but most of our heavy artillery is net quite ready for delivery but soon will be.
 At the beginning of the war France, and England informed us it was not guns they so much needed, as they had surplus and factories to make them: but they needed the steel and other material. and this has been sent them in large quantities.
 The United States will soon be ready to supply enormous quantities of light and heavy artillery.
 The government is not building any long range guns like those the Ger mans are using to lombard Paris. These guns cannot hit anything but a city and thus kill women and child ren. The government will never go into the "frightfulness" business but will conduct the war according to hu- mane principles, with due regard to the rights to noncombatants.
 The Merchant Marine
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