The Sentinel=record., 1918-05-09
ASKS PRESS TO REFRAIN
FROM SPECULATING
The seeretary'o Statement Regarding
the Movement Of Troops to France
is the First Official Utterance indi-
eating Indirectly the Number of
Men Sent Abroad

Washington. May S.-More than
half a million soldiers have been sen.
ito France Secretary Baker today au-
thorized the statement that his fore
cast to congress in January, 100000
troops would be dispatched to France
early in the present year now has
been surpassed.
Mr. Baker dictated the following
statement:
'In January told the senate COM
mittee that there was strong likeli-
hood that in the present year 500, 900
American troops would be dispatched
to France. l cannot either now or
perhaps later discuss the number OF
American troops now in France, but /
am glad to be able to say the fore
cast | made in January has been sur
passed"
MIR. Baker said there had been no
question brought up as to the supplies
of light type Browning guns which
were coming forward in quantities.
He would not say whether shipment
of these guns to France had been
started. AS to the heavy Brownings
he said:
early manufacturers estimates
as to the production of the heavy
types perhaps were more optimistic
than was justified. The estimate of
the ordnance department in January
has been met and is being met Some
.of these heavy guns have been pro-
duced and there is every indication
.of forthcoming production in increas-
ing and substantial numbers"
The secretary would not amplify
the statement concerning troops in
France and asked that the press re-
train from speculation as to what
precise figures his guarded remarks
covered or as to what possibilities
of early further increase in the force
on the other side there might be,
There are indications that the war
department has adhered to its policy
of eqnipping every man fully before
his departure. His conclusions as to
machine guns follow on the heels of
Ipessimistic statements by members
of congress in this regard. In the
discussion of the production Of the
Browning machine guns, contracts for
other types apparently have been lost
sight of.
| The present practice of brigadins
American units with French and Brit
ish divisions it is pointed out makes
the artillery question less pressing.
The allied divisions have the artil-
lery necessary. Man power is beins
supplied by the new arrangement and
additional gun power will be neces'
, sary only where important American
divisions or army corps are formed.
Today's statement regarding the
movement to France is the first Off
| Cial utterance made during the wal
indie ating even indirectly the number
OF men sent abroad. The first force
! to 20 over was never described ex-
cept as division although as a mat
| Ter of fact it was constituted into
two divisions soon after its arrival
| The fact that more than 100000 have
gone this year also shows the acceler-
ated rate at which the men have beer
| moving.
The effect of Secretary Bakers an.
nouncement in Germany and Austria
il it Is allowed to reach those coun-
tries. will be watched with interest.
There is little doubt that the Ger
man general staff has known hun
dreds of thousands of men have beer
sent across by the United States, bp