PROGRESS OF THE WAR

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 113, 30 January 1918, Page 4

PROGRESS OF THE WAR

A most encouraging account of tho progress of American war preparations is given by the United States Secretary for War (Mi;. Baker). Pis statement, that the United States will have half a million men , in Franco early in the year—that is to say, within a month or two—and moro than a million and a half ready to send implies chat a second compulsory draft of something like half a million men is already "n camp or will enter camp very shortly. Under normal conditions the United Stales troops aro given sixteen weeks' training in camp before being sent abroad, so that it would appear that the jhite&t contingents of the two million men to whom Mi;. Baker refnre must be already iii camp. Some time ago it was reported that America had mobilised to date approximately ],500,000 men, but it is, of course, possible that this total has been expanded without tho fact being announced. According to an American publica tion of recent dale figures published iii Washington in November showed I hat fchn United States Army was then over 1,800,000 strong, distributed as follows: J

I National (drafl) Army 61G.520 I National Guard (called into Fedoral service) -103,000 Regular Army 370,000 Special branches 200,000 Keservos StI.OOO Officers StyjOO Total ],800,820 Probably, however, the special branches .mentioned in this table refer to or include labour battalions and similar auxiliary corps. It fitill seems likely, in view of Mn. Baker's latest statement, that a second compulsory draft is already in camp or will be mobilised very shortly. « * * * That America will have half ' a million troops in France early this year does not mean that she will have an army of that strength, on the battlefront, but it should moan that she is capable of taking an important part in this year's Western campaign. It seems quite possible that she may have an army of half a million men in position before the summer is far advanced. Tho Regular Army, though it has been considerably expanded since the outbreak of war, is no doubt by this time in a condition to give an excellent account of itself in such conditions as obtain in the Western theatre. _ A number of National Guard divisions have also undergone, intensive training over an extended period. _ Even with the nucleus thus provided tho organisation of an army on the Continental scalo will take time, but on the other hand tho American forces, acting in cooperation with the British and French, will no doubt be able to render effective service much sooner than if they were required to act alone. * * * # . An example of the advantages of co-ordination appears in Mr. Baker's statement regarding tho measures taken to provide the American forces with artillery. America lias a vast programme of artillery production in hand, but meantime. General Persihng's forces are using British and French gune because it has been decided that thus more shipping will be made available for tho _ transport) of American troops. Writing oij this subject lash month the Washington correspondent of tho New York Evening Post, stated that while French guns had been procured for tho American Army in France, preparations had been made for a tremendous manufacture of big guns in tho United States, deliveries to begin in April this yenr. "At the present time," he added, "the Government arsenals aro turning out; regulation. American field pieces at full capacity, and surplus naval guns have been turned over to tho Army for use at tho front. Apparently tho policy of the Government op guns and small arms has been ar-. rived at with full knowlcdgo that timo would be lost at the outset, but the belief was and still is entertained by Secretary Baker and his aides that in tho end a better and bigger equipment will be forthcoming in time for the actual fighting." ! * * * * A somewhat extraordinary account of the Russian situation is given by Mr. Kansome, tho Petrograd correspondent of, the Daily News. He contends that.in refusrecognition to the Bolslißviki, the Allies are weakening .the influonco of that party upon the proletariats of the Ccutral Empires, and are at the same time intensifying the danger that tho Ukraine may conclude peace with Austria and supply that country with foodstuffs which aro dospcratcly needed in Northern Russia. Mr. Ransomr's contentions aro at a number of points difficult to reconcile with established facts. The Bolsheviki have certainly done moro than any other party to promoto anarchy in Russia and to demoralise the armies. It is an extraordinary suggestion that the Allies should countenance and cooperate with _ these fanatics now that their crimes and follies have produced the results that were inevitable. On the ground that it would to some extent easo the enemy's r ood problems and on others, the. conclusion of a separate peace by the Ukraine would bo a serious misfortune. But the Bolsheviki are not likely to do anything to avert this misfortune. According to a message just received they intend "passive resistance" towards Germany, and certainly nothing in their record suggests that they are capable of any more effective policy.