The Daily News. SATURDAY, JUNE 29, 1918. AMERICA'S EFFORT.

Taranaki Daily News, 29 June 1918, Page 4

The Daily News. SATURDAY, JUNE 29, 1918. AMERICA'S EFFORT.

Mr. Newton Baker, the United States Secretary for War, lias just issued a statement that 900,000 American troops are in France, 70 per cent, of which are actually combatants. This is convincing proof of the wonderful growth of America's great effort since the early part of this year. Last January, Mr. Baker only hoped to have an American army in France by the summer amounting to 500,000, and a million by February of next year, but the Allies' great need acted as a spur to the transport of troops across the Atlantic with the result that in March and Ajiril the speeding up became very evident. Naturally the provision of shipping facilities was a very important factor and this appears to have been dealt with. The use of new ships of increased speed and improved methods in the management of the fleet, with better facilities for disembarkation, expedited the work and lowered the previous estimate of five tons of shipping per man to a little over two tons. In the early part of May, Mr. Baker was able to state that there were 500,000 American troops in France, and that the mileage held by them was greater than the front held by the Belgians. The "War Secretary then forecasted that by mid-summer there would be a million men in Europe, and as there are already 900,000 the estimate was fairly accurate. There is just to hand, however, a further statement giving the final figures of the first class, as for August next, and the number that will then be in France is set down at a million and a quarter out of 3,300,000, It may fairly be claimed that America has risen to the occasion with a zeal and promptitude worthy of our warmest admiration. Unofficial statements during the present month have afforded additional testimony to the remarkable increase in the removal of American troops to the war theatre. Colonel Repington stated that a new army arrived each month, presumably meaning from 100,000 to 120,000 men, while General March said that during one week 100,000 American troops had either been landed or were on the water, and that America was five months ahead of schedule. As each division requires something like 50,000 tons of shipping, some conception may be obtained of the rapidity of transport and the number of ships engaged in the operation. The release of these vessels has been rendered possible by the improved food supplies m Britain and France. From now on it may be even further enlarged, as the period of training in

tlie United States lias been considerably shortened, the troops on arrival in France receiving their main training under actual war conditions. At the same time it must be remembered that last month (May) thee" were.,a million and a half Americ- which liad received the • longev training in America so ili'af Tn a very short space of time that number at least will be able to take their full part against the enemy. The successes that have been achieved by the Americans clearly indicate that they are a splendid type of soldier, and that the Allies may well regard the Americans as their sheet anchor in this critical period of the struggle. Time has been working on the side of the Allies, and the enemy now recognises that the despised American effort is a mighty stumbling block to his designs for conquest. America's resources are so vast that the declining power of Germany may well quail at this inexhaustible source of armed foes. It is not on the "West front only that the Americans are doing such splendid service in the cause of freedom, justice and humanity. The same energy and determination which they have exhibited in the marvellous achievements up to the present will assuredly be continued until the war is ended and the permanent peace of the world assured.