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Show 1,900,000 FIGHTERS IN FRANCE THIS YEAR Premier Clemenceau's Newspaper Announces r Coming of American Troops in Constantly Increasing Numbers. BAKER'S PROMISE TO BE MADE GOOD Italy Desires Presence of Boys in Khaki on Its Front; What the Entrance of United States in War Means. PARIS, May 16. The United Slates has promised to have 1,500,000 fighting men in - Franc by tho end of 1918, says l'Hommc Libre, Premier Clcmenceau's newspaper. These troops, U adds, must have their own organization and services, which will mean at least 2,000,000 specialist workers, work-ers, men in the quartermaster's department depart-ment and others. The newspaper says certain misunder-slyndings misunder-slyndings which had existed have been t iired up, and that under no circum-Tstauees circum-Tstauees will allied workers or soldiers replace re-place French workers in factories. The presence of American workers on French ; SvoH will be. in direct consequence of the iknce oi American fighters on the fttrfcl. ARMY OFFICIALS HOPEFUL THAT THE MEN WILL ARRIVE WASHINGTON, May 16. With more than 500,000 men now in France, army officials of-ficials are more than ever hopeful that a powerful American force will be cooperating co-operating with the allies there by the end of the year. Unhappy experience with ovcraunguinc estimates of what can be accomplished mako them slow to put their hopes into definite predictions, however, and it was not possible tonight to obtain ob-tain specific confirmation of the report from Paris that 1,d00,000 righting troops before January 1 had been promised. The statement in Premier Clcmenceau's newspaper that such a promise had been made was not believed by army officers generally to mean that the American government gov-ernment should definitely pledge itself to deliver a specific number of men within a time limit. Many factors are involved In making such a calculation months in advance. Secretary Baker would make no comment com-ment on the statement. Many weeks ago lie told the senate military committee, however, that the government then had hopes of getting 1,500,000 to the front during dur-ing the year. Since then his estimate that 500,000 men would reach France early in the year has been fulfilled and V since then, also, the German drive has changed the whole course of events and w brought about a speeding-up of American j lwrticipatlon, which has already shown j re?ts. The French article Indicates that under un-der the programme a total of 2,000,000 American troops would reach France during dur-ing the year, 1,500,000 of which would be fighting units. Whether that result can be obtained, depends upon the shipping situation. The men and the essential equipment for them can be ready. Under the authority sought by President Presi-dent Wilson to organize as large an army as it found possible to train, equip and transport, it is known that officials expect at least 3,000,000 men to be under arms during the next twelve months. ,, Secretary Baker explained today hfs view as to what the new practice of . brigading American units with France and British dtvlsions and the appointment of General Foch as supreme commander J- might bring about in the way of pro- ducing mixed army corps or divisions. It is entirely possible, he said, that American Amer-ican division or higher commanders will have command of French or British troopH or both under the movements ordered or-dered by General Foch. Where a mixed division or corps is constituted and American troops predominate, pre-dominate, Mr. Baker regarded it as probable prob-able that an American will command if one of adequate rank and experience is p available. WHAT ENTRANCE OF AMERICA INTO THE GREAT WAR MEANS k.NDON, May 16. American prepara-' prepara-' Mns on the western front are amazing in their immensity, and plans arc being made lo care for 5,000,000 American (Continued on Page Four.) 1,500.000 FIGHTERS j IN FRANCE THIS YEAR (Continued from Page One.) , . troops. Harry K. V. Brittain. secretary of the LJnglish branch of the Pilgrims' club, told the Royal Colonial Institute last night. If the Germans do not give in, he added, the number of American troops will be increased to any amount ncces-sa ncces-sa ry. Sir CharU's P. IjUcas, former head of the dominions' department at the colonial co-lonial office, said he wondered if the Germans realized what the entry of America into the war meant. It meant, he said, not only t lie accession to the allied al-lied powers of many millions of fighting men and the addition of vast resources, but also tho coming in of the only one amongBt the great peoples of the world which have seen and carried through to an unmistakable issue a four year's war. The Untied States, asserted Miss Hlg-glns Hlg-glns of the American labor delegation, had answered the call of blood. England had been a wonderful inspiration and the heart of America was full of gratitude I for what England's sons had achieved. |