STRENGTH

There are in Europe altogether, including a regiment and some sanitary units with the Italian Army and the organizations at Murmansk, also including those en route from the States, approximately 2,053,347 men, less our losses.  Of this total there are in France 1,338,169 combatant troops.  Forty divisions have arrived of which the infantry personnel of ten have been used as replacements, leaving thirty divisions now in France organized into three armies of three corps each.

The losses of the Americans up to November 18 are:  Killed and wounded, 36,145; died of disease, 14,811; deaths unclassified, 2,204; wounded, 179,625; prisoners, 2,163; missing, 1,160.  We have captured about 44, prisoners and 1,400 guns, howitzers and trench mortars.

[General Pershing then highly praised the work of the General Staff, the Service of Supply, Medical Corps, Quartermaster Department, Ordnance Department, Signal Corps, Engineer Corps, and continued:]

Our aviators have no equals in daring or in fighting ability, and have left a record of courageous deeds that will ever remain a brilliant page in the annals of our army.  While the Tank Corps has had limited opportunities, its personnel has responded gallantly on every possible occasion, and has shown courage of the highest order.

The navy in European waters has at all times most cordially aided the army, and it is most gratifying to report that there has never before been such perfect cooeperation between these two branches of the service.

Finally, I pay supreme tribute to our officers and soldiers of the line.  When I think of their heroism, their patience under hardships, their unflinching spirit of offensive action, I am filled with emotion which I am unable to express.  Their deeds are immortal, and they have earned the eternal gratitude of our country.

I am, Mr. Secretary, very respectfully,

JOHN J. PERSHING,

General, Commander-in-Chief,

American Expeditionary Forces.

To the Secretary of War.

CHAPTER XXXI

WHEN THE DAYS OF RECKONING DAWNED

American Troops on All Fronts—­Changes Come Fast and Furious—­First Hun Cry for Peace—­Virtue, Vice and Violence—­Austria Surrenders—­Opens Up the Dardanelles—­Closing Days of Hohenzollern Reign—­Killing of Tisza—­Terms Prepared for Germany—­ Armistice Signed by Germany.

AMERICAN TROOPS ON ALL FRONTS