The American Expeditionary Forces were advancing, with the British and French forces, along the front in France. The causalities were heavy. As of August 1, 1918, over 1.3 million American soldiers were in France. The War Department announced plans to send a quarter of a million men per month to France. They were determined to expand the presence of American forces in hopes of shortening the war. This strategy would put almost 3.6 million men at the front by June of 1919, and it would call for a