Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1916-07-15


l. s.criod likely that tho United Statcs
and Mexico would settle their differ
"nccS by armed conflict.
Tho document is in two parts the
h'st and mos. important part bcinr an
"pt!ine of what was done bv Russia,
England. France. Italy, Austria and
Germany along the line OF mobilization
OF industries when those Countries
"NEhn III" great struggle in Europe.
The second part Of tho stc.cincn. IL
an outline of the recently cua,:..l -
tonal defense act Of tho United St.,;cs.
20 far as It treats tho suhjcc. rc mob.
iH@ht!on Of Industries In this coun.
War Departments Statement.
Tho statement Is AS follows:
The mobilization of industries Las
been undertaken in all the countries
that are At present at war. Reports
from abroad arc incomplete on this
subject. but all Indicate that a more or
less perfected scheme has been adopted
IN all countries. An enabling act Is
the first requisite. and the details Of
!'s exercise vary in each OF tn. coun-
tries
In Russia n committee Was appoint
ed Ia supervise the manufactur. and
supply Of war munitions making use
oi al civilian plants. Tn" president
az INC buma, An * Minister Of Com
rcrce. and two prominent army Of
committee FOR purposes Of ,ousulta-
ton in regard To technical matters
III England III" government control
OF all engineering Industries was
taken over under an act called The
mobilization Of industry act" This
was passed with ease and rauidly bv
tho House OF Commons The original
act provided 70! III" taking over ann
control Of any works where war ,nu-
n!t!ons were being made Later. tho
Eg' ,,J
,r!es that could be utilized II modi-
NOD Power 10 cancel existing con-
tracts with privai" parties Was ais,
made part az tho law
Trndc Qualification in France
In France, an act called tn" "Dalbiez
act was passed. under which all com.
merc!al manufacturing plants. used in
whole or In part for making supplies
fo- the army, we're taken over bv the
government. Originally all skilled
workmen. heads Of departments ant
supcr.ntendcn,s were excused from,
military service. II was found tina.
This exemption Was abused. and a large
number OF men su!;shlc for military
service but not absolutely necessary
In the manufacturing plants. avoided
military service.
The civilian snperlntendcn;s Of the
works taken over report thac they
have no trouble Win strikes or labor
d!scords while under military control.
Tor g soon as workman by his act
shows he is not necessary In the plant,
itse!: he IS avn!iahle 10 20 10 military
service in The fold. which acts as a
deterrent against strikes.
In Italy a.! the larger automobile
factories or garages have been taken
over FOR tn manWtactur. OF war mu-
ri,ions.
Similar provisions have been made in
Austria and Gcrmany, in mos, % these
countries this mobilization % INDUS
tries IS carried down to the smaller In
dustr!es in minute detail. For example
IN both Austria and France. all tho
horses and wagons su:,ahl. for milf
tary service arc listed. and the record
Is kept by area officers. so that the
government ut any time can ascertain
how many horses and wagons are
available, and their condition. In any
stated district There is price fixed
hy law AZ which owners shall he re-
imbursed for their teams and wagons
used for military purposes
Action In the United states
The national defense act. which be-
came effective juno $. 1915, treated the
subiec, OF mobilization OF the indus
tries OF this country in very COM
prehens!v" manner It provides that:
The President, IN time OF war or
when war is Imminent. is empowered
through the head OF any department
Of the government, in addition 10 the
present authorized methods OF pur-
chase or procurement. I" place an or.
der with any Individual. firm, associ.
alton. company. corporation, or organ
i2ed manufa curing industry for such
product or material as NAV be rcouir-
al. and which IS OF the nature and kind
usually produced OF capable OF being
produced by such individual. firm. COM
rany. association. corporation or or
Can!zcd manufacturing industry
Compliance wIeh all such orders for
products or materials shall he ob!iga-
;ory on any individual, firm, associa-
t!on. company. corporation or organ
tied manufacturing industry or the re-
sponsiblc head or heads thereof. ;.na
shall take precedence over all other
orders and contracts heretofore placed
with such individual, firm, company
association. corporation or organized
manufacturing industry, any any indi-
vidual. firm. association, company. cor
poration or organized manufacturing
industry OF the responsible head or
heads thereof owning or operatia;r any
plant equipped for the manufacture of
arms or ammunition or parts Of an
Inunittcn. or any necessary supplies or
equipment for the army. Any individ-
ual. firm, aSSoCiation,N company cor.
poration or organized manufacturing
Industry or the responsible head or
heads thereof owning or operating any
plant. which in the opinion of the Sec
rotary of War shall be capa bic Of being
readily transformed into a plant for
the manufacture OF arms or ammuni-
ton. or parts thereof. or other neces-
sly supplies or equipment. who shall
refuse to manufacture the kind uuan-
t!ty or quality of arms or ammuni-
ton. or the parts thereof. or any neces-
sary supplies or equipment. as ordered
by the Secretary of War. or who shall
refuse to furnish such arms ammuni-
tions or parts Of ammunition or other
supplies or equipment by the Sccrc-
tary of War.
President authorized to Act.
In either such case the President.
through the head of any department Of
the government I'm addition to the
present authorized methods of pur-