The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1916-02-04

III WIS AAaANA ARRt1N AhF - WI
est lesson to be learned from the
present war. aside from improve
ment in armament and other death
dealing devices. is on the business
side. The immediate mobilization
OF the financial. transportation.
manufacturing. merchandising ana
scientific brains of a nation has
proved TO be as necessary and
important as the mobilization OF
troops. In all wars. and the pres
ent Is no exception. the military
genius of belligerent nations has
proved hopelessly Incompetent TO
provide the necessary equipment
for troops as fast as IL was needed,
to purchase supplies honestly and
In a busineSs-like manner. or to
conserve the food and other re-
sources Of the country for the civil
population.
Any scheme for preparedness
for war should include therefore a
complete knowledge of ell sources
OF supply. possible increases OF
output. sportatiOn facilities
and the possibilities of substitution
OF home produced for imported
material Such an advance knowl-
edge could only b. effectively &C
quired and codihed so a. TO be- OF
practical value by "A permanent
organization OF experts drawn
from the ranks Of the various in
dustries involved. In case OF war
this organization could be expand
ed as needs BE- and IL could be
eal1aI -
ness end OF any armed conflict in
to which America might be unfor-
tunately drawn The closely wo-
ven texture of the German eCono-
mic system made it possible Tor
that nation to achieve results in
this direction quicker than any or
its enemies.
When the war began most OF
the countries put the Old and time
honored system into effect Naval
and army officers were given civil
duties at home. some We're sent
abroad as purchasing agents and II
was not until many months later
that any real knowledge was &C
quircd as to what might be ex-
pected from either home or Tor
eign sources an the matter or
supplies The war was hardly two
months old before the usual pur-
chasing scandals made their APP
pearance. Large commissions
were cXacted and hundreds grew
fat upon the mlddleuan' profit.
II became necessary in the case OF
the Allies. in defense OF their
financial resources TO centralize
the purcha4inE function, pay a
legitimate commission for the
transaction of business and in 9th
er words attempt TO conduct the
whole affair as would any success
full business Institution IN ike
circumstances.
The lack OF organization and
the dishonesty II many OF those
concerned with supplying the
Russian army with materials have
been sinister factors IN the great
retreat. \ great measure OF re-
form has come. but very late IN
The DAY. and NOT before a great
disaster may be attributed To- It's
hardness Many officials were
dismissed. four men We're hanged
and the business end of russian
military affairs vas placed largely
IN civil hands. especially abroad.
u is estimated thai IN the early
days O; the war Russia lost from
fifteen 10 twenty per cent of the
money her people were spending
for supplies and this soon ran
into millions Under the new or
ganizatlou and with civil aid Rus
STA j. now saving 'uIly two.thirds
Of what was before a total loss.
Russia is not h. only country
OF which this story can be- told.
II is more or less true OF them
all The magnitude of the bust
ness end of the war soon made
so-called military efficiency" look
foolish. The work 20 boz done was
beyond the ability. power or train
Ing of any group az army officers
20 eucoWpa There is no re-
pTOaCh 90 them in this. excepting
though that unfortunately was all
too often u has been tho same
IN all wars boo an countries pur-
chasing scandals have been appar-
emily an unavoidable feature OF
every armed conflict Of which We
have detailed knowledge 10 has
been 80 Boz America and would BE-
so again under she present -ys-
TEN
The business OF military men is
concerned with actual warfare
There are gsniuss- at this 0cru-
patton ir an aruiat The whole
uain.ur of soldier or sailor ron.
Ger- real knowled -. Of commercial
affairs difficult Co attain and ss %
rule they DO not care to attain d.
Finance. commerce and industry
also have their serIu-es. trained
in n practical and intimate school
to work fo best advantage mo- mat.