The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1916-06-17

The United States may be unprepar-
ed for war in the sense that the ma.
tons OF continental Europe were pre-
pared, but evidence is accommodating
rapidly that one on the road to that
kind Of preparedness this country
would furnish few examples that
would make the bullet headed gentle
man OF the European general stats sit
up and rub their heads In genuine
amazement. 1t Is but few weeks
since the Committee on Industrial
Preparedness OF the U. S. Navy Con.
sulting board began the vast Industrial
inventory which is designed to reach
into every nook and corner Of the
country and determine just what the
industries Of the United States could
go in assisting the army and navy In
the event OF war, but already the re.
suits ara such that Chairman Howard
.. Coffin and w. S. Clifford the super.
vising director are gratified beyond
their fondest hopes. In the State OF
New York alone some $4,000 firms are
being inyentoried. In no case so far
has the New York board met with
definite refusal to give the desired In.
formation. The filled-in forms are
already arriving at Chairman ]. G..
Whites Office at the rate Of several
hundreds day, although this board
asked many OF the larger firms TO sac.
rifce speed to accuracy.
A large capacity sash-chain maker,
for example, believed he could with
little difficulty produce cartridge clips
for rifles and machine guns, and a
manufacturer of threshing machinery
was sure he could make 600 six.inch
shells per day.
A maker OF underwear declared he
could turn out bandages and other
knit goods for the army and navy and
Red Cross services. q button maker
thought his machines could be used
for small munitions work, and COM
pany manufacturing drugs stated that
It could turn a considerable portion Of
its product into an adjunct for making
cordite for shells.
One well known foundry not many
miles from Bowling Green said 1t was
well equipped to turn out tools and
machinery for small arms and ammu.
milton, Q maker Of betting even sug.
gested that he could produce webbing
with which to fasten equipment on
soldiers, and a famous producer OF
condemned milk though he could be OF
use 70 his government In time OF war.
On the theory that an army is as
good as the feet Of its men, bootmak.
ers were queried and showed great in.
terest, even enthusiasm. and smart
clothier OF the metropolis saw no rea.
son why he, too, could not help Uncle
Sam with equipment at the proper
time.
A leading Buatflo manufacturer
wrote: Weslook upon It as a patrl.
otto duty to fill out the blank forward.
ed tour, the president Of great rail.
road wrote at length analy1zing the
situation In o most sympathetic way,
and a maker Of pocket knives volun.
teered TO produce various lines OF mu.
milton supplies.
New York automobile manufactur.
ers have offered every assistance in
their power, several optical makers
have pointed out where they could be
practical aid TO armies In the field.
and crushed stone company saw
where It could play large part in
maintaining good roads against the
wear and tear Of modern military
transportation. An extensive tailoring
concern emphasized that the preduc.
ton Of uniforms should be standard.
lied. one OF the worlds leading makers
OF printing presses placed himself
wholly at the command OF the state
board, and perhaps the greatest mu.
nictpal transportation system in the
United States appointed its chief en-.
gineer TO serve the committees pur.
pose and sit goes.