Pine Bluff daily graphic. (Pine Bluff, Ark.) 1893-1942, 1916-09-17
Industry is
Big Preparedness Factor
Howard E. Coffin Reviews Steps That Have Been TAX
en- to Place Manufactu rers in Position to Co.
operate with Government.

"In the movement for the industrial !
and military preparedness of the Unit !
ed States the automobile industry is
readily recognized as being in posi-
ito nto play one of the leding parts, for
with it's practically unlimited resour-
ces and the character Of it's equipment |
and product it is particularly adapted
to the rendering of valuable aid to
the government in the event of war"
says Howard e. Coffin, chairman of
the committee of the in industrial
preparedness Of the naval consulting
bard of the United States, in review
ing the position of the automobile in
dustry and preparedness in the Horse
less Age, the automobile trade maya
zine.
""Steps have been taken to place
the motor car manufacturers in po-
sition directly to cooperate with the
government in the solution of it's mill
tary problems, and the various ma
tional associations identified with the
industry are working with the Wash
ington authorities in arriving at a
definite plan of cooperation.
| "Just what can the automobile in
dustry do to place the country on a
better basis of preparation against war
and to what extent can it aid the gov
eminent in the3event of war? in the
first place it would devolve upon the
automobile industry and the hundreds
of thousands of motor vehicle users in
the country to provide machines for
the motor transportation corps. This
modern branch of military organiza-
ton has been proven, through the
European war, to be absolutely es-
sential to the efficient prosecution of a
campaign.
"That in respect of the resources of
our motor transport supply we are in
an infinitely better position than any,
or all, of the nations involved in the
present war is obvious when it is con-
sidered that the approximately three
million automobile and motor trucks
registered in this country represent
close to four times as many motor We
hicles as are in use throughout the
remainder of the world The value Of
motor transportation to this country in
war times can not be too highly ap-
preciated, for it is not unlikely that
considerable wreclking Of transporta-
ton lines would follow a declaration
of war; With our regular transporta-
ton channels overburdened or inca
pacitated, it will remain for automo-
biles and motor trucks to take up the
service of transporting not only sup
plies and ammunition, but soldiers as
we'll.
Will Furnish Officers.
"The automobile industry also will
be called upon to furnish officers for
the automobile crops. Under the con-
ference bill passed by congress last
June, the war department has been
empowered to create an officers re-
serve corps, in the motor transporta-
ton division of which men from the
automobile plants probably will act as
officers in all grades up to and in
Guiding that Of major. A large proper
ton of the privates in this corps also
will be recruited from the motor car
factories and from among the 5000,
600 automobile owners.
"There are about 100 first class mo-
tor car producing concerns in this
country, and it is estimated that in the
event of war Is per cent of these
would be taken off the manufacture
of their regular product and assigned
| to the making of munitions. Sixty per
cent of the ammunition used in war;
IdIc lS SuIdpilcl anu HlSH CAplOSlVcS,
and the automobile plants are par
ticularly adapted to the manufacture
o fthis material, along with shells,
guns. fuses, etc.
"This change undoubtedly would be
to the advantage of the manufacturer,
for just as soon as this country be-
came involved in war the foreign
and domestic market for motor We
hicles would be greatly curtailed, and
in the pleasure car of business. How
ever, wit hthe special field there would
be almost a cessation war activities
of the manufacturers predetermined
through the educational campaign of
the war department, they could i'm
mediately turn over their plants to
the making of items of war material,
for the manufacture of which the gov
eminent would hold them accountable.
Educational Campaign.
| Gust what each plant in the in
dustry is capable of making in the
line of war material is to be determin-
ed by the war department through the
results of the industrial Inventory now
being made by the committee on in
dustrial preparedness of the naval con-
sulting board of the United States.
The educational campaign of the gov
eminent provides for the furnishing.
Of the manufacturer with such gauges,
dies, jigs, tools, fixtures and other