Fulton County tribune. (Wauseon, Ohio) 1883-1925, 1917-08-03
BY EDWARD W. PlckARp.

The United States is having Inn
pressed upon it the magnitude of the
war In which it has embarked, and is
beginning to realize that it must be
fought through to a victorious finish
at tremendous cost in money, energy
and, doubtless, life. The money end
of 1t was brought sharply to the at
tention Of congress last Tuesday, when
Secretary of the Treasury McAdoo in
formed the lawmakers that $5,0O0,00O,-
600 more than had been estimated
was needed, and needed at once. Much
of this will be expended for ordnance.
Senator Smoot informed the senate
that by the end of the fiscal year the
war expenditures by the United States
are likely to amount to $20,0O0,O00, 900.
The figures staggered the members of
both houses, and there was a hasty
calling together Of the senate finance
committee to revise its report on the
swar-tnx bill. y s,s,r .,.s.---.
Transportation is now one Of the
administration biggest problems
transportation by both land and sea,
but especially the latter. An immense
number Of vessels must be provided
to carry to Europe our troops and the
vast supplies they and the allied arm
les, must have, and efforts are being
made to gather together all the avail
able ships, even Japan being asked to
release many of her merchantmen.
Meanwhile the plan of building a mon
ster merchant marine of our own was
given added impetus last week. AS
had been predicted, President Wilson
was compelled to take hand in the
dispute between General Goethals and
Chairman Denman Of the shipping
board. and he settled the matter by ac-
cepting the designations Of both, and
of Capt. J. b. White as well. He then
named E. N. Hurley of Chicago as
chairman and Bainbridge Colby as
member Of the board, and Rear Ad-
miral Capps, long chief constructor of
the navy, as head of the emergency
feet corporation in place of Goethals
or these appointments, only that OF
Colby was adversely criticised. Hur
ley Is an energetic business man an6
has been on the federal trade board
Though the elimination of Goethals i:
regretted by the innumerable admir-
ers of the great builder of the Pan
anna canal, il is felt that no one bet
ter than Admiral Capps could bC
picked to manage the construction o.
the emergency feet. 1t Is understood
that as many steel ships as possible
will be built, which was Goethals plan
Later in the week the president ac
cepted the resignation of Vice Chair
man Theodore Brent of the shippin
board.
steps in Making the Army.
The need for many vessels Is EN-
phasized by the semi-official announce
ment that the United States plans t
send to Europe not only 100000 mer
but more than a million as soon a
they can be trained and equipped an
as fast as transports can be obtaine
to carry them across. Two more step
in the making of this great army wer
taken last week. The men drafted fo
the national army began to receiv
their calls before the exemptio
boards, the city of Washington leat
ing the way. and the National Guar
of 10 states and the District of C,
lumbia was mobilized to be taken int
the federal service. After a few week
of intensive training in camps, th
best of the guardsmen will be ser
to France to prepare for the spring O
fensive.
The shortage of railway transports
ton at home also is troubling the q,