The Birmingham age-herald., 1917-05-09

if the United States were to send imme- diately, or as soon as possible, a small army of from 10000 to 12OO0 men to
 France. Tn his view this army should be one already trained and equipped for service. He was persuaded that the moral effect of the appearance of an American army in France, even though 1t were no larger than 10000 men, would be of great value and would be an object lesson to the central allies of Europe, many of whose people do not yet realize that the United States has entered into the war.
 After these troops have been sent abroad, good progress can be made in the creation of large army. There is no need of great haste in the organization of a large army. although it should be done as speedily as possible, in General Woods view.
 The next step, and one which General Wood regards as of prime importance, will have been taken when we begin to provide ships with the certainty that the number of them will be steadily in- creased, and also provide certain sub marine destroyers as rapidly as possible. For he is certain that the prime need of the allies is now supplied, and the United States is the only country that is able adequately to meet this demand.
 General Wood had scarcely reached Charleston before information came to this city that the views which he pri vately expressed have really been adopted
 in general principle, if not in detail, by the administration at Washington. The minds of the President, his cabinet and the great majority of the members of Congress, and the minds of the English and French commission, it is believed here, have met in common understand ing so that the commissions will return to England and to France able to carry messages which will be enthusiastically received by the governments not only of England, France and Italy, but also of Russia.
 Undoubtedly Marshal Joffre did not know when he was in consultation with the administration, that General Wood had confided views to personal friends upon the sending to France of a small American army, which were in perfect accord with the marshals own views.
 OUR TROOPS IN FRANCE
 What Will be the character of the troops the United States will send to France within few weeks, is a detail yet to be decided upon. The important lhlng is that troops will be sent, not a considerable army, but one probably not exceeding l2,00O perhaps not more than IOOO0 men. After these troops have em- barked and adequate provision has been made for their safe transportation across the Atlantic, the work of organizing a large army will probably be speeded up, so that by the fall or winter the United States will have organized an army of perhaps as many a million men, al- though these figures are mere conjec- lures.
 Meanwhile the even more important work of preparing to meet the submarine menace and of providing the allies with needed supplies of food and certain raw material, will be as rapidly advanced as possible. Those who are familiar with the shipbuilding industries in the United States are confident tbat within six or eight months we shall have added a large number of vessels, so built as to have a capacity of at least 5000 tons.
 In the south there is great activity in the shipyards, and from Newport News to Texas, along the coast the shpbuilding industry is not only active, but will be rapidly increased: President Twitty of the Brunswick, Ga, Board of Trade, in speaking few days ago of the part the south will take in facilitating the build ing of ships, referred for example to the activity now in progress at Bruns- wick. New York capital has already es- tablished a large shipbuilding plant there, and is now making ready for an addi- tional plant which will double or triple the capacity. Brunswick will be able to furnish before the end of the year good many ships Throughout the south the work of shipbuilding is facilitated by the adequate supply of lumber that is pe- culiarly adapted for wooden ships.
 Having provided ships the next problem will he the rapid loading of them with supplies and raw materials and upon this depends to a certain extent the perfect ing of what is to be practically the com soldation into single unit of the rail- ways of the United tSates. at least those that can be usefully employed in trans porting food and other supplies In the financial district it is reported that this work of railrad coordination and CO., operation is proceeding very satisfac- torily, and may be so perfected in a short time as to make it possible to com pare it with the perfect mechanism and machinery by which our financia strength is adeduate'y utilized for service almost on the instant,
 QUESTION OF THE CROPS
 Every day information comes to this city from other parts of the country, and from Washington, which justifies the hope that the crops this summer will, with the possible exception of wheat. be so large as to provide abundant surplus for export. It is too early to make accu- rate forecast of crop conditions, but un- less climatic misfortunes occur the very great activity of people in the farming sections of the United States and the ease with which farmers can find finan- cial assistance, make it certain that noth- ing but bad weather can prevent a very large harvest
 One of the most encouraging of all the efforts now under way for DrOVidinP a