Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1917-10-31
WHAT U. S. HAS DONE
SINCE WAR BEGAN
This Country Rounded Out its First
Six Months in the World War
on Oct. q.
HAS DEVELOPED INTO
POWERFUL FIGHTING MACHINE
Congress Completed Program Which
for Magnitude and Money Has
No Equal i'm Worlds
History.

the WORTH war mas Hdue lHdf-
Ivelous records.
From a nation of peace and unpre-
paredness the country in six months
has developed into a powerful fight
iEe machine the greatest factor in
tho war.
\ Congress on the eve Of adjourn
ment of its war session completed a
program which, for magnitude and
money has no equal in the history in
the worlds parliaments.
Not Fully Nanned
On April 6, the day President Will
son signed the declaration of war,
the American army was small and
| lightly supplied. The navy was not
fully manned. The railroads, under
equipped, were unable to move their
vast freight shipments, much less to
handle gigantic troop movements.
Americas merchant marine was a
joke among nations. The army had
less than a dozen aero3lanes. No
laws existed for the development OF
an army and navy such as the emer-
gency required, no money was at
hand for the unprecedented expendi-
lures necessitated and no authority
vested for carrying out the war talk.
Million Under Arms.
ToJau after civ p,ppthc moro
than 100000 men are under arms.
Millions more are registered for SER
vice, subject to call. Sixteen canton
ment camps-cities each capable of
housing 10000 men, have been built
at cost of $150,000, 5000. BILLIONS
have been loaned the allies. Billions
have been appropriated for eQuipping
and supplying the soldiers and sail
ors. There are now three times as
many vessels in the navy as six
months ago The enlisted strength of
the navy has increased from 64,6SO
to over $4,000 and other branches
have increased from 400 to 500 per
cent in personnel.
Twenty naval training camps have
been established and aircraft and
projectile factories are being built
The aeroplane construction program
assures the presence of thousands of
American aviators on European
fronts soon.
1900 Ships.
| The shipping board has contracted
for 433 ships already. Seized vessels
are rapidly being put into service.
Plans have been completed for three
steel fabricati1g plants to cost $780,
600, 900. : An operating department
has been created sufficient to run
1890 to 1900 ships.
Responding to INTERNATIONAL APP
peals for speedy ship construction on
American ways, it is planned to build
approximately 100000 tons with
in the next Is months and there after
at least 5000, 900 tons year.
Two Million an Hour.
The railroads are operating as
lone great system. With ships NOV
ing steadily from this side to France
the United States in the last six
months has saved the financial life
of her allies in tremendous loans
|Since April 6, she has advanced ST.
l518,4O0,OOO Great Britain received
$1,24O,O 900. France $6S0,00o,'
600, Russia s275,0OG,0o0; Ital,
1855, 000, 900; Belgium $55.500.00O
and Serbia 5000 ,00O-a total which
amounts to loans at the rate of near
lily $4,000 900 a day. This countr,
today is spending approximately 81,
900 900 an hour in all war expeldi
lures.
To meet these vast expenditure
Congress has authorized by tax ant
bond measures the raising of $50,
900, 100000. The Treasury Depart
ment successfully fioated a first liber
ty loan of $4,000. 100000 and ha
Just launched the second for $4,000
O0O, 900.
While these great movements were
going on Congress placed in tn
presidents hands authority such
is not possessed by any king or pc
teatate.
Big Appropriations.
April "a, Is days after war was dc
clared, Congress had passed and IN
president signed the $7.000,OOO,oo
bond bill. simultaneously 100000
900 was placed in the president
power for emergency use. Early l
May Congress passed a bill permit
ting the allies to recruit their CIT
! gems In this country. May IL, tn
president signed bill authorizin
: the seizure of German ships. III
first big appropriation for the arm
! -S273,O46,322--was promptly pa
a sed by Congress and signed by III
! president May II. On May II, u
1