The Washington herald., 1917-03-22
PREPARATIONS FOR war
begun BY GOVERNMENT
Big Manufacturers Offer Plants to the
Nation in Crisis.

Henry Ford, the Detroit automobile
manufacturer. has offered, and the Gov
ernment has accepted, his great plant to
be operated without profit in the event Of
war.
Charles NJ. Schwab has announced
that his Bethlehem plant, now greater
than Krupps'. will be used entirely for
the government
The United States Steel Corporation and
hundred other great Industrial organi-
zations have been making plans for their
participation,
While It Is not known how much money
President Wilson may suggest to Con-
ers IN the Senate have held the view that
not less than $500 o00, 900 should be granted
at once In case war is declared.
Allied Diplomats Pleased.
When the word that the President
had summoned Congress went through
the allied embassies it was received with
acclaim. There is not a diplomat who
does not believe that It means the entry
Of the United States into the war. bring
Ing its wealth, its armed forces its great
resources and its moral power to the side
Of the entente allies
All the resorces Of the United States
industrially as well as military. are speed
lily being modified to place the nation
eventuality.
For the present the responsibility rests
with the navy. which is arming American
merchant ships placing rush orders for
submarine chasers, spending $115 200, 900 by
special authority of Congress to hurry the
naval construction already under way.
advancing the graduation of classes at
Annapolis, protecting American harbors
against invasion by German submarines
and marshalling the industrial resources
necessary to stand behind the fleet
Plans for the army are not so fully
matured. 1t Is believed, however, that
President Wilson will recognize the pos
sibility OF the army's participation in war
when he addresses Congress by discuss
ing the need of universal military train
ing.
Army of 100000 Planned.
In a tentative way plans for mar
shalling the full strength of the regular
army. the National Guard and the rails
ing Of a volunteer army of 100000 men
have been worked in the Army War Col
lege. The volunteer army of $4,000 ID
planned as a nucleus of what eventually
would be an army of 100000 and would
be assembled in training camps.
The gigantic task Of mobilizing all the
resources Of the government and country
toward a plane of complete prepared
ness to meet a state OF war was rushed
forward with lighting swiftness yester-
day. With the United States practically
upon a war basis. the momentous steps
that stood out in the wartime develop
ments included:
Organization of special munitions
board which met and perfected every de-
tail to render instantly available all the
nations war supplies; plans were work
ed out to combine the aeronautical SER
vices OF both the army and navy: Sec
retary OF the Navy Daniels moved up the
date for opening bids on new destroyers,
and government heads began the speedy
mobilization of men and women in the
field of labor.
Board Perfects Plans.
The munitions boards initial step yes
terday was to begin to perfect such fun
damental conditions as correct specifca-
tons and detail drawings as may be nee
essary for the immediate manufacture by
the government and by private manufac-
turers of arms. ammunition and special
equipment needed by the United States
to properly arm and equip the land
forces likely to be required for war pur-
poses.
the workmen of the country and the Civil
Service Commission, aided by its three
thousand local boards of examiners at
postoffices in every State began an imm"-
diate survey of skilled help that the Gov
ernment may rely upon to respond to its
call in any emergency. Hurry calls al
ready have gone out for thousands of
additional mechanics. tool makers ma
chine operators and other skilled artisans
to augment the forces at work in the
navy yards.