Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1917-06-25

council of national de1enSe anu i.s
advisory commission we're erganizeo
last March; in the course Of little
more than three months 1t mas
tically taken census of the matNi-
ais of the nation applicable TO wal
purposes, and largely mobiiizeo 'hese
More than 100 highly trained men;
many of them who have abanooneo
highly lucrative posts to give tneir
services to the government, are co.-
tributing their entire time to the WORK
without remuneration. Several hun
dred more are giving freely a large
part of their time. Only eighty lnd1,
viduals, mostly stenographers anu
clerks are drawing salaries.
There are more than $50 committees.
with ramifications in every large CITY
in the country and reaching into otn ed
Industrial centers. More than i.ooo
members. are on the rosters OF these
committees.
Accomplishments of Council.
The chief accomplishments of the
council are summed up by Mr.. Glford
as follows:
..Mobilization of the $1,000 miles of
railroads of the country for the gov
ernments defense.
Close knit organization of the tele-
phone and telegraph companies OF Amer
lea to insure to the government the Enos'
rapid and efficient wire communica1ions
tional railroad strikes.
General acceptance by labor and CAPT
tai of the suggestion of the council tnat
existing labor standards should not De
changed until the need for such action
had been determined by the council, with
the steadying influence on industry grow
ing out of such action.
Procurement of 100000 pounds oil
copper for the uses of the army and navy
at less than one-half of the then current
market price-a saving to the government
of approximately s10,0o0,000.
Similar accompli ShmentS as 10 Steel
zinc and aluminium.
Completion of an inventory, for mill
tary purposes, of $1,000 American manu-
featuring plants.
Money saving to the government
through appointment over the country OF
committees Of business men to assist the
quartermasters department OF the army
of supplies.
Saving to the government of millions
Of dollars by the coordination Of rur.
chases through the agency Of the genera
Creation, under the medical section OF
the council, of general medical board
of many of the most highly qualified sur
geons and physicians of the country:
Selection by the same section OF thou
sands Of doctors specifically qualified for
membership in the Medical Officers Re
serve Corps, and the standardization. far
on its way to completion, Of surgical in
struments and supplies.
Creation by the council of the air
craft production board, which 10 setting
out to build $500 airplanes and to
train 5000 aviators this year.
Definite results obtained by the coun-
ellis committee on coal production in
the procurement and expeditions ship
ment of coal. both in the civilian and
federal interests.
Successful initiation Of q movement
to coordinate activities on the part Of
the states of the Union for the national
defense, brought to clear and work
able focus by the conference Of states
held recently in Washington at the call
and under the auspices of the council.
Organization of a railroad committee
TO send to Russia, and enlistment OF re-
serve engineer regiments to aid In re-
Work Of Munitions, Board.
Mir. Clifford enumerates the work or
the boards and committees. The gen.
carl munitions board, according to the
report, has the following accomplish
ments to its credit.
development of the capacity Of small
arms factories to supply 100000 men
with arms, contracts signed for small
arms ammunition to meet all require
nents, artillery ammunition supply de-
yeloped, sources of machine gun sup
plies developed, raw material obtained
for gun carriages and caissons, stand
Ardization Of motor transports, supply
Of material for ambulance bodies OBJ
tained and satisfactory production OF
armored cars assured. reduction In
price Of machine guns obtained and IN
creased production arranged, arrange
ment of sufficient supply Of surgical
Instruments. development Of an i'm
proved optical glass for military in
sfruments, recommendations as to fair
and equitable prices for army and navy
contracts arrangement made for taxi
ing over British small arms plants in
this country. establishment Of priority
In manufacture OF machine tools to
assure government Of proper supplies.
compilation of list OF munition manu-
facturers for guidance OF army and
navy in making purchases.
Main things done by the aircraft pro-
duction board are:
Assisted in organisation OF aircraft
manufacturers into an association.
Negotiated with aircraft companies
and others to obtain o basis for settling
patent, disputes and helped put through
an agreement
Evolved. In cooperation with the
chief signal of1cer, training plan for
aviators: assisted in starting schools
for preliminary training Of aviator
cadets
Developed in cooperation with the
signal -officer and the aeronautical d.
vision. a standard type Of aviation
school building and equipment Of build
ings: assisted the aeronautical division
investigated the production facilities
Of airplanes in the United States and
made recommendatons covering orders
that should be placed Immediately
arranged for Standardization OF
training type of machine between Eng.
Iish.- Canadian and United States serv-
ice.
Developed plans for battle types o!
planes, orders for which are being
placed now by the military authorities .
The medical section has spent much
of its time selecting civilian physicians
for recommendation to the army and
navy. pubic health service and the Red
Cross.
The purpose of an inter-departmental
COMMITTEES is to prevent duplication OF
war work In the various government
departments.
The naval consulting board 10 a board
of Inventions which now is investi gat-
ing plans to combat the submarine.
A commercial economy board is
studying means by which commercial
buxiness may best meet demands made
on ii during the war. and how large
quantities of supplies may be diverted
TO government use without upsettine
the essential services of trade.
Til" committee on coal production Is
:.ss1 ing the war railroad board in ex-
pcd.t.nc movement Of coal and Is TAX
ing measures to stimulate production
Women's Defense Committee.
A women's defense committee will
direct its activities along the following
lines:
ORGANIZATION of state committees
registration of women for service with
the food administration, home ana al.
lied relief work, food production. con-