Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1917-06-25

Tense. its advisory commission and IT.
committees since tho Council was a.
nally organized last March are set
forth in a comprehensive report made
public tonight by Director Clifford.
Only eighty persons. according to d.
rector Gifford's report. are drawing
and stenographers.
More than one hundred highly trained
men. says the report, are giving their
entire time to the Council without re-
Enumeration. Several hundred more. It
says, are giving free large part OF
their time.
The chief accomplishments Of the
Council are summed up by Mr.. Clifford
as follows:
Mobilization Of tho 262. 900 miles Of
railroads Of the country for the Gov
ernment's defense.
"Close-knit organization Of the tele-
phone and telegraph companies OF
America to insure to the Government
the most rapid and efficient wire COM
munications.
Settlement Of the recent threatened
national railroad strikes.
General acceptance by labor and
cpital Of the suggestion Of the Council
that existing labor standards should
not be changed until the need for such
action had been determined by the
council with the steadying influence on
industry growing out Of such action.
Procurement Of 100000 pounds OF
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 $10,000,-
0O0
Similar accomplishments as to steel,
zinc and aluminium.
Completion Of an inventory, for mil
ufacturing plants.
Money saving to the Government,
through appointment over the country
Of committees Of business men to assist
the quartermaster's department Of the
Army in the economical and efficient
purchase Of supplies.
Saving to the Government Of mil
lions Of dollars by the coordination OF
purchases through the agency Of the
General Munitions Board.
Creation, under the medical section
Of the Council. Of a General Medical
board, Of many Of the most highly
qualified surgeons and physicians Of the
country.
Selection by the same section OF
thousands Of doctors specifically Qaul-
flied for membership in the medical Of
ficers reserve corps. and the standard
ization, far on it's way to completion,
of surgical instruments and supplies.
Creation by the Council of the Air
craft Production Board, which is set
ting out to make $500 airplanes and to
train 5000 aviators this year.
Definite results obtained by the
Councils Committee on Coal Production
in the procurement and expeditions
shipment Of coal. both in the civilian
and Federal interests.
"Successful initiation Of a movement
to coordinate activities on the port OF
the States Of the Union for the national
defense, brought to a 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 railroad committee
to send to Russia an enlistment Of re-
serve engineer regiments to aid in re-
facilitating the railroads Of France"
Council, Mr.. Clifford enumerates in de-
tail the work Of the boards and COM
mittees. He begins with the General
Munitions Board. Of which Frank A.
Scott IS chairman. which, according to
the report. has the following accom-
plishments to its credit:
Development Of the capacity Of small
aims factories to supply one million
men with arms: contracts signed for
small arms ammunition to meet all re-
quirements; artillery ammunition sup
ply developed; sources of machine gun
supplies developed; raw material OBJ
tanned for sun carriages and caissons;
standardization Of motor transports;
supply of material for ambulance bod
les obtained and satisfactory produc-
ton Of armored cars assured: reducriOn
in price Of machine guns obtained and
increased production arranged; ar
Iangement of sufficient supply Of surgi-
cal Instruments; development of an
improved optical glass for military in
struments: recommendations made az
to fair and equitable prices for army
and navy contracts; arrangement made
for taking 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 NUM-
tions manufacturers for guidance OF
army and navy in making purchases.
THE General Munitions Board" the
report declared, has, since it's organic
alton. through the coordination OF
purchasing alone. saved many millions
Of dollars to the government"
The work of the Aircraft Protection
Board is set forth at length. Some OF
the main things it had done are:
Assisted in organization Of aircraft
manufacturers into an association.
Negotiated with aircraft companies
and others to obtain a basis for set
ting patent disputes and helped put
through an agreement.
"Envolved, in cooperation with the
chief signal officer, a training plan for
aviators; assisted in starting schools
for preliminary training of aviator
cadets: arranxed for sending professors
to Toronto for instruction in this work
Developed in cooperation with the
signal officer and the aeronautical div
ision a standard type Of aviation school
building and equipment Of buildings;
assisted the aeronautical division in
selecting sites for aviation schools.
Investigated the production facil-