Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1917-07-05
JULY 4TH CLOSED
8 MONTHS OF WAR
And Yesterday American Troops
Marched Through Paris Ready
for the Firing Line.
REMARKABLE PROGRESS.
American Nation in Few weeks Has
written Chapter Of Achievement
Unrivallcd in History.


nation will celebrate a wartime ami
versary tomorrow with the conscious
ness of having written within the short
| space of few weeks chapter in ma
tional achievement unrivalled, in many
respect. in the history Of the world.
Three months ago to-day President
Wilson asked Congress to formally de-
clare a state of war with Germany and
to prepare the nation, after years Of
peace and military unpreparedness. to
use all Of its resources to make the
world safe for democracy. Tomorrow
American troops, summoned from the
border and from foreign soil and car
ried over seas in defiance of the sub
marine menace. will march through the
street of Paris ready to take their
while American warships in force hold
important sectors of the great naval
lines which command the seas.
REAL PREPAREDNESS.
| Pack Of these mafo accomplishments
| stand others less spectacular but no
| less notable or important in the monu-
mental task of preparation.
Upwards Of ten millions of men
have been registered under war leg
islation for military service and the
1
ice army is well under way.
Scores of American merchant YES
sells have been armed and have taken
their toll of U boats. and a colossal
shipbuilding program to crush the
boat blockade is far advanced.
More than a billion dollars has been
loaned to the enemies of Germany tc
relieve their economic needs and g
two billion dollar bond issue has beer
floated with a large over subscription
To take firm grip on the economic
situation at home a food administra
ton has been organized. an expor
control council created, and the ma
TONS enormous industrial resource,
marshalled for national service. A pro
gram of food legislation nearing com
pletion soon will enable enforcement
of an efficiency which it took mos
of the belligerents years to attain.
Besides the universal service law, Con
gress has enacted an espionage act unde,
which the country has been secured fol-
German agents and many of then
brought into custody. war budge
totalling more than three billion dollars
to meet the initial costs of the war. ant
many other measures
A bill empowering the President t.
direct what necessities shall have prefer
ence in commerce has passed both Senat,
and House and is in conference. Another
to raise more than a billion and a hal
in war taxes has passed the House.
QUICK NAVAL PREPARATIONS
American destroyers were moblized
QUILTED and sent to the North sea within
a few days after war was declared. Will
them went their own supply vessels ant
numerous converted craft adapted t,
naval use. Their number and the exac
duty they have assumed never has beef
revealed but that they have been recog
nized as a formidable part Of grand allie,
fleet was evidenced by the designation
recently Of American Vice-Admiral Sim
to command all the forces in the i'm
portant zone Off Ireland.
Similarly in the south Atlantic the pa
troll of which was assumed by the Unite
States along with the patrol of America
shores Admiral Caperton with squadro
Of Pacific coast cruisers has assumed com
mand. All the French and British war
ships remaining there are under his au
thority.
REMARKABLE RECRUITING
In the three months the navy has bee
recruited up to 126,OOO men from less tina
$4,000 and training given these thousand
Of gunners and crews for hundreds of sub
) marine chasers. The marine corps ha
been recruited from 1900 to nearly 30,O(
> and the regular army from about 1900
to 100000. The National Guard has bee
increased from less than 10000 after me
3 with dependents had been weeded out,
3 probably 2500OO.
= The plans for the new army to b
: lrawn by the selective draft have pro
,ressed SO far that another month wi
zee the personnel of the first 5000 az
{ i've troops and $4,000 reservists &c
ected and awaiting mobilization. Sis
n teen military cities to house them dur
: ing training are under construction.
: TO provide officers nearly $4,000 me
d have been selected. equipped and ser
: TO training camps where they hay
been under instruction for six weeks.
i GREAT AERIAL SERVICE FLANNEL
: Preparations are under way for a
I aerial service Of a size never befoI
e dreamed of. The first cost will b
e &600,000.000. In the navy department
r plans have been drawn for a new typ
e swift. powerfully armed submarir
chaser and hundreds are under cor
struction.
Under resolution OF Congress !
a German merchant vessels laid up
}. American waters have been taken ov,
+. by the government and most OF the
Il repaired and made ready for servi,