The sun., 1917-07-02
NATION READY
TOEQUIP ARMY
OF 2 MILLIONS
Wilson Believes COmtry's
Resources Are All Mobil-
lied Except Food.
SURPRISE FOR PUBLIC
Secretary Baker to An
nOunce This Week Full
Scope of Work Done.
RED TAPE ELIMINATED
Plants Expanded and Lumber
for Cantonments Is Pro-
vided Quickly.
SURPRISE FOR PUBLIC
RED TAPE ELIMINATED

WASHINGTON, July l.-Presloent VIII
son now regards every resource Of the
country, except food, mobllized for war
service, and an announcement to this
effect will be made by Secretary Baker
this week. For the first time the public
will learn what has been accomplished
toward putting the nation on war
footing.
Some idea of the magnitude OF the
task can be CLEANED by the knowledge
that the Government foresees no single
obstacle to establishing, equipping and
maintaining In Europe an American
lighting force Of 100000 men in the
process OF steadily exerted military pres
sure against Germany.
The scope of the nations war policy
which Mr.. Baker will announce will
come as q revelation for several reasons.
Chief among these Is the fact that the
general public has had no notion OF
the huge systematized task which the
Council of National Defence has been
quietly accomplishing with the aid OF
thousands of the best trained business
minds of the country.
President Wilson realizes. as does Sec
retary Baker. who is president Of the
Council of National Defence, that the
secrecy which so far has shrouded the
work has left the general impression
that little of specific value was being
done. There has been a strict intunc-
lion against discussing these matters at
the War Department, but In view OF the
forthcoming resume of what has been
done the correspondent of THE SUN was
permitted to obtain answers to few OF
these forebodings.
Ammunition Flow Assured.
The question "Is there enough ammu-
hition in sight and arranged for to sup
ply a hundred Thousand menT' brought
authoritative answer that the nations
facilities now organised on this line
could supply an army Of million men
for twenty years without difficulty. The
flow OF ammunition is so well assured
that they could use II virtually every
day without feeling the shortage. pro-
Hded Of course, there is adequate means
to keep up its transportation to them.
The last bids on three inch shells showed
capacity for production even now
which has frankly staggered the War
Department.
The reason for this Is not only because
Of the organization now controlling the
nation's resources but because the En-
tnte Allies have been getting their am
munition here so long that Uncle Sam
had a running start on this vitality
necessary war measure.
On the matter of helmets II has de-
veloped that there is no concern about
the immediate future because the men
now in France are supplied with he'll
nets Just as they are supplied with gas
masks and every other essential. But
on the question of future supply. ex-
he IN Om w
the Government figured lon supplying "a
million men with sufficient speed to make
the capacity. for supplying the second
million comparatively easy"
Hitch over Rifles.
With rifles the same general plan II
being followed. Here there is q slight
hitch in rounding out the expansive pro-
ductlon plan because II was found that
the army estimates Of 1918 did not In
Clude 50 500, 900 which Secretary Baker
now finds is imperatively needed for ma
chlnery for the manufacture Of Spring
fields. Mr.. Baker says this additional
sum is urgently needed and he expects
Congress to appropriate II without delay
Even without It the army can be kept
going into the hundred thousand figure
and can use the British Enfield rife fol
additional troops II necessary, but the
Government Is figuring in the millions
and the springhelds are superior to tbs
Enfelds, which will be rechambered q
ut the United States army ammunition
II Is assumed that Congress will appro'
pirate the needed additional funds II
not the army will have to find some
means Of getting the machinery manu-
tactured anyway.
II appears now that neither red tapt
nor legal problems are seriously check
ing the full steam ahead programme o.
putting the nation on a war footing
Cases have already arisen where thu
Government has been compelled TO ar
range in hurry for forgings or othei
vitality necessary supplies, but has foun(
That tho manufacturers had not TIL
capacity to handle such huge orderi
without enlarging their plants ant
Tanching out in a manner which re
CURED rush funds. They told the Gov
Snment they would expand II the Gov
eminent advanced them the money. Tn
government found 1t had no legal righ
40 this or to pay money for goods
hadn't received.
Ordered Plants Expanded.
There was an immediate deadlock, bu
N NOuHcll OF NutlOnAl DeIenco TOOK nOl'
and ordered the plants expanded. Ar
nngements were made whereby tn
r.. manufacturers regulate the price 90 tina
,ae Government pays for the additiona
buildings and facilities as the work ad
Nances, In these as In other cases tn
.ouncil OF National Defence has sacri
need law, red tape and other obstruc
IONS to the necessity of getting wor
under way, Advisers OF Secretary Bake
.Ny that II came hard TO him to forge
emporarily his legal mind" but ths
ne has thrown law overheard as blithel
any one else.
10th the army and navy authorltie
ay that the Council of National Defenc
7 YIN It's apparent endless chain OF com
.n,ttees and sub-committeees has no'
"nlnped the organization OF the ma
aohs military resources into such shap
mat most valuable time has been save
Continued on Third Page.