Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1917-08-20

Il
tive direction and adaptation of the
nations railway facilities for war pur-
poses: tho further development OF
sources Of supply for all kinds OF war
from artillery and machine guns to va
rious forms OF motor transport; I'M
| usual progress on a comprehensive
| aviation program; very material as
| sistancc to the War Department in the
construction Of the new army canton
| ments; the adaptation and augmenta-
ton Of electric communication lines.
both telegraph and telephones; the pro-
curing Of leather and textile supplies
of all kinds for the new armies: the
| cooperative development Of lumber
copper. aluminium. steel and other raw
material sources for the war needs OF
the government; notable progress on
many phases of the difficult labor prob
lem; extensive assistance in the con-
summation OF the medical preparations
for the caro- of the military forces of
tho country: and definite accomplish
ments in the adjustment Of commercial
conditions and methods to war needs
these are a few of the activities in
which the Council of National Defense
and Its advisory commission have been
engaged during the past two months
in the course Of its work Of Industrial
organization for war.
The work of the council is outlined
In a statement authorized to-day by
w. S. Clifford. director of tho council
and It's advisory commission. The
statement covers the accomplishments
OF the organization between May 2S-
the date of the last report-up to the
recent appointment Of the new war
industries board of the council, which
marks a new phase Of the councils
organization and work.
DIFFICULT TO GIVE
ADEQUATE STATEMENT
Mr.. Ginord's statement follows, in
part
ut Is difficult to place on paper an
adequate statement OF tho work OF an
| organization like the council, because
30 much of Its most valuable and i'm
portant work is accomplished through
its function OF adjustment It Is easy
to point 10 the definite concrete re-
suits obtained by the aircraft produce
tion board. for example, at certain
stages of its program for expediting
the construction of the governments
great air feet. or to point out the saw
ing effected by the committee on sup
plies in securing from group OF
manufacturers a price on government
clothing below that paid by the prI-
vate wholesaler. Such accomplish
ments as these are comparatively easy
to make clear. 1t is not possible, how
ever. to picture in black and white
| the personal equation-the accomplish
/ ment OF a conference. for instance,
which may result in smoothing out
serious kinks in the war machinery,
| and whose effects may reach eventually
| through tho whole governmental and
| industrial systems alike. Much Of the
work OF the council and the advisory
commission has necessarily been of the
latter character, and Its full value can
be known only to those Immediately
in touch with 1t. Yet there have been
| many very concrete and definite re-
suits of the councils work during the
past two months, which can be sum-
| married. by taking up separately the
several branches of the organization.
OF GREAT ASSISTANCE
IN SECURING MUNITIONS
I'm the work of assisting the War
and Navy Departments in securing
munitions the general munitions board
whose functions the new war indus
tries board has taken over. through its
committees. composed In art of army
and navy officers, and in part of CT
villains. has performed yeoman service
| in developing new sources OF supply
for gun forgings and others essentials
TO the manufacture OF artiller. 1t is
not permissible. for military reasons,
/ 80 H.
work has greatly Increased the pos
sibilities for securing both field and
machine guns in quantity at much
| earlier date than was at first thought
possible. Like other branches Of the
council. the board has done its work
In large part through personal confer
ence with manufacturers. securing
their loyal cooperation In subordinat-
| ing commercial demands to the needs
OF the government and often in adapt
t ing large sections of plant. hitherto
used for commercial purposes. to war
| operations.
WORK OF RAILROADS
DIRECTED BY WILLARD
The work Of tho railroads, com.
| bined under a voluntary centralized
| organization through the council. has
| been directed In wartime channels
! through Chairman Willard, Of the ad-
| viSory commission. and tho war cXccu-
tive committee of railroad presidents.
cooperating with the council. Under
this scheme. TO quote from a recent
statement Of Mr.. willard, the roads
have made all transfers OK troops on
schedule without serious disruption OF
regular trafIlc' In spite Of an admit
teddy serious shortage Of freight cars
and terminal facilities. moreover,
through general effort throughout
the country to develop added efficiency
In freight car use, the effective supply
of coal cars has been greatly Increased
and general freight traffic has been
effectively spurred up. Regular traffic
has b.en the largest in the his tory OF
the country and has been constantly
increasing. but in spite Of that the
shortage OF freight cars was reduced
from 1852 on May to 10000 at the
lend Of June