New Iberia enterprise and independent observer. (New Iberia, La.) 1902-1944, 1917-05-05
BUILD SHIPS AS RAPIDLY AS
POSSIBLE SAYS LANE.
U. S. Must Fight in Europe First
or in America Later, Sc Says.


here today with the council of ma
tiOnal defense on the part state
governments will take in the war
that the Federal government haC
heard 100000 tons of shipping
had been sunk in the last week by
German submarines.
The United States must build
ships as rapidly as possible, See
retary Lane told the delegates.
eff we don't fight the war on
! the other side he said, eve
shall have to fight it on this side
Of the Atlantic. =
The destruction, Secretary Lane
said, was not only threatening the
existence Of England and France,
but was alarming the United
States. Study of inventions to
combat the submarine menace is
being diligently pursued in the
interior department, he said.
Later at the state department
Secretary Lansing, in response to
inquiries, said:
1T may as we'll be recognized
that the submarine situation is
very serious. "
Among the questions up for
discussion we're: Prohibition dur
ing the war to conserve food ma
terials ordinarily used for liquor ;
encouragement Of larger crop pro
duction, and better marketing
methods; labor supply, particu-
larly for farm work; industrial
conditions affecting output Of mu-
nitions and other war supplies.
Governor Harris Of Georgia pre-
sented the prohibition question
and urged the other governors to
recommend it as a war measure TO
the president and to the people .of
their states. A department. Of
agriculture report was cited show
ing that in 1916 $145, 100000
worth of grain and other food ma
teEials- were consumed in liquor.
Fermented liquors took $1O1 ,OO0,-
900 and distilled liquors $44, ,OOO,-
600. The largest items were $75,-
100000 worth of malt, $23, 100000
worth of corn and $4,000, 900 of
molasses.
Agents of the department of
agriculture explained to the state
representatives plans for organiz-
ing the United Boys Working Re
serve for summer farm work.
City boys, particularly in the East
and Middle West, would be en-
ployed in canning factories, and
arrangements already have been
made with the National Gamers
Association to ascertain what ex-
ira help will be needed.
Governors who responded TO in
to attend the conference
Harris of Georgia,
Harding of Iowa, Milliken of
Boyle of Nebraska, Edge,
Of New Jersey, Frazier of North |
Dakota, Lister of Washington,
Cornwell of West Virginia, Alex
ander of Idaho, and Manning of
South Carolina.
Secretary Lane declared he be
Lieved the war would last several
years and that every resource of
the country must be brought into
place to bring it to successful
Many persons thought, said
Secretary Lane, that all we had
to do was to issue bonds and that |
Germany would bow her head III
Nothing could be
farther from the truth. We do |
not know when this war will end.
It may not be one year war. !,
Personally | believe it will last |
several years. Herbert C. Hoover
has informed this gOvernement |
that Germany has food enough to
last two years, perhaps longer.
Germany has put up the great |
est fight Of history and she has
the advantage Of now fighting a |
defensive warfare. Don't go
back home and inspire your peo-
pie with the thought that immed
late action can bring this war to
an immediate end. Your people
must look to this years crop and
next years crop and the next
after that.
I'VE can't afford to fail in this
war. Every man in this country
is involved in this work and ev-
cry man in the country IS a sol
der. The French hope to break
down the morale of the German