The Washington herald., 1917-06-25
WAR PREPARATIONS
MADE BY COUNCIL
Board of Defense Outlines Work Of
Mobilizing Big Resources.


The saving OF millions Of dollars
for the government is claimed by the
National Council OF Defense and It's
advisory commission In its nrst Of
ficial report submitted yesterday to
Secretary Of War Baker, who is also
chairman Of the Council Of Defense.
W. S. Clifford. director, points out
the following accomplishments Of the
council:
Mobilization Of the 2s2uOO miles OF
railroads OF the country for defense
purposes; close-knit organizat ton Of
the telephone and telegraph COM
panies TO insure rapid and efficient
wire communications; completion for
military purposes Of the inventory Of
1900 American manufa curing plants:
great savings 10 the government
through the appointment over the
country Of committees Of business
men to assist the ouarteTmasters' de-
partmsnt Of the army in the purchase
Of supplies: saving Of millions by the
coordination OF purchases through
the agency Of the general munitions
board: creation OF the aircraft pro-
duction board. which plans 10 pro-
duCe $500 aeroplanes and 500 avia-
tors this year creation, under the
medical section OF the council, Of the
general medical board; selection OF
thousands OF doctors; organization Of
railroad committee to send to
France, and the enlistment OF reserve
engineer regiments TO aid in rehabili-
tating the railroads OF France: set
tlement OF the recently threatened
national railroad strikes; procure
ment Of 45O0o 900 pounds of copper for
the uses of the army and navy at
less than one-half the current mar
ket price; and in obtaining steel,
zinc and aluminium; initiation Of a
movement TO coordinate activities on
the part of the States for national
defense.
The Council Of National Defense is
composed Of Secretary OF War Baker,
Secretary Of the Navy Daniels, SecTe-
tary OF the Interior Lane, Secretary
Of Agriculture Houston, Secretary OF
Commerce Redfield and Secretary OF
Labor Wilson.
Daniel Willard, president Of the Bal
timore and Ohio Railroad. heads the
advisory commission, which includes
Howard E. Coffin, vice president Of the
Hudson Motor Company; Julius Ros-
enwald. president Of SearC. Roebuck 4
Co; Bernard H. Baruch. New York
financier; DR.. Hollis Godfrey. presi-
dent of Drexel Institute; Samuel Com
pers. president of the American Fed
Grafton of Labor. and DR.. Franklin
Martin. general secretary Of the Amer
lean College OF Surgery.
The General Munitions Board, which
began its work April 9, 1917, has oC-
complished a great deal in speeding
up production and reducing prices.
The board's chairman is Frank A.
Scott, vice president Of the Warner d
Swasey Co, Of Cleveland.
The work undertaken by the board
has bought results in the following
ways, says the report:
Manufacturers OF email arms have
been aided to develop n manufactur-
ing capacity to supply l0lJ.OJ0 men.
Contract forms have been drawn up
satisfactory to the chief Of ordinance.
The munition supply for artillery has
been developed to meet the needs and
the type OF contract to be used agreed
tc.
Methods for reirnbursing manUfac-
turers for expanding facilities for
making gun forgings have been made
and the manufacture Of guns begun.
Get Cheaper Machine Guns.
Supplies OF material for guns. gun
carriages, caissons. umOers, forge
wagons and military vehicles. have
been developed and agreements with
manufacturers reached.
A reduction in prices for machine
guns has been secured and work is
going forward to increase the produc-
ton.
Help was given in creating a SUM-
cient supply OF cotton duck for hayer-
sacks.
Arrangements have been made for
the tuition Of large numbers Of men
anxious to learn the storage branch