Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1917-04-12
NEW ARMOR PLATE FACTORY


The governments armor plate and
projectilc factories, for which Congress
appropriated $12,7OO.OO0. will be built
at Charlcstown. w. Va a location rec
commended by special navy board rs
Offering an ideal combination Of mill
tary safety and easy access to manu-
featuring materials.
In announcing the selection tonight
Secretary Daniels said construction
work would begin at once and would
be hurried to completion. He also
made public the report of the board
which personally inspected facilities
of 20 cities chosen out of more than
100 which offered sites.
Without formally announcing abandon
ment of their neutrality. two more Latin
American republics. Argentina and Costa
Rica, have given assurances of their
moral support for the United States In
the war against Germany.
Argentina, choosing middle course bee
tween those of Brazil and Chile.> has
notified the state department that she
recognizes the Justice of this country's s
stand against German aggression. The
communication contains no intimation.
however. that the Argentine authorities
contemplate an actual break with Berlin,
and 1t is assumed here that for the
present at least neutrality will be OBJ
served.
Little Costa Rica, just emerging from
the throes Of n revolution, sent word to
her diplomatic representatives here to-
day that she endorsed the course of
President Wilson and was "ready to prove
it If necessary" The announcement was
unexpected.
Argentina's position was defined in q
note reaching the state department to-
day in answer to the notification by this
government Of n state of war The COM
munication is regarded here as defining
| a status just short Of an open break. Dip
lomats and state department officials be-
| lieve it would have been difficult for Ar
gentina to go further at this time.
1t is recognized that in defining her po-
sition so frankly Argentina has assumed
! the grave risk OF having Germany break
relations with her. Her outspoken ap-
proval Of the United States course may
go far, in the opoinion of many here. to-
wards influencing some OF the smaller
Latin-American nations.
NATIONAL RAILWAY BOARD.
Heads of the principal railroads ir
| the United States meeting here to-day
at the call of the council of nationa
! Defense. named board of five mer
to direct the operation of American
railways throughout the war.
1t was announced that the purpose
of the board would be to give the
government the best possible service
not only transporting troops and mill
tary supplies but in handling every
necessary commodity.
Daniel Willard president of thu
Baltimore Il Ohio. and chairman of thu
defense councils advisory commission
will be an eX-officio member of thu
board. and the interstate commerc'
commission will be asked to name an
other.
The railroad board will decide all mat
ters of general railroad policy. and ir
some respects its duties will resemble
those of the British railroad board, which
Iis operating for the government English
lines. In the United States. however. thu
rail systems will operate in cooperation
with the government instead of under it.
direction.
The railway associations defense com
mttee, as it exists now in the four mill
tary departments, already has worked Ou
plans for military cooperation with th'
army which will be followed in a genera
way. The board also will stand betweei
the military and industrial needs of tn,
country and will apportion through TIL
necessary to meet its requirements.