The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1917-07-27
AMERICAS TASK TO
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| Every one realizes the Importance OF
this in Washington tonight
! Secretary Daniels stated that the
whole ehipbuilding facilities of the
country are concentrated on two
thing chant ships and destroyers.
1t was gathered from Mr.. Daniels talk
that the naval authorities have become
convinced that the destroyer is the
only way Of coping with the sub
marine.
| Its construction and use win be
pushed to the limit. 1t will be used
to convoy ships and to maintain a
blockade of of the submarine bases.
This campaign will have two effects
according to observers here. 1t will
! hold down or even decrease the num-
Der of Germany's submarines and It
Will permit our merchants shipping to
grow.
Mr.. Daniels said:
! I'VE are not pulling any merchant
men of the ways to make room Tor
the destroyers. but is any one can tell
me where we can build a new destroy
er. we will lay her keel tomorrow"
Just how long 1t takes to build a
destroyer of tho most modern type
cannot now be revealed. 1t took
about two years before the war. The
increase in speed of construction has
been startling.
Are Not Pessimistic.
Secretary Baker today reiterated his
declaration of last night that the Of
hcers back from the western front
are not pessifnists.
Washington. outside of the war col
lege. Is just waking up to the prob
lem's size. The war college has al
ways known It. There were shocks
in tho war departments Ave billion
dollars budget today that made a
great many people see the light The
budget includes two billions for "ar
mament of Notifications" 1t cannot.
be believed that such armament,
is TO be used at home. II contains an
item OF over a half billion dollars for
the military information section OF
the general staff corps"
These items mean that the forces
we send to Europe will be equipped
from the heavy cannon twenty miles
In the rear, to the spies and scouts
within the enemies own lines.
The air craft bill means that we
VIII dominate the air Germany can
not possibly keep pace with our pro-
gram when superimposed, on that OF
England and France.
The Food Phase.
|
phase of the war also becomes impor-
tant In her right hand America holds
the exports control weapon. with II
she can cut of from Germany the all :
important fat rations which have been
sustaining her seven millions men In
arms. In her left hand she will ulti
rnately hold the ships to feed her own
armies and the armies and people Of
her allies This Is the part OF the
mechanics and farmers must play at
home.
The great ray OF sunshine in the
whole situation as It developed In
the course OF today's interviews was
tthis--the French and the British can
Hang on. 1t Is officially admitted
here that the spring offensive was q
failure. The German line was only
pushed back. not hroken- But the lat
Get Efforts OF the crown prince have
demonstrated that the allied line can
\ not even be pushed back-nuch less
broken. 1t was dented but tts main
outlines stand
GREATEST PREPARATION
FOR WAR IN HISTORY
Washington. July 2s-gafore the
war department is granted the $4,000.
zoe, 6ea II has Just asked for It must
explain what IL absolutely necessary
committee has already made this de-
| cisior.
Experts will appear tomorrow be-
!. for the finance committee and tell
just what Items out Of the 5000, 900,
600 are urgent. The committee does
not know whether or not all these
items must be paid for by the end Of
the present fiscal year. June 80. 1918
Secretary McAdoo has been asked
/, by the committee to forward details
OF all the estimates needed by the
various governmental departments
: However, the war department, evil
: IDENTITY anticipating this. sent its sche-
dule TO the house ways and means
committee which ordinarily originates
all appropriations. In th1 budget sent
IN by the war department.. the sun OF
$40. goo for the aviation bill is
. included But as this has already
been provided for. 1t Is suhstracted
from the total. However. the final
sum is amazing. 1t In Ave and one
, quarter billion dollars.