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

never have been eaualled by any other
nation in the history of the world, are
brought into the great war under the
American flag.
Into the balance against Germany are
thrown navy in strength and efficiency
among the foremost afloat; an army COM
paratively small but highly efficient, back.
ed up by citizenry Of upwards Of 2o.0O0.-
600 capable of military duty; industrial
resources incomparnbly the greatest in
the world. already rnobi!i1ed for public
service and the moral force of more than
100,000,000 Americans awakened to their
countrys peril and united behind their
President with patriotic fervor reincar-
mating the spirit of 70
NATIONS DEsTIN1Es SECURE.
Although much remains to he done. off,
Gals believe the nations destinies ore
secure now, no matter how stubborn or
prolonged may be the pressure Of German
n1iltarism or how wide the scope Of Ger
man intrigue. The slowly maturing pre-
paredness sentiment has borne fruit In
military. naval. end Industrial prepara-
tons which already have put the United
States on a defense basis not even hoped
for two years ago. What more It will do.
the President believes can be measured
only by what the administration flnds will
be necessary.
NAvY's STRENGTH INCREASED.
The navy. always the first line Of de-
Tense. has cleared its decks of anti
quated membranes. has added new units
modernized to meet the German tactics.
and through the patriotic cooperation Of
ship and material makers is hurrying to
| completion other mighty fighting craft
that will be the last word in power and
efficiency. Authorized but ten days ago
to recruit to the full war strength Of $1,000
men. the navy already has almost at
tanned the total. To provide additional
officers a class Of midshipmen has been
graduated three months ahead Of its time.
A newly organized coast patrol Of SUBJ
marine chasers is on duty and hundreds
Of small craft to augment 1t are under
construction.
THE ARMY AT PRESENT.
Army preparations are less complete
because of the uncertainty over congress
sional action. The regulars, numbering
10000 and trained and equipped n a way
which their officers believe matches unit
for unit the boosted efficiency Of Ger
many's best. are ready to respond over
night to whatever call may come. The
National Guard. 10000 strong and hard
ened by months Of service at the bor-
! der. already has many units in active
service for police duty throughout the
country and can be fully mobilized on
short notice. Without additional authori-
cation by Congress the regulars and
guardsmen could be recruited to a COM
bined strength of 100000 and detailed plans
for whatever larger army may be author
lied have been prepared. Great quanti-
ties of equipment have been purchased.
INDUSTRIAL PREPARATIONS.
Industrial preparations, thanks to les
sons Of the war and the patriotic atti.
tude Of industry. have produced a great
compact scheme of national resources
with almost unlimited possibilities. The
council of national defense. in daily con.
ferences with the nations leading f1nan.
cial. commercial. scientific and labor
chiefs not only has worked out definite
and detailed industrial mobilization plan
, but has secured the endorsement ant
pledges of the men who can put it into
effect at moments notice. bringing t
the aid Of the military arms of the serv
ice the full resources of the richest ma
ton. organized with characteristic Yam
kee skill and business thoroughness.
U. s. NOT UNPREPARED.
For military reasons only a small par
Of the detail Of these preparations hal
Oeeu pcINHItIcu 10 TedCn tue pubic. II u
known. however. that for many month";
the government has considered war q pos
sibility. and has strained it's every re
source to make ready. In the tense wait
ing period since relations were broker
, the President has kept the whole ma
chinery of the government In motion da!
and night to prepare against eventualities
/. To any close observer at the capital 1
now is apparent that Germany again ha
: misjudged IL she thought to find the Uni
ted States hopelessly impotent and un
prepared.
NAVAL. ACTIVITIES.
The navy has enlisted virtually the on
h tire shipbuilding facilities of the coun
a try. surveys have been made Of mer
( chant craft that would be available q
auxiliaries. and guns have been place.
i on many OF them. Plans are complete TO
h Immediately taking over cutters Of tn
d coast guard service. more than SCOT
Q OF steamers equipped for mine layinI
: and belonging TO the lighthouse service
s and the scientifically lifted vessels
the bureau of fisheries and tho coast an
Q geodetio survey.
I Moro than sloO.00Oooo, authorised b!
t the last Congress. is being spent on nava
II and private ship yards. The eight-hou
o labor regulation as applying to nava
work has been suspended by order OF tn
President, and various agencies are help
Ing insure an adequate supply OF skilie
y and unskilled labor Builders have lai
aside private worl, on which pront
amount to as much as so per cent I
j. give precedence to navy work OH Das'
Of cost plus ten per cent. profit
|. NETS For SUBMARINES.
n Detailed plans have been worked on
l. through months Of study by a specia
. naval board for realigning the who'
e system of naval bases. Around some Q
= the bases and other strategic coast point
i steel subma rine nets have been swun
n and contracts have been awarded 10
v, 1000 more nets, each 1850 feet in length.
WOMEN IN THE NAVY.
~ For the first time clerical and othe
y shore position in tho navy have bee
opened to women and recruiting station
\, have been unable to handle the fcod Q
=" applications following the call for re
cruits. There is a boom in recruiting 10
the marine corps, too. which has bee
=, raised to an authorized war strength Q
- 1900, and soon Is to be further increased
:, Passage OF the war resolution Ii the sie
nal Tor mobilization of 1900 naval mill
a, tiamen and reserves to support the regu
81 lars.
SUBMARINE CIiAsERs.
- For the coast patrol of submarine chas
3 ers hundreds OF contracts have been Ia
and many other small craft have been OF