South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1917-04-06


Industrial preparedness. thanks
TO lessons of the war and the pa
triotic attitude of industry. have
produced a great, compact scheme
of national resources with aim
unlimited ssibilities The council
Of national defense in daily confer
ences with the nations leading
Financial, commercial, scientific and
labor chiefs. not only has worked
cut a definite and detailed indus
trial mobilization plant but has Sc
cured the endorsement and
pledges of the men who can put it
into effect at a moments notice,
bringing to the aid of the military
arms Of the service the full re-
sources of the richest nation, or
gained with characteristic Yankee
skill and business thorOughness.
To any close observer at the cap
itol it now is apparent that Ger
many again has misjudged, if she
thought 10 find the United States
hopelessly impotent and unpre-
pared.
The navy in order 10 complete in
ecord time the enormous building
program authorized by congress. has
enlisted in the public service virtu-
ally the entire shipbuilding facilities
of the country; surveys have been
made OF merchant craft that would
be available as auXiliaries in war
times and guns have been placed
on many of them: plans are COM
plete for immediate taking over
into the naval establishments the
sturdy cutters Of the coast guard
service. more than a score of steam
ers equipped for mine laying and
belonging 10 the lighthouse service
and the scientifically fitted ships OF
I the bureau of fisheries and the coast
+ and geodetic surveys.
In order 10 expedite naval con-
structjon. more than 100000
+ authorized b. the last congress Is
/ being spent on naval and private
shipyards. The eight-hour labor
regulation as applying to naval work
/ has been suspended by order Of the
I president and various agencies are
/ helping insure an adequate supply
! Of skilled and unsSilled labor.
Use Steel Nets.
/ Detailed plans have been worked
/ out through months Of study by g
/ special naval board for realignine
| the whole system Of naval bases
/ Around some Of the bases and othel
! strategic coast points great stee
I submarine nets have been swune
/ and contracts have been awarded
7 for 1000 more nets. each 1850 fee
/ I'm length.
/ The army. whose great need i:
/ trained men and officers. is employ
\ ing unusual means 10 prepare fol
/ the organization and training of an!
/ force congress may authorize. Hun
/ dreds of applications for commits
( sions in the officers reserve corps
are being accepted and for tn,
\ grade of second lieutenant the barr
have been let down TO men VIII,
never have had military training
I More comprehensive plans thar
/ ever have been drawn for trainin.
\ camps for fitting these officers anC
\ others for duty. Units of the re
serve officers training corps hav'
N been established in many colleges
l where thousands or students ar,
under training and enlisted mel
who could take commands have beel
designated for commissions from
every regiment Of regulars. Gradu
alton April 20 Of the June class a
West Point has been ordered b,
Sec'y Baker.
For increasing the enlisted
strength a vigorous recruiting cam
paign is under way with the coop
Grafton of other branches OF tn
government. including postal 9TH
cials over the country and many pa
triotic societies To decentralize tn
military organizations. the Unite,
states has been divided into six mill
tary districts instead OF four. viii
two extra departments added 10 tn
Atlantic coast.
Plies Cured In TO 10 DAYS