The Ocala evening star. [volume] (Ocala, Fla.) 1895-1943, 1917-07-04
THE COUNCIL OF
NATIONAL DEFENSE


Accomplishment of the Council of
National Defense, its advisory COM
mission and it's committees since the
council was finally organized last
March are set forth in comprehen-
sive report by Director Clifford
Only eighty persons, according to
Director Chords report, are drawing
salaries, and most of these are clerks
and stenographers.
More than one hundred highly
trained men are giving their entire
time TO the council.without remnuera-
ton. Several hundred more are Civ
ing free large part of their time.
The chief accomplishments of the
council are summed up by Mr.. Clifford
as follows:
Mobilization of the $4,000 miles
Of railroad of the country for the gov
ernment's defense
"Close-knit organization of the tel
ephone and telegraph companies Of
America to insure to the government
the most rapid and efficient wire COM
munications.
Settlement of the recent threaten
ed national railroad strikes.
general acceptance by labor and
capital Of the suggestion of the coun-
ell that existing labor standards
should not be changed until the need
for such action had been determined
by the council with the steadying in
fluence on industry growing out Of
such action.
Procurement of 45,000,000 pounds
OF copper for the uses of the army
and navy at less than one-half of the
then current market price-a saving
to the government of approximately
$1O,OOO,OOO.
"Similar accomplishments as to
steel, zinc and aluminium.
"Completion of an inventory, for
military purposes, of $1,000 American
manufacturing plants.
Money saving to the government,
through appointment over the coun-
try of committees of business men to
assist the, quartermasters' depart
mcnt of the army in the economical
and efficient purchase of supplies.
Saving to the government of mill
lions of dollars by the coordination
of purchases through the agency Of
the General Munitions Board.
"Creation, under the medical Sec
ton of the council, of a General Med
zeal Board, of many of the most high
" qualified surgeons and physicians
Of the country.
Selection by the same section of
thousands of doctors specifically quail
fled for membership in the medical
officers reserve corps, and the stand
ardization, far on its way to compile
ton, of surgical instruments and sup
plies.
"Creation by the council of the Air
craft Production Board, which is set
ting out to make $500 airplanes and
to train 5000 aviators this year.
"Defnite results obtained by the
councils committee on coal produc-
ton in the procurement and expedi-
ticus shipment of coal, both in the
civilian and federal interests.
Successful initiation of a move
ment to coordinate activities on the
part of the states of the Union for
the national defense, brought to a
clear and workable forcus by the con-
ference of states held recently in
Washington at the call and under the
auspices of the council.
Reorganization of railroad COM
mittee to send to Russia and enlist
ment of reserve engineer regiments
to aid in rehabilitating the railroads
Of France"
Besides the many things done by
the council, Mr.. Clifford enumerates
in detail the work of the boards and
committees. He begins with the Cen
eral Munitions Board, of which Frank
A. Scott is chairman, which, accord
ing to the report, has the following
accomplishments to its credit:
Development of the capacity of
small arms factories to supply one
million men with arms; contracts
signed for small arms ammunition to
meet all requirements; artillery am
munition supply developed; sources
Of machine gun supplies developed;
raw material obtained for gun car
riages and caissons; Standardization
Of motor transports; supply of mater
ial for ambulance bodies obtained
and satisfactory production of armor-
ed cars assured; reduction in price of
machine guns obtained and increased
production arranged; arrangement of
sufficient supply of surgical instru-
ments; development Of an improved
optical glass for military instru-
ments; recommendations made as to
fair and equitable prices for army
and navy contracts; arrangement
made for taking over British small
arms plants in this country; estab.
lishment Of priority in manufacture
Of machine tools to assure govern.
ment Of proper supplies; compilation
III list Of munitions manufacturers
for guidance Of army and navy II
making purchases.
.The General Munitions Board,