The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1917-05-02
100000 TONS
OF SHIPPING
GOES In WEEK
Sec. Lane Discloses Appal-
ling Facts Regarding Sub
marine Activity.
GOVERNORS MEET
COUNCIL OF DEFENSE
Situation Not Only Menace
to Allied Nations But
Alarms u. S.
lRy Asaociated Preas.l

Washington, May 2.-Secre-
tary Lane told the governors con
ferring here today with the coun-
Gil of national defense, on the
part the United States govern
ment will take in the war, that
the federal government heard
400, 900 tons of shipping had been
sunk in the last week by German
submarines. The destruction, Sec
retary Lane said, was not only
threatening the existence Of Eng
land and France but was alarm
ing the United States. Study of
inventions to combat the SUBJ
marine menace was being dill
gently pursued, he said.
"The United States must build
ships as rapidly as possible,
Secretary Lane told the con-
ference. eff we don't fight the
war on the other side," he said.
1--WE shall have to fight it on this
side"
Many persons thought" )" said
Secretary Lane, "that all we had
to do was to issue bonds and that
Germany would bow her head in
submission. Nothing could be
farther from the truth. We can
not say when this will end. | ex-
peat it to last several years.
DO not go home and inspire
your people with the thought
that immediate action can bring
this war to an immediate end.
Your people must look to this
years crop and the next after
that. We can't afford to fail in
this war. Every man in this coun-
try is involved in this work and
every man is a soldier. Our con-
Germ is to see that our morale
rises.
Representatives Of all states, in
cluding a number OF governors met
today with the council of national de-
Tense to promote conservation OF the
war by closer cooperation between
federal and state agencies.
Among the questions up for discus
sion were prohibition during the war
to conserve food materials ordinarily
used for liquor; encouragement OF
larger crop production: labor supply,
particularly for farm work; and in
dustriaI conditions Affecting output OF
munitions and other war supplies.
Governor Harris OF Georgia, pre-
scented the prohibition question and
urged the other governors to recon-
mend IL as a war measure to the pres
ideft and to the peoples of their states.
A department OF agriculture report
was cited showing that I'M 1916 $i45.-
100000 worth of grain and other food
material was consumed in liquor man
ufacture in the United States.
Among the governors who respond
ed TO invitations was Governor Fra
zier OF North Dakota.
Norway Lost 70.
Christiania. via London. May zs-
Seventy-i1ve Norwegian vessels were
sunk by German submarines In April
and more than 100 sailors lost their
lives. IL such monthly loss were
maintained Norway'R merchant vessels
would be DESTROYED within year and
a half
French Admiral Hopeful.
Washington. Nav 2.--Vice Admiral
Chocheprat. representing the ministry
of marines In the French mission here
declared in a statement today he had
every reason TO hope that we shall
succeed in establishing the closest
possible cooperation between the AM
erican and allied navies for the as
surance OF freedom Of the seas. the
protection OF trade and the triumph ok
our rights"
Eat Less. 0eerne's Appeal.
signed a proclamation exhorting the
peoDle to lessen their consumption OF
wheat and to practice the greatest
economy and frugalitv in the use OF
all other kinds OF grains. The proc
lamation particularly urges the popula
tion to reduce the consumption OF
bread in their families by one-half OF