New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-04-06

di rScmcOt or lno Nl"'i' '''
Association. which has undertaken 10
organize a unit Of railway oH'lalS 70
look after the specific needs oil cach OF
TIC six military departments.
As 10 transportation on the sea, ldc
from the military. preparations o.
wide .copc have been made. I'm confer
cincce with builders the Federal Ship
ming Board has mapped out plan for
construction Of many wooden ships Of
2 .OOO tons and upward which could do
great service in the important work Of
breaking down the German submarine
camuaicn and carrying food and sup
plies to the Allies. They can he built
I'm "a short time.
Unions TO Furnish Men
The American Federation OF Labor
has undertaken to furnish trained
workmcn for any government or
public service. Onskillrd labor is 70 he
provided by the Public Employment
Service Of the Labor Department, which
+. working through moro than eighty
branches throughout the country
Tho Postoficc department will do tho
necessary advertising. and tho 1000
local boards Of the Civil Service Com
mission and the field forces Of tho I'm
migration Bureau. tho Naturalization
Bureau and the Bureau of Labor sta
tIstIcS Will lend their active and. the
organization of this vast work is pro-
Cc,ding under the dircC' ION of Samuel
Gompers, president of the American
Federation. a member OF the Defence
Councils advisory commission.
No small place I'm the preparedness
plans has been occupied by precaution
any measures against the activities OF
foreign agents. with the discovery of
German plots in this country early IN
the war the Department Of Justice
greatly strengthened the facilities OF
Its investigation bureau.
Great Anti-Spy Campaign
Aid has been sought Of other govern
mtnt departments i'm the fcrrctluC out
Of German Vaccinations. and with the
approach Of actual hostilitics more
than half million government en-
ployce throughout the country were
called upon 10 be on the alert for
Suspicious activities.
Tn the great army thus enlisted for
spy detection are the postmasters. pos
tai inspectors and letter carriers the
the Department Of Agriculture. the In
ternal Revenue Bureau. the Customs
bureau, the Federal Trade Commission,
the Interstate Commerce Commission
and the immigration Bureau. la addi-
ton. Governors. Mayors and other loca
officials have been appealed TO, and
hundreds Of municipalities and many
states have pledged the services of
their employees.
MunitiOn Plants Help
I'm the field Of munitions production
pledr have been secured from the
great plants which have been supply
ing the Allies, and system Of thor
ough coordination has been perfected.
In addition, manufacturing concerns
everywhere now engaged in other IN
dustries have been surveyed and in
formed Just what changes would be
necessary 10 transform their machinery
for munition- The council has
been aided by many experts, including
Z. r. Stettinius, who has charge of the
enormous munition business done IN
this country by the Allies through J.
p. Morgan & Co.
A thorough canvass has been made
Of the countrys wealth Of new mate
rails available for military usage.
Conner manufacturers have agreed TO
supply the army's need of that product
for the next year at Is and a fraction
cents d pound, or about half the pres
ent market price Steel companies have
indicated willingness TO aid in SINH
lar manner, and many other industries
have offered to do their bit in any way
the Federal government might require.
Secretary Houston has appealed to
the farmers to increase production, 70
eliminate waste and to conserve all
surplus. Assistant Secretary Nrooman
has conferred with agricultural and
industrial interests in an effort to
secure such crop diverslfcation and
conservation as will make each section
self-supporting when the need comes