The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1917-05-02
Secretary Lane Tears Away
Mask of Confidence.
100000 Tons. Sunk in Last
Week, He Says.
WAR TO LAST SEVERAL YEARS
Germany Has Food to Last at
Least Two Years.
Slight i'm France or War VIII
Come to L. ST."


Lane told the governors comforting
here today with the council of national
defense on the part state governments
will take in the war that the federal
government had heard 100000 tons ef
shipping had been sunk in the last
week by German submarines.
The destruction. Secretar. Lane
said. was not only threatening the ex-
istence of England and France, but
was alarming the United States. Study
of inventions to combat the submarine
menace is being diligently pursued IN
the interior department. he said. The
United States must build ships as rap
idly as possible, he told the delegates.
IF We don't fight the war on the
other side he said. 1--WE shall have TO
fight it on this side of the Atlantic"
Must Exert Every Resource.
Secretary Lane declared he believed
the war would last several years and
that every resource of the country
must be brought into play to bring it
10 IA successful conclusion.
MANY persons thought" said Sec
rotary Lane, that all we had to do
was to issue bonds and that Germany
would bow her head in submission.
Nothing could be further from the
truth. We do not know when the war
will end. 1t may not be a one-year
several years Herbert c. Hoover has
Informed this government that Ger
many has food enough to last two
years. perhaps longer.
Germany has put up the greatest
fight of history and she has the adj
vantage of now fighting "a defensivs
warfare. Don't go back home and
inspire your people with the thought
that immediate action can bring this
war to an immediate end. Your peo-
Il. 1,al 1t
next years crop and the next after
that.
we can't afford to fail in this war.
Every man in this country is involv-
ed in this work and every man in
the country is a soldier. The French
hope to break down the morale of the
German armies Our concern is to
see to it that our own morale rises
Daniels and Baker Speak.
Beside Secretary Lane the state
representa- ives heard Secretaries Be
ker and Daniels, Adjutant General Nc
Cain and Judge Advocate General
CroWder of the army. Later, they
were received by President Wilson
The three secretaries declared the one
need of America and the allies now
is ships Secretary Lane warned his
hearers against discomfort and attack
on the government. Always, he said.
there was dissatisfa ction with those
who are directing a war and he urged
MS hearers 10 base their criticism on
facts and not on rumors.
Secretary Baker asked the state -ep.
reese natives to cooperate with the
government in putting into opera
uon The army law.
Not Enough War Factories.
In obtaining supplies for the
army" said Secretary Baker, I'VE are
having to organize thru the Council
of National Defense and thru you all,
the way back to cur raw resources
We are raising the greatest army in
the countrys history and the defense
council has had to go into the fac
tories and back of the factories to the
farms for supplies. We have found
there are not enough factories in the
country making army cloth to supply
our forces. We are getting the help
OF the countrys business men and are
arranging to supply our armies with all
they need rapidly as possible.
DO not grow impatient if it appears
that things are moving slowly. We are
in great need of supplies and so are
the allies We must care also for the
allies needs. The army needs guns
and so does the navy, but the allies
need them as much as we do. You
men can do a great service in explain
ing there is delay in getting our
supplies. but that preferences must be
exercised"
No Mention of Sending Army.
Secretary Baker said nothing direct
ly concerning an early expeditionary
force abroad, but declared:
our part on the other side, once
determined, is subject to revision. No
program can be made up that will last
beyond tomorrow.
THE states" Secretary Baker said,
"can assist the government by giving
support to the draft: aiding recruiting
and seeing to it that proper exemp-
tions are enforced and that men need
ed at home are not sent into the army.
I'VE are not going to make war"
said Secretary Baker. with our right
hand. or our left hand. but with both
: hands and every man in the country
can aid
Secretary Daniels asked the aid of
the states in recruiting the naval per-
sonnet to 10000 men after the new
Ii IL mas