The Birmingham age-herald., 1917-04-05
Alabama Member of Naval Consulting Board Just Back From Confer
 ence in Washington
TELLS HOW PLANTS
 CAN GIVE THEIR AID
 TO THE GOVERNMENT
Thinks Most Exciting Serv- ice Will Be on Submarine Chasers-New Cabinet
 Portfolios Planned


 for a three years siege of war with the Germans. This was the information that Theodore Swann of Birmingham, member of the naval consulting board, secured in Washington. The l inventory of industrial plants 1 having been completed in Ala bama, has been studied by the ex- | perts in Washington and doubtless will be called into service. l He regards as certain that President Wilson will name a secretary of muni- tions and one for transportation, and understands that Edward R. Stettinius of the firm of J. P. Morgan & Co.,, and Daniel Willard, president of the Balti- more and Ohio railroad, will be selected respectively.
 T believe that the vigor with which the government organizations will prose- cute measures to prepare the United States for war with Germany will be sur. prising," said MT. Swann. "A complete inventory of the industrial plants of the United States has been made, and the government knows just what may be ex- pected of each unit. I do not think that the government will rest before it has made preparation for at least three years of warfare"
 How will the system of producing mu- nitions affect the Alabama plants?''
 WILL ENLARGE PLANTS
 Plants that are now engaged in the manufacture of munitions will be en- larged, probably but I do not believe that steel plants, which are not manu- featuring shells, will be asked to start into this phase of operation. It seems reasonable to me to believe that plants now making shells will be enlarged, those making steel will try to make more steel and that the efforts will be exerted in increasing the output.
 T do believe that the government will attempt to standardize certain work and that it will impart to all plants improve. ments known and the very best methods It will insist upon reasona ble profits upon munitions, for I think that the govern ment feels the cost of the war should be as small as possible, but it will not stint.
 The impression prevails in Washington that the President will increase his cab inet by two members. I sincerely hope that MT. Stettinius, who has sold more than S5, GOO, 0,OO0 worth of munitions for the allies for J. P. Morgan & Co.,, will be named as secretary of munitions. He is fair, able and in a position to be of great aid to the United States"
 %L templates using its armies in France"
 q would not be surprised If
 corps of 10000 men were sent to
 France to go into action against
 Germany within three months. The
 moral effect of this would be
 great. We cannot pay others to
 do our fighting. I think undoubt-
 edly that United States troops will
 be sent to France. We must do
 all in our power to bring this
 war to successful termination
 and this cannot be done by talk
 ing a passive stand, merely em-
 ploying the navy"
 Don't you think that it would be an abrupt departure from all pre- vious policy for the forces of the Uni ted States to enter another continent to fight?"
 WILL HAVE FULLEST SUPPORT
 '"The United States will declare war on Germany. l believe that public sen timent will crystalline to such an ex- tent that such a move will have the fullest support"'
 Secretary Baker said recently that the orders to utilize the Alabama in- dustries would come from Washing ton. When do you expect them?"
 within week I believe that some definite orders will come and that the a.neral policy of the government will bts made known. The work of supply inA the armies with munitions, build ing ships and manufacturing needs of warfare is just as important as fight ing. The government has already made known that any member of the National Guard who is employed in turning out munitions of any kind vii. be left at his job. A man who is do-