The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1918-01-10

which contracts amounting to ST.
SIT, 900, 600 already have been placed.
"On the first day Of April 1917, the
ordnance department consisted Of 81
commissioned officers while now il
consists Of 1904 officers, and, in addi-
ton, has 26,120 enlisted personnel.
In addition to the selection and
training Of their new force, the maxi
ing Of these great contracts, and the
follow-up necessary in the manufac-
| turing process. a continuous study
Of new weapons and instrumentaIities
has been kept up, a constant contact
kept with trained men abroad study
ing the operation of ordnance ma
terial in battle. and accordingly
modifying designs and plans here by
reason Of observation and expert
ence.
Many of the classes Of ordnance
material requiring to be designed,
specifications drawn. and contracts
let, were wholly unfamiliar to our
normal military practices. The
trench warfare material alone in
wolves commitments OF $685., 900, 900.
Many of the ordnance depart
ment's contracts involve increase Of
plant facilities, or the construction
of new plants. and constant inspec-
ton bv inspectors who have had to
be trained in specially established
schools.
Huge Sums For Supplies.
For the quartermaster generals de-
partment in 1918, So, OILS, COX, 900 was ap-
propriated, or a sum more than four
times as great as the 1915 apprOpria-
tons for all governmental pur-
poses.
ION the first day of April there
were BAT officers in the quarter
master corps. On the first day Of
January 1918, there was a total Of
6,431 officers.
ION the first OF January. 1918,
nearly two billion dollars Of the ap-
preparation had been obligated byI
contracts, or disbursements.
This business involved account
ing, determinations Of standards,
prices, quantities and the creation
Of new manufacturing facilities.
I'm the wooden goods section alone,
the cooperation of over 300 mills
was involved, and the following items
give some idea OF the extensive
character Of the operations. There
have been purchased over 19,000,0 900
blankets, 10000. 900 yards of over
coating and over 100000 yards
each Of shirting flannel and suiting, |
involving an expenditure OF over
$345, 900, 900. In cotton goods the de- |
partment has contracted for 250,000,- |
900 yards of various cotton cloths.
The aviation section of the signal |
corps on the first day OF April, 1917, |
consisted of IS officers, and 1920 |
men. On the first day of January, |
1918, it consisted of $500 officers and |
S2,120 men.
This division of the war depart
ment was charged by congress with /
the expenditure of an appropriation |
for 1918, $744, 100000 or
five times the 1915 appropriation for
the entire war department.
The engineer department, for
which, in 1917, $53,O00,00O was APP
was charged by the 1918 |
Of 1890, 900, 900.
There have been organized, train /
ed and equipped technical troops of |
foresters, stevedores. and railroad /
and operation men, ag- |
about 10000, many of |
whom have been operating in France
for some months"
Summary of Work.
In summing up the war depart
ment's work the secretary gave the |
as its chief accomplish
ments:
"A large army is in the field
and in training. So large that furth-
er increments to it can be adequately
equipped and trained as rapidly as
those already in training can be
'2-The army has been enlisted
and selected without serious dislo-
cation Of the industries OF the coun-
try.
"3-The training Of the army is
rapidly. And its spirit is
nigh. The subsistence Of the army
mas been above criticism. It's initial
supply, temporarily made
luate, is now substantially complete,
and reserves will rapidly accumulate.
Arms Of the most modern and eff
,ective kind-including artillery, ma
thine guns, automatic rifles, and
small arms-have been provided by
or purchase for every
soldier in France, and are available
or every soldier who can be gotten
% France in the year 1918.
"A substantial army is already
n France, where both men and Off
.ers have been additionally and spe-
tally trained and are ready for ac-
i've service.
'5-Independent lines Of communi-
alton and supply and vast storage
nd other facilities are in process Of
in France.
"6-Great programs for the manu-
acture of additional equipment and
or the production of new instru- ]
nents of war have been formulated"
Il make this statement" continued
he secretary, fully aware that there
ave been produced before the MEM
,ers Of this committee some express ]
ions Of doubt, difference Of opinion,
nd disapproval. The war depart
lent has spent eight months hearing
imilar expressions analysing them, !
directing the conditions out of {
to prevent their recur- I
ence, and all the while driving on {
he accomplishments Of the main
ask.
Will Value Suggestions.
"My military associates and APP
reciate the work which this COM a
nittee has done, and will value sug {
estions from the committee as a Y
yhole, from its Individual members, 9
nd from every other patriotic citi- {
en-. ." G
I'm the foregoing statement there
re two exceedingly significant c
cures, namely, LnaT on the urSL Gay
( April the ordnance department i
Of 81 officers and the quar- &
srmaster geenraPs department of
AZ officers, while they now respec-
vely comprise 1904 and 6,431 off,
srs. There was no ready trained
ody Of men in the country who
ould have been selected suddenly to =
ssume the highly technical and Z
pecialized work Of these two divi- Z
ons. Men OF somewhat similar =
aiming had to be chosen. AS the :
ork proceeded, subdivision and re- y
lbdivision became possible.