The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1918-04-02

Of our expectations were exploited too
ahead.
But, all in all, the conversion of the
country from a peaceful land to the
digest single reservoir of strength TO
back Up the allies has been a story
of progress upon which history will
doubtless look with praise
Voluntary censorship forbids that
the press shall indulge in figures re-
vealing the number o. forces abroad
But it is recalled today that Secretary
of War Baker predicted 10000 men
in France "early in 1915" and 1t is
know. that troop and supply trans
port, while hampered during the cold
est weather, have been maintaining
prearranged schedule recently For
some time, American forces have had
a part in the Lorraine fighting, and
their work has shown that America
will never need to have other than
pride in the meI she is sending forth
to war. Valor, vigor, and an en-
tnuslcstic eagernesS have marked each
encounter with the Hun.
Second Cal for 100000.
While a portion of the overseas force
has been fully seasoned for front line
service considerable force is still
training behind the lines.
In this country, the camps and can
tonments have ground out their men
until now a second draft call is immi-
nent. The last increments of the first
draft are still training, and the second
call will be for 100000 men.
The pacifist has been driven, skulk
ing, to obscurity. While the nation
has sought to gain a separate peace
with Austria thru political offensive,
there is now no peace talk. The Rus
sian collapse. followed by Germany's
robbing of the corpse, showed her
without mask-a nation bent on
conquest.
This has done much to cement the
American people into a stern deter
mination to fight on vigorously 1t
has stirred up war industry and war
training.
Probed War Department.
The war department has passed
thru many tribulations, and congress
has raked it thoroly over the Goals
The result has been that a reorganiz-
alton, started before congress under
took its probe, has been completed
and now the departmental wheels
run smoothly and with more vigor
than before. Chief of Staff March has
pumped pep into the organization.
Younger men are at the helm. Chiefs
such as General Goethals, quarter
master, have the important posts.
The navy with less reorganiza ton
to accomplish, has met such transit
ton as it needed with less difficulty
because of the smaller scale of its
needs. The navy's biggest contribu-
ton has been destroyers for foreign
service. These vessels and their craft
have aided substantially in destroying
or warding off the Teuton U-boats.
Now, the navy is engaged on vast
destroyer building program, which
with the Ford boats, the submarine
chasers, and the anti-submarine de-
vices of American genius will, take
an added crimp in Fritz upon the seas
America has poured forth her money
in lavish streams. This fund running
not in six figures but in mines and
terial rapidly and, for the most part,
efficiently.
Make go Million Shells.
The ordnance bureau, for instance,
has placed contracts running far past
a billion dollars, while aviation has
had more than a billion and soon
wants millions more. Secretary Baker
estimates that the ordnance bureau
had averaged contracts of S6,000.000
day. Production of machine guns
is now ahead of schedule except for
the Browning heavy type and while
France and England are supplying the
primary needs of the United States in
big artillery, the nation is producing
the large type guns. too.
The ordnance bureau anticipated
that by the end of the year it will
have more than 60,000.000 shells pro-
duced in American factories.
Figures on the war make the brain
fairly reel. For instance, the army it
self has grown from a handful of men
and officers-say 210,0O0-to about
100000 Officers alone number
close to 10000 at this time.
Supplying such a force has been a
trying problem. Delays marked the
earlier work, and there were COM
plants of lack of warm clothing in
many camps during the winter. This
situation was remedied, however, and
the reorganized quartermaster branch
Atated today that it has now collected
reserve which will obviate any
Shorta geS hereafter The ranrna nized