The Colorado statesman., 1918-03-09
NINE PAIRS SHOES
FOR PERSH|NG MEN
GENERAL ASKS FOR LARGE
FooToEAR SUPPLY FOR SOL
pIERs IN FRANCE.
AIRPLANE MISHAPS ARE FEW
With Hundreds of Men Learning to
Fly, War Department Records Show
Number Of Accidents at Military AVl-
alton Fields Comparatively Small.


washington.-Gen Pershing has
requested shipment of 1880 pairs Of
shoes for each 25,000 men monthly,
which is approximately nine pairs of
shoes per man per year. This guam
tity is in excess of actual consumption
and is being used to build up a re-
serve for all troops in France. When
such a supply is accumulated, the
quantities per man will be reduced.
The quartermaster generals de-
partment now has on hand and due
on outstanding contracts, 7,564,000
field shoes and 7,S73,O00 marching
shoes. 1t will be necessary to secure
more than a million additional shoes
during the year.
Records of the war department show
that from the beginning of training In
June, 1917, to February %, 1918, the
fatalities at military aviation fields
in this country have been 81; 10 Of
ficers and 20 cadets killed in training
flights, and IL men killed in unauthor-
ized flights and ground accidents.
Since the training began in the
United States, student aviators have
flown considerably more than 100000
miles. Hundreds of hitherto ine~
perienced men have been learning to
fly. Their early flights are under the
guidance of instructors, and prior to
these flights two or more months are
spent in preliminary ground work.
There comes a time, however, when
every student aviator must take his
machine up alone, and every precau-
ton has been taken to reduce the
number of accidents and safeguard
the aviator in his solo flights.
The fuel administration Is carrying
on q series of conferences covering all
Industries which use large quantities
of fuel with view to learning the re-
quirements of each line during 1918.
The industries themselves are playing
a leading part In these discussions.
The aim of the fuel administration is
to arrive at a percentage Of produc-
ton which, under the circumstances,
will be satisfactory to the manufac-
turers and their workmen, but which
will not represent a consumption of
fuel for the manufacture of supplies
not needed during the current year.
The order which has been issued
limiting the use of fuel for the pro-
duction of window glass to so per cent
of the amount manufactured in 1917
is the result of one of these confer
ences. A survey of the field indicated
that while not more that 100000
boxes of window glass would be used
in 1913 competitive conditions were
likely to result in an overmanufacture
of at least 100000 boxes.
1t is through this system of limita-
ton, together with large economy In
the methods of using fuel, that the
fuel administration expects to supple
ment the production of coal this year.
1t is hoped, as the railroads strengthen
their facilities, that it will be possible
to mine and transport larger guam
tity of coal this year than last, but 1t
is through these methods of reducing
consumption that repetition of this
years shortage is expected to be pre-
vented.
Rifle and cartridge production In the
United States has developed in volume
and in quality on a scale assuring the
satisfactory equipment of the army,