The Benson signal., 1918-05-04

Congress has authorized $2.034, ,OO0,-
600, Of which sum $1,135, 100000 has
been appropriated. for the United
States shipping board and Emergency
Fleet corporation; on March i. $685.
247.955.37 of this sum had been ex-
pended. The Emergency Fleet cor
poration had requisitioned March /,
425 steel vessels and contracted for
720 steel vessels, making a total of
1,145 steel ships, of an aggregate dead
weight tonnage of 8,164,5O9 tons; 1t
had let contracts for 400 wooden yes.
sells, aggregating approximately 1,715,-
600 lightweight tons; 1t had repaired
and put In operation 788.0O0 dead
weight tonnage seized from Germany
and Austria. On March the build
ing program of the Emergency Fleet
corporation was being carried on in
151 plants.
Among the purchasers Of the quar-
termaster's department are 81 100000
pounds Of prunes and dried beans;
273.0OO,O0O cans of tomatoes, con-
densed milk, and baked beans; 40,-
100000 yards of mosquito bar; TO-
100000 yards Of olive drab; 10000
600 woolen blankets; 50.00O,OOO pairs
of heavy stockings; 100000 wool
coats. The ordnance program in
cludes the purchase of 23,OOO.OO0 hand
grenades, 725.OOO automatic pistols.
$4,000 revolvers. 23.OOO,O0O projectiles
for heavy artillery, 427 ,246.OOO pounds
of explosives. 100000 machine guns,
and 2.4S4,OOO rifles.
A war emergency course to train
selected men for machine-shop occu-
pations, blacksmithing. sheet-metal
working. and pipe fitting has been
prepared by the federal board for vo-
cational education and will be distrib-
uted to the schools throughout the
country. 1t is known as. Bulletin
No. s.
The board Is acting with the war
department In preparing these courses
of study and in dealing with the state
authorities in charge Of the school
work.
Recently there has been consider
able discussion through the press and
at public meetings In Australia con-
cerning the advisability of producing
more beef cattle and sowing less
acreage to wheat, according to re-
port to the department of commerce.
Several hundred submarine chasers,
built since the war, have been deliv-
cred to the navy by 81 private con-
Germs and six navy yards; many of
these boats have crossed the Atlantic,
some in severe weather.
Through q card catalogue system
1O9,4S7 men have been transferred
out Of army divisions into technical
units to function according to indi-
vidual educational, occupational and
military qualifications.
There are now four times as many
vessels in naval service as year ago.
The estimated pay of officers and men
in the navy for the first year Of war
was $125;OOO,O0O.
The Norwegian government has ap-
propriated $7,OO0,OO0 to assist inten-
sive agricultured development. OF
this amount, $4,5OO,O0O is to maintain
low maximum prices for cattle feed
and fertilizer.
New Japanese concerns numbering
over 100 are reported as having en-
tered business at Shanghai during
1917. The Japanese population is rap
idly increasing, now being about a.
600.
During II months the army hospit-
ais increased from to 63 In number
and from 5000 to 58.4O0 beds; $4,000
more beds are being added.
More than 10000 acres Of land in
this country mas Deeu plOuteU Will
castor-bean plants to produce oil for
aircraft.
American troops permanently took
over q part of the firing line as an
American sector in January, 1918.
The navy now has in its possession
q stock of supplies sufficient for aver
age requirements for one year.
Our 14-inch guns weigh nearly 05
tons and are over So feet long, cost
ing $11S,OO0.
Our 35,OOO-ton cruiser, capable Of
35 knots, will be the fastest in the
world.
Production Of 10000 new automo-
bile trucks is in progress for the
army.