Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1918-04-02

not in six figures but in mines and
tens is being converted into war ma.
terial rapidly and, for the most part,
deficiency.
The ordnance bureau, for instance,
has placed contracts running far pass
billion dollars, while aviation has
had more than billion and soon wants
millions more. Secretary Baker esti-
mates that the ordnance bureau had
averaged contracts of $6,000,00 a day.
Production of machine guns is now
ahead of schedule except for the
Browning Leavy type, and Nghilc
France and England are supplying the
primary needs of the U. S. in big ar
tiEery, 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.
dueed in American factories.
Figures on the war make the brain
fairly reel. For instance, the army it
self has grown from handful of men
and officers-say 10000 to about L.
100000. Officers alone number close to
100000 at this time.
Supplying such 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 reoerganized quartermaster branch
stated today that it has now collected
a reserve which will obviate any short
ages hereafter. The reOrganized bureau
has also seen to it that sufficient sup
plies of meat and other goods are stOr-
ed at convenient places SO that there
shall be no tieups as occurred whea
the railroad congestion was at its
worst.
The clothing supply task is a tire
one. Not only must a current
supply be maintained but reserves
must be created. This means for in
stance that during the winter the or
ganization bought its underwear by
the 100000, stockings to more than
10000, goo pairs and so on.
American aeroplane development,
one of the most secret of all war prep
arations, is one of the many romanees
of business involved in our work. Per
fectiOn of Liberty motor, surpass-
ing anything known in the motor line
to date, has provided America with a
basis for its work. Diff |
culties in obtaining spruce and other
has tended to slow down
of aircraft, but the first /
5hipment of aeroplanes went abroad
nearly two months ago. More than 100, |
BOO men are new training for the ser
vice, and thousands of planes of vari- !
Gus types-training and eombat-are /
under contract. That we win be able to |
supply 10000 battle planes together !
with the needed men this year is prob /
Iematieal, but production of all types |
S now progressing satisfactorily.
Construction work abroad and in 1
this country has involved expenditure /
Of millions and has engaged a tremend- |
1us volume OF labor. The first big con- /
struction task the nation faced was
hat of building l6 cantonment cities |
rhese were ready in September.
Other tasks of enormous Importance /
and volume have been the laying OF |
racks in France-there are 600 miles I
'Or American transportation needs |
most of which is new-eonstruetien of /
/ big ordnance depot in France, en-
Of Overerowded doekage ia /
:ilities abroad; building of shipyards,
of plants making war sup
,ies.
American war work has hinged large
y ON shipping.
The first two months output of ships
vas unsatisfactory, amOuRtlng to less
han 100000 tons, but shipyaFds are
low proceeding at a 4ar better rate,
nd it IS estimated that the last half
f the year win find production at
iouble the rate of the first six months.
he Hog Island plant at Philadelphia
; the biggest of all the new sbiPyards
nd has fifty ways
The submarine destruction has forg-
1 ahead of construction the past year
ut if the war goes into next year
S it now seems destined to d0-Am- (
riean ana British yards viii be well
lxed On output In addition to tins
ieeting of the submarine menace the c
evelopment of anti-submariae devices
nd the constant addition Of new de-
meyers is having a strong effect on {
he U-bOat situation. n fact, it Is such