davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1918-04-07
Engines andMines
Send Their Quota

a 7 THE declaration Of war with
L. "a Germany the personnel of the
various Offices of the Engineer Depart
ment consisted of 1T officers and
civilian employees. This force has been
augmented until at the present time it
consists Of ISIS officers, enlisted men
and civilian employees.
At tho beginning of the war the
engineer troops consisted of three
regiments Of pioneer engineers. with
trains, one mounted company. one engi-
nccr band and an engineer detachment
at West Point. The aggregate strength
was Approximately 4,125 officers and
enlisted men. At present the aggre-
gate authorized strength is over 300
600, with an actual strength Of approx
mately 10000.
Units Of the following classes have
been organized: Divisional engineers
(sappers), mounted engineers (sap-
pers for operating over extended ter
ritory), forestry (for numbering and
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1918-04-07

listed force of the army to its maxi
mum authorized war strength, in Sc
lecting and appointing officers to COM
mand both this force and the National
Army, in selecting and appointing army
field clerks, in caring for prisoners Of
war and interncd enemy aliens, and in
keeping complete record of every man
going abroad
There has been an increase in the
work of the adjutant generals office
corresponding to the increased size of
the army. Training camps for officers
were established and conducted, ap-
polntments and commissions were pre-
pared and distributed, the work of the
recruiting service was maintained, spc-
clal orders assigning officers to duty
issued, general orders, bulletins and
circulars pertaining 20 military mat
tcrs compiled and sent broadcast. thou
sands OF records Of all sorts received
and llled, and tremendous amount Of
correspondence conducted with both the
military service and civilians.
10 securing an adequate number If
competent officers special plans were
devised. Two classes at West Point
were graduated in advance of the
usual graduating dates and special OK
amnations were held in various narts
of the country for appointments from
civil life. At the present time prac-
tically all vacancies in the regular
army have been filed.
The first series of officers train;no
camps, numbering sixteen in all and
situated at advantageous points
throughout the country, was opened
May 10, 1917, and continued until the
middle of August. or 4O,203 candi
dates, 27,341 qualified tor ,mmssions
The successful candidates left the
camps with their appointments in thcir
pockets, and sufficient officers were at
the cantonmcnts to receive and com.
mand the National Army when the men
arrived.
"A second series of officers training
camps was begun on August 81. 1917.
to ada 20 the line and staff Approyi
mately $4,000 candidates attended, Of
whom 1927 were awarded commits
SONS. Many who failed to receive
commissions have since been enlisted
and appointed commissioned Off
GERS in the National Army.
A third series was instituted on
January 5, 1918, continued April s.
1913, 10 create an officers reserve
force. Only enlisted men were ad
mitted, except for a limited number
Of students who have received military
training in schools under army officers
during the past ten years. About 49,
600 are in attendance.
Some 2,04o war prisoners and alien
enemies are now confined in war
prison barracks at Fort Mcpherson.
Ga; Fort Oglethorpe, Ca, and Fort
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1918-04-07

and to design and manufacture No, A..
the intricate weapons Of modern :.
fare, but the incalculable numb,
tools, master gauges, gauges and !,
required for their manufacture.
AS an illustration of the difscp,S
the Ordnance Department des;ra !,
take advantage of the courtesy of 4.
French government in Offering a.
American use the secret recoil me,,,,
ism of its gun carriages. In a,
manufacture of these mechanism, ,
IS necessary to machine steel cast,c
so accurately that they will not BE- d
two-thousands of an inch in d,
tance Of more than six feet. The. 4,
never been any machinery built in n,
country to work on so large a sal
with such degree of accuracy. II
Ordnance Department had to persu,,
manufacturers 10 undertake this aid
cult work, to assist them financially
the building of thirteen acre plant
the purchase and manufacture Of 1,
100000 worth OF special tools, and
the development of manufacturing 0
ganization. The contract for this NO
was signed November /. To-day Il
plant is completed and is turning 0
the recoil mechanisms.
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1918-04-07

rived in Paris on June A. 1917, sixty
nine days after the declaration of war
The first American troops arrived in
France on June %. On July a, in cele-
aration of our natal day and a new
fight for liberty, American troops pa
raded the streets CT Paris and were
greeted as the focerunnors of great
Am erican armies and vast quantities of
supplies and munitions.
On October 10, 1917, 1877 days after
The war was declared, American sol
dlers went on the firing line. m jan
uary American soldiers took over per
sn2ncntiy apart of the line as an Amer
'can sector, and this line is gradually
lengthening.
Behind the fighting line in France the
American forces have scientifically pre-
pared groundwork Of camps, com
munications, supply bases and works, in
anticipation of operations BY ihe full
force OF the army. They are building
and have built railroads, hospitals, ord
nance bases and docks in France They
have constructed immense barracks,
erected sawmils, reclaimed agricultural
lands and carried forward many Incl
dental enterprises.
The construction Of an ordnance base
in France, costing S25 900 600, is now
we'll under why. Great quantities of
material used in the foreign construc,
ton work have been shipped from the
United States from fabricated iron
work for an ordnance shop to nails and
crossties for railroads, and even the
piles to build docks.
American engineers have gone into
French forests and done the work Of
the pioneers of our own Northwest.
They have frequently been under fire.
One of their first tasks was the recon
Etruction and extension Of a railroad
six hundred miles long to carry our
products from ports of Decentralization
to general bases of operation.
The first engineer troops, LOO
/ strong, arrived in France about three
months after war was declared. Since
then the number has been greatly aug
mented.
An American army locomotive was
ouilt IN this country in twenty-one days
and shipped to the expeditionary forces.
Many other locomotives, cars, logging
trains, trucks. dissembled buildings and
other equipment have been shipped to
augment the output and facilitate the
construction operations of American
forces abroad.
All the while there has been a fairly
even flow of men and materials from
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1918-04-07
Guns and Rifles
To Arm Million,

~ lNCE the outbreak Of war the COM
~ missioned personnel OF the Ord
nance Department has expanded from
ninety-sevcn officers. operating with
yearly appropriations of about Sl4.-
100000 and with manufacture largely
confined to government arsenals, to
5000 officers in this country and
abroad, transacting an unprecedented
war programme for the supply Of ord
nance, the total direct appropriations
and contract authorizations for one
year having been s4.756 503,1S5.
The average monthly disbursements
Of the Ordnance Department during
the first year OF the war were sos, 1885,
6l2. or nearly five times the total an
nual appropriation in peace times.
Thus, measured by the increase IN it's
commissioned personnel, the Ordnance
Department in a single year has been
expanded 20 more than fifty times its
peacetimc size. Measured in dollars
the actual disbursements of the first
year OF war were on scale sixty times
as large as peace-time expenditure,
while the total appropriations ana
contract authorizations for this first
year of war were three hundred and
thirty-nine times as large as the aver
age total appropriation in the years
Immediately preceding the war.
To its peace time task of administer
ing eleven government arsenals has
been added the problem OF getting
quick production fron, about 400 man
ufacturing establishments engaged
upon ordnance contracts.
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1918-04-07
Extent Of the
Ordnance List

An idea of the extent Of the oH
nance programme may be gained ''''
the following few items OF pu'chss
Twenty-threc million hand grensae
725,0o0 automatic pistols, 25O'Oou H
volvers, 100000 projectiles 10Y :,
calibres OF heavy artillery, 42I'zsses
pounds Of explosives, 10000 maenD
guns, and 2,4s4,00o rifles.
Tie ordnance problem, however
no less one of quality than OF qusns''
production. Tie American solder
being provided with weapons waa.
give HIM an additional safeguard ;
life and further guarantee OF vic'0''
Achievements Of the Ordnance =
partment include the Browning ~ =.
chine rifle, model OF 1918, ano v
Browning machine gun, heavy W.
model OF 1918, production OF Tue y, :.
mer now being on quantity oss'' y
machine process, while similar p'0'''
ton Of the heavier type is immineaS
The heavy Browning machine 8.
water cooled. in a government ". y.
fired 10000 shots in forty-elgn' D''
utes and sixteen seconds without ~
function. -,
The creation and adequate p'0', :,
ton of the United States rifie' NV.
1917. which was a modification %
British Enfield rifle with imp'os,
ments, and acceptance Of the s''a''
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1918-04-07

rent must be frequently renewed, or
dcrs have since been placed for equip
ment equal to that required by 40
infantry divisions.
On August "a, 1917, orders were
issued to supply the various National
Guard and National Army camps and
environments with engineering equip
ment. Within two weeks from that
date all necessary equipment. totalling
1000 tons, was en- route.
Engineer depots for the receipt,
storage and shipment Of engineering
materials have been established at
various points, with approximately 800
acres OF ground 100000 square feet of
floor space, and with all necessary
yards, tracks, docks, trucks and cranes
for the efficient handling of supplies.
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1918-04-07
Cost of Plants
F or Making Powder

Similarly, the nitrate division Of ID
Ordnance Department was obliged 4
build plants and to develop an indaI
try heretofore unknown in this eou.l
try Two plants for the manufastgs|
Of powder are under construction, d
cost S45, COOS G0 each. In various o.hs
undertakings, notably in the diffeg1
manufacture OF gun carriages, the Ord
nance Department was compelled 4
create organizations and build the I'D
tories.
While building this foundation ID
the war programme, however the 0ra
nance Department has provided LAM
600 rifles; has brought the rate Of rtI
production up to $4,000 week, whs1
is sufficient to equip three army din
sions; secured deliveries on more ttii
1000 machine guns; brought the rot
Of production Of machine guns frt'
10000 to 225 goo per year; incresss'
the rate Of production Of 31s-inch Z
9-inch calibre guns from 1900 to lS@A
per year. and has arranged for To-
manufacture OF some $4,000 noN'
trucks and tractors for hauling hea'l
guns and ammunition. which are benz
delivered almost as fast as thsy CO.
be shipped.
One billion rounds OF ammunlt''
has been purchased for the training o
troops in the environments alone.
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1918-04-07

operation of sawmills), railway con-
struction, railway operation. railway
maintenance, and railway shop engi-
neers, road (highway construction and
malntenance), supply and shop (gen-
eral supply, including all supplies ex
cept those for railway repairs). gen
eral construction buildings wharves.
docks, etc., mining (military min
lngD quarry for obtaining stone to
be used in engineering structure). sur
Veying, ranging and mapping (topog-
raphy. mapping and sound and flash
rangng), gas and fame, electrical and
mechanical installation and opera
ton of electrical and mechanical
pl'nts), water supply, motor transpor
tation, searchlight (for battlefront
illumination, assistance in transporta-
tion and use against aircraft). ptontoon
bridge, clerical, labor service, replace
ment troops, crane operators (port
terminal serice). camoufaee and
storekeepers and miscellaneous trades
Or The special engineer units re-
crulted for service on railways and in
the maintenance of lines of commun;-
cation many are already in France and
others are awaiting recruitment to full
strength in order to be ready for over
seas service
Through the inability of the Rms
sian government to accept ccrta;,
railroad equipment and supplies mr.
oered IN this country, the Engineer
department has been able to secnre
2oo locomotives, by assuming . l;a-
billty of sll,000,O00 therefor. with tho
understanding that the Russian gov-
eminent could purchase them lator g
desired. These locomotives have been
rented to American railroads. and
nave thus assisted in reducing the
shortage of motive power in this conn
try
Rails were obtained in the same
way and, in great part, sent to Franco
IN return for rails loaned by the
French government to the America,
expeditionary forces.
The Office of the Director Canera,
OF Military Railways, from the BEGIN
nlng of the war to February % 1919
had placed orders for railway SUM-
pines having an aggregate wcight If
$4,000 long tons and value of abont
SLAP 100000.
The general engineer depot, from
April /, 1917. to January 81, 1918. had
issued a total of over $500 orders
Tor material, with value Of about
$2o2 100000. As the general engineer
depot acts, to certain extent, as dis
bursting officer for the Director Cen
er of Military Railways, the amount
gwen as expended by the depot in
Guides IN great part the railway mate
rial above mentioned
when war was declared the pur
chasing office OF the corps Of enri-
necrs, consisting of force of ono
officer and twcnty-seven civilian om-
ployos, faced the problem of securing
equipment for an army. On the fol-
lowing day advertisements had been
issued for the procurement of couip-
mcnt for seventy infantry divisions,
Within two weeks after the declaration
OF war, awards had been made cover.
Ing the requirements Of n force Of
100000 men, total OF about 9,7oo,-
600 items.
In view of the rapid deterioration
OF equipment used in the theatre of
war. and thc fnct that such euuin-
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1918-04-07

the United States to France. The men
in the trenches back of the lines, on
the construction projects and in the
hospitals have been steadily supplied.
Our losses at sea, in men and materials,
have been gratifyingly small. The
greatest single loss occurred on Feb
ruary 5, when the British ship Tus-
cania was torpedoed and sunk. The
bodies of 144 soldiers, en- route to
France, have Eeen found, and hfty-five
others were still missing on March 16.
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1918-04-07

TIME outstanding feature of the first
year of war has been the sudden
TRANSFORMED of Anne rca's young
and able manhood into ar army Mat 20
day numbers 123,801 officers and ,52S,-
924 enlisted men, whereas one year ago
the total actual strength of this uni
formed force was but 1924 officers and
202,510 enlisted men.
substantial vanguard military ex-
pediency prohibiting actual numbers)
of this army is meeting the enemy in
France to-day, or is encampcd there
awaiting the call to the trenches; in
sixteen environments and sixteen camps
and on numerous aviation fields and in
variety of other schools in all parts of
the United States the men Of the re-
naming army are hardening and train
ing for their part in the great contest
overseas.
Behind the activities Of this vast
force lies great industry organized
to produce an adequate supply of mu-
nitions, equipment and provisions, and
to provide transportation to the firing
line, almost every branch of essential
industry of the country having been
drawn upon to produce these material
requirements.
The expansion of the army is shown
in the following statement by the adju-
tant general:
April 1917. April. 1918.
0fhcers. Men. Officers. Men.
Regular army s.7s I2I7e7 1859 59s. !a2
National Guard 1888 1918 1888 43i .5a5
ssrviee) ......... 1000 1920 1850
National Army. $500
Totals ......... o.s24 2O2sio I2s.soI i52s.ea4
Since the declaration Of war Con-
gross has made the following appropri-
atoms for the War Department:
Civil establishment. ............. $lG7os, iA3 90
Military atabli sh mont. 7.4i3e35 .S63 io
Rivers and harboss ............ 3473i, $50 90
TOTALS ~. 49, 7i ,75Gu&S
Withdrawals from the Treasury have
been made under these appropriations
during the period from June Is, 1917, to
March 8. 1918, as follows:
ClNi establshmsat ....,....,... ss.si7,ois7o
Military establishment. ........ q gSi sos Ss5 IS
hWefs ano bafpofe. ............-.. 1857. ca. 10
Tesas -,................... 50. COG 76i .907. Is
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1918-04-07

A MERICA'S first gear IN the great a0ar ended yes-
II terday By dramatic and fitting coincidence,
the closing action of the gear acas the gift TO the
AIned c ION OF all Ame1vcam fighting re,
10ithout reserve of every and every cartridge to
be used they may ftsuch gift IN spirit as no
The gear has been largely of gigantic prep
araom, of turning peaceful nation to ava of train
ing and a17ning ON industrial giant. The record Is
yet be told, but achat be made hno1cn o1U is
published here, IN the official reuieav of the first gear
of the By the Committee Public Intorn1atlon
The statements giuen all authorized by the War
Department, the Napy Department. the United States
Shipping Board and the TREASURY Department.
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1918-04-07
Calling Nations
Men to CoLors

TINE declaration of war suddenly
l. presented the urgent necessity for
the rapid transformation of Americas
potential power into military effective
uess and the translation of her unor-
gained mass of available resources
into an orderly organization TO meet a
great emergency.
The immediate raising of large
army was imperative; maintenance Of
industry and agriculture no less i'm
portant. Congress proclaimed by the
enactment of the selective service law
that our army should be raised by a
systematic selection of those who can
be absorbed into the military forces
with the least disturbance to the indus
trial, agricultural and domestic inter-
ests of the nation.
This law was approved on May 10,
1917, and in four days the provost mar
shall general was formally csignated,
and on June 5, less than three weeks
after the enactment of the law, between
dawn and dark, the male population Of
the United States within draft age
approximately 100000 men pre-
sented themselves before some four
thousand boards and were registered.
Within forty-eight hours, due to the or
ganlzation previously perfected, practi-
cauy complete registration returns we're
recorded in Washington.
The success achieved has surpassed
expectations. With the intention Of
evolving the entire quota by the end Of
September, before which time it was
then thought the environments would be
ready to receive it, the boards pro-
ceeded to call and examine over 800
600 men. The first rcgistrant was as
simulated by the army as early as July
80, and by September the local boards
stood ready to deliver $50 900 men. the
first 80 per cent Of the entire quota, to
the environments.
The experience of that draft gave
birth to the new selcctivc service repu-
lations, the two principal accomplish
ments Of which are: First, the com
pllation of scientific and complete in
Ventory of our man power, including
the qualifications and Industrial and
domestic circumstances of each reg
lstrant; second, the definite class:!ica-
ton of all registrants into five classes
according to their relative availability
tor military service with regard to their
industrial, agricultural and domestic
Importance to the nation. This definite
classification and dcfermcnt of skilled,
key and pivotal men has done much to
dissipatc previous unrest which was
due to che lack Of approximate knowl-
edge Of draft liability
The per capita cost of the sclective
service system, nationally, to the end Of
the first draft was as follows:
t.oHt I"r mar called Observation-Disclosures. ~
tos. per man scccpte, for service ...... A IA
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1918-04-07
Getting Our Men
To theFiring Line

MILITARY necessity particularly
AV1 forbids detailed review of tho
activities Of the American expedition
airy forces.
General pershing and his staff ar
Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1918-05-03
AIRCRAFT BOARD "PLAYING A
GIGANTIC CONFIDENCE GAME
ON WHOLE COUNTRY DECLARES
SEN. HITCHCOCK TO COMMITTEE

Attorney General Gregory stated the
department of Justice would be glad to
Investigate the entire aircraft proiuc-
tior situation under request by the Pres
ident or Congress. He also said the A.
partment would welcome any compla ats
Of any specific cases Of violation of law
either by extravag3nt use of govern
nent money or in connection with at
temr,s to obstruct the building program
and dana sc machines.
While the debate IN tine Senate was in
progress Senator Wadsworth of New
York filed a report compiled by an in
yestigating committee Of the Aeronauti-
cal Society Of America, which charges
that not more than per cent Of the "a :
cilities for building aircraft had been
utilized. Without attempting 70 fix re-
sponsibiity for delays and failures, the
report makes fat charges OF Inefficient
cy and brands as false any misleading
statements on the progress of the build
ing program attributed 70 Secretary Ba-
ker. It charges that recruiting AMI
training Of men for f'iers has slowed
down because those in charge of the
program have given up hopes of a grea.
fleet of airpIanes in 1918.
practically Al, statements by officers
of the government regarding the exc
cution of the aircraft program must be
absolutely neglected as unt,-ustworthy,"
said the report. Inventive genius was
~lett unutilized. 50 the 1919 program g
mperiled unless steps are radically
taken to combat this evil"
Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1918-05-03
Expected Attacks on
Ypres and Amiens
Not Launched
COMMANDMENT
OF ARTILLERY
INTERMITTENT
Germans Must Attack Soon Or,
Acknowledge Defeat in AM
bilious Attempt Utterly to
Crush Allied Armies

America is stripping for the de-
Europe. In an executive session of
the military committee of the lower
house of Congress, Secretary of War
Baker, Maj Cen. March. chief Of
staff. and Provost Marshal General
Crowder have asked Congress to give
the President blanket authority to
increase the United States army to
whatever size may he necessary to
win the war. This country now has
nearly 1000. 900 men under arms, and
the army appropriation bill for this
year would provide for an increase of
this number to 100000.
While Americas plans for throw
ing her every resource into the bat
tie against Prussanism are matur-
ing, the hull which has brooded over
the western battle lines continues.
The expected German attacks on the
Ypres and MEMS fronts have not
been launched. Here and there the
opposing artilleries have broken
forth into wild commandments, such
as usually are preludes to massed
attacks on the allied lines, but they
have died out after a few hours.
Here and there local operations have
been carried out for the purpose Of
Strengthening lines and raiding the
enemy's positions, but they have not
developed into anything unusual.
The Germans must attack soon or ac-
knowledge their defeat in their ambi-
tious attempt utterly to crush the allied
armies. The present phase of the battle
is not unlike that before Nerdun two
years ago, after the first German rush
had been stopped and even attempts to
carry local detectives had met with de-
feat.
Germany has lost heavily, but the En-
peror still has reserves to throw into
Continued on Page 5-CoIurn o.