Pine Bluff daily graphic., 1918-07-14
Uncle Sam Beginning to Fight What S. Has Accomplished in Year of
  That andAn May be aNa

harbors at the outbreak of the war, including the Vaterland the largest vessel afloat.
 The exact number of merchant ships we now possess is not given out, in order to keep our troop transport facilities from being known by the Germans. But it is known that the de- predations of the submarine will have but a slight effect upon the total number of ships we will have afloat in due course.
 Our shipbuilding yards are break ing all records for speed. Only few days ago 5000 steel ship was launh- ed at Baltimore, the South Pole, after the keel had been laid only 40 days what it formerly took a year to pro- duce.
 By the time the war is over-assum- ing it will last through the sumemr of 19l9-our merchant fleet will be as large, if not larger than that of Eng land. The construction of new ships has now reached a point where 10,- 900 new tons day are completed. We have conquered the submarine al- ready, for the pesky pirates cannot sink as many ships as we alone are constructing, not counting those con- structed by England and France.
 Our shipping yards are as busy as munitions plants. They employ many thousands of skilled workmen. We have had a little momentary trouble with gentlemen possessing too much of the ''know how" but this was mere ly a momentary wrinkle.
 The production of new steel vessels to the end of June will have been clos,: to 50, with a tonnage gong we'll ov- CT 20O.O On one day alone recent ly four steel ships with total ton mage of 28,200 were completed.
 WarPlanes
 In spite of delays, we are building airplanes and will get goo num- Der completed early enough to use with our big army this fall and next year. Our expectations have been in some respects unreasonable, as we ex- pected too much in too short a time. In the exuberance of wartime hyster- la we expected warplanes to be con- structed overnight, and this brain cire was famed considerably by the state ments of certain offiicals to that ef- feet.
 What we overlooked was the fact that before one can make aeroplanes one must have the machinery, and if one hasn't the machinery it must first be constructed. Consequently we put in more time than we thought neces- sary in providing the machinery and the wood for the danes. We have about concluded this job and from now on, with the re-organized air. plane board running things, the job will be we'll done.
 President Wilson has allowed it to be known that he will permit no in. efficiency in executing the airplane program, and if men, no matter how high their standing, could not make good they will have to make way for those. who can. The President, in fact appointed Former Governor Charles k. Hughes, his late adversary for the presidency, to head committee to investigate.
 Camps and CMntOnments
 Have you ever seen a map of the camps and cantonments in the coun- try? Have you ever been near one? If you haven't you don't quite get the wallop behind this war business.
 We have 32 national army and na- tlonal guard camps and cantonments and each is city itself with per- maent buildings and modern improve ments. Some of these cantonments house 60,000 soldiers. at time, sometimes more. and do it comfort ably. If this doesn't look like real war, nothing does. Any two of these camps houses more soldiers than any general ever commanded at one time during the civil war. In two of these camps-one for the national army. and the other for the guard-men from this section of the state are housed, with mothers, fathers and weethearts at home. thinking of the men every hour of the day. They are bearing up bravely, like true Ameri- cans.
 Red Cross Work.
 Never in the history of the world for a humanitarian object as the United States has raised for the Red Cross. He raised 100000 000 for this oi 6dHIAdtlou ldot year, anu save lI another 150,000.000 this year. This organization now has 15.O00.000 mem- bers in the nation, where it former ly had only 100000. 1t is record of which Americans can we'll feel proud.
 The '. M. (. A. Etc.
 Contributions to the Y. NJ. c. A. war fund have gone into the millions. When America entered the war. s. 000000 wa called for-but the public gave $5.000000. With the mobiliza- tion of the army in camps. the work demanded more. and generous pub lie, in May 1917, gave $5,000,0 though the appeal was for $35O00.00o. More than 2,0O0,O00 persons con- tributed.
 The Knights of Columbus likewise appealed for funds. first among it's members and members of the Catho- lie church, and just recently to all persons. The appeal in both cases has been successful. tho first for $9.-