The Lynden tribune. [volume] (Lynden, Wash.) 1908-current, 1918-07-18
NEW u. S. PLANT TURNS
OUT $4,000 SHELLS A DAY
Great Government Factory Ready To
Start Work: Other Official News
From Washington

eminent plants each of which Is larger
than any similar plant In the world.
| When turning out $1,000 loaded
shells day under full operation the
plant will use 1000 tons of shells and
explosives daily, the products of some
rs factories. More than 5000 work
men will be required. Plans contem-
plate the employment of a large num-
Der of women. The marking of shells
to designate size, load and range will
require 100000 operations each day.
The plant has total area of approx
imately $500 acres More than 100
buildings. with an aggregate floor
space of l 100000 square feet. will pro-
vide storage for shells and parts and
for material. A small city. with heat
ing and lighting plants, water and sew
age systems, hospitals, fire-fghting
plant and restaurants, was built to
house the employees There is equip
ment to protect the health of those
who work with poisonous gases, and
a school for instruction In the load
ing of artillery ammunition with high
explosives.
The operating plant consists of IL
shell-loading units, each independent
of the other, with equipment for load
ing Is sizes of shells, ranging from the
recently developed 7-mlllimeter to 16
inches. On two sizes of shells the pro-
polling charge also will be loaded, the
shell and cartridge case being assem-
bled at the plant. All other shells are
assembled in France.
In the construction of the she'll
loading units the problem was far
greater than one of mere building. I'M
mense fans have been installed to dis
pose OF the poisonous fumes from the
high explosives. When unit is In
operation the air In the loading room
is changed every few minutes.
The American soldier In France gets
pure drinking water from mobile water
trains. The trains are under the ju-
risdiction of the army medical depart
ment. They are miniature water
works. which chemically treat. filter
and sterilize water, making 1t fit for
consumption. What municipal water
works do to insure healthful water to
the people of a city these trains do for
the soldiers.
A number Of publication units with
attached motor-tank trucks constitute
a train. Each unit is complete filtra-
ton plant, including laboratory. Ar
irving at a stream 1t sets hose into
the water and pumps the water
through q pressure tank. Before the
water passes through sand filter 1t is
treated chemically to rid 1t of disease
germs. The pure water is pumped
into tanks mounted on trucks, which
carry the water to the soldiers.
Each mobile water unit carries an
expert chemist, bacteriologist and
pumpman. There Is a complete lab
oratory in the front of the machine for
the testing of the water. Tests are
made every two hours or more often
when 1t is thought necessary. The wa
ter is lifted into the filter by gasoline
pump engine and a complete supply
of extra pipes and tools are carried so
that all repairs, either from accident
or shell fire, can be made on the spot.
The trucks are equipped with electric
lights SO that the work can be carried
on at night Many Of the chemists
and psychologists assigned to the mo-
bile laboratories were formerly con-
nected with municipal waterworks and
filtration plants.
Every community will be combed for
war workers. War Industries are short
nearly 100000 common laborers and
lack of workers In the coal-mining In
dustry is imperiling all war produc-
ton. There Is also a serious shortage
of skilled labor. One of the largest
munition plants, turning out heavy
caliber guns, is short 1900 machinists.
The war plants of Connecticut and
Maryland are undermined $4,000 ma
chinists.
The United States employment serv-
Ice will begin an intensive recruiting
Of workers for war work from the non
essential Industries. Employment Of
fees will be increased and the force
Of local agents and travelling exam
liners will be enlarged and sent into
every COluluuuily TINT Icllcl may NC
Nven before the ban against private
labor recruiting goes into effect on
August l.
Nearly 2,0OO,0 600 girls and boys have
volunteered for the United States gar
den army in the department of the
interior. Their service flag bears a
crossed rake and hoe with the letters
u. s. S. G. in blue on a field of white
with red border. The enlistment
entails a pledge on the part of the
child to use efforts to increase food
production by cultivating one or more
crops under garden supervisor or
teacher chosen for this work and to
make such reports as may be required.
The success of the garden army plan
Is most gratifying.
Ensign Stephen Potter, United
States Naval Reserve force. killed in
action with German planes April %
last, was the first American naval avi-
ator to shoot down and destroy Ger
man seaplane, according to a navy de
partment statement.
The report states that on March 10
1918. long-distance reconnaissance
of the German coast was made b!
large American flying boats operatin.
from a British Royal Air force station
Ensign Potter was one Of two Ameri