New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1918-04-06
First Anniversary Finds U.S..
Just Entering Struggle
Americas Achievements During Year Remarkable: Armv
Has 100000 Fighting Men and 900 900 Subject to
Call; Navy Way to Place Second Only to Britain

hat off to the Americans who could
put the ship in shape in time to be of
any service
Within six months from the time his
words we're spoken the Vaterland was
IN running order, and since, the navy
mas announced, .as carried numbers of
American troops and great quantities
OF supplies to the fighting lines in
France
BY taking the ships and men of the
coast guard into its fleets, by the
merging OF Naval volunteers and Naval
Mii1tla, and with the growth Of the
Marine Corps, the navy has expanded
its forces practically five times since
the country went to war.
In the immense task of convoying
troops there have been some losses.
notably the Tuscania and the Antilles.
nut the losses of life have been fortu-
nately small in comparison with the
numbers OF troops transported. At
the same time the American destroyers,
working with the British in the sub
marine zone, have made themselves a
terror to the undcrsea boats. How many
of these craft they have accounted for
remains military secret.
The Treasury, concerned with financ-
ing the war, has raised from Liberty
sales
more than S8,O00,000, GOO, and on this.
the first anniversary of the declaration
of war on Germany, is launching the
third Liberty Loan. Treasury esti-
mates put the expense of the first wear
of the war at about ,00O.O0O,OOo, ex-
elusive of the advances to the Allies.
Advances to the Allies
These advances to all the Allies have
totalled, up to the close of March, S4.-
60G00,000. The United States has
been secured with the bonds or obli-
cations of the countries to which the
money was advanced. More than $685.
100000 of the sum went to Russia be-
fore the debacle put the country out
of the war. What return the United
States will get, if any, is considered
doubtful.
Chairman Hurley of the Shipping
Board, in recent speech in New York
at which he outlined the shipbuiding
programme fully for the first time, de-
clared the great building programme
which is to make the bridge of ships
to France is % per cent toward COM
pletion. He pointed out the magnitude
of the task by recalling that the Ship
ping Board is building in year a
greater organization than the Steel
Corporation has been able to build up
in more than twenty years. The re-
cent disclosure by the British Admi-
rally that German submarines actually
are destroying the worlds shipping
twice as fast as it is being built is the
spur which is expected to put the full
force of the country at this vital task
Besides the work of the executive de-
partments of the government. the year
has seen tremendous strides in the
mobilization of labor. industry, science
and invention, with the sole aim of
winning the war. Hundreds of bust
ness and professional men have given
up private interests to serve the gov
eminent at nominal pay. Business and
manufacture have gwen the best of
their secrets. Whatever criticism has
been made Of the lack Of coordination
of all these tremendous resources and
yate interest has withheld them.
f. What is expected to be one of the
mightiest weapons toward winning the
war is the War Trade Board, created
for the purpose of cutting off supplies
to Germany through the adjacent neu-
trails. AS the war goes on, officials say,
the work of this organization cannot
be overestmated.
A year of war, all officials concede,
finds shortcomings and defects, but 1T
is contended no more than might nave
Leen expected from peaceful nation
suddenly reOrgsniZed to a war basis.
President Wilson. in a recent declara-
ton, pronounced the present year the
vital one in the winning of the war. AS
the resources of America now being
gathered get to the battle fronts with
a mighty rush, they are fully expected
to carry the Allies through to victory.