The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1918-04-02

bureau has also seen to it that suffi-
cient supplies of meat and other goods
are stored at convenient places so that
there shall be no tieups as occurred
when the railroad congestion was at
its worst.
The clothing supply task is ire
mendous one. Not only must a cur
rent supply be maintained but re-
serves must be created. This means
for instance that during the winter
the organization bought its underwear
by the 100000. stockings to more
than 100000 pairs and so on.
Train 100000 Aviators.
American aeroplane development,
one of the most secret of all war prep
| arations, is one of the many romances
of business involved in our work.
Perfection of a Liberty motor, sur
passing anything known in the motor
line to date, has provided America
with substantial basis for its work.
Difficulties in obtaining spruce and
other materials have tended to slow
down construction of aircraft. More
than 100000 men are now training for
the air service, and thousands of
planes or various types-training and.
combat-are under contract. That
we VIII be able to supply 10000 battle
| planes together with the needed men
this year is problematical, but produc-
uon OF all types is now progressing
satisfactorily.
Construction work abroad and in
this country has involved expenditure
of millions and has engaged a tremen-
dous volume of labor The first big
construction task the nation faced was
mat OF building sixteen cantonment
cities These were ready in Septem-
| Der.
| Build Railroads in France.
| Other tasks of enormous Importance
and volume have been the LAYING of
tracks In France-there are 600 miles
Tor American transportation needs.
most OF which is new-construction
OF Dig ordnance depot in France, en-
easement or overcrOwded dockage IA
c1ltles abroad; building of shipWards.
plies.
american war work has hinged
/ largely on shipping.
| The first two months outnut of sbi,.
was unsatisfactory, amounting to less
imam zOO,OOO tons, but shipyards are
now proceeding at far better rate
ana II is estimated that the last half
ol me year will find production at
aoubIe the rate of the first six months.
me Hog Island plant at philadelphia
is the biggest of all the new shjDya rds
| and has fifty ways.
me submarine destruction has
forged ahead of construction the past
year, but if the war goes into rext
year-aS 1t now seems destined TO do
american and British yards will be
Wen fixed on output. In addition to
TINS meeting of the submarine men
ace, the development of anti-sl1bma-
r1ne devices and the constant addition
OF new destroyers is having a strong
effect on the U-boat situation In fact
it is such that American-Allied Of
ficials believe the U-boat will be
held this fall y
! VexatiouS Food and Fuel Problems.
Food, fuel and transportation prob
lens have veXed the nation and caused
| disturbance to the war program on
| both sides of the water The nation
responded willingly to appeals for food
| conservation to help in adding to sup
| plies abroad. Railroad congestion and
cold weather, however, hindered
| movements of food and munitions to
! seaboard temporarily but now this
has been cleared, and the overseas
transport service is running on sche-
! dule. sfsr 81
The Russian collapse and the trend
! has rendered the war task more diff
| ficult for the Allies and America; but
| it is a task far from hopeless for the
German strength is not unlimited, and
! with . the American reservoir of
strength tapped, Germanys doom is
/ sealed. Sooner or later, she will be
beaten.
| That is a certainty-almost as GER
! tain as a mathematical calculate ton.
! And, if America keeps on her war
tasks with the same spirit of courage
and tenacity as she is now manifest
ing, this defeat for Germany will come
sooner than the pessimists have
| thought.