The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1918-04-06
WHAT AMERICA HAS DONE IN
THE TWELVE MONTH Of WAR

now the United States. Ship Levathan.
is a fair sample Of the efficiency and
speed with which the naval engineers
conducted that work. When the Ger
mans finished their work Of destruction
the yaterlands commander remarked he
would take his hat off to the Ameri-
cans who could put the ship in shape in
time TO be Of any service,
Within six months from the time his
words were spoken the vaterland was
in running order and since. the navy has
announced. has carried numbers OF
American troops and great quantities Of
supplies TO the fighting lines In France.
sy taking the ships and men OF tho
CoaS, Guard into it's fleet by the mcrg-
$lS Of Naval Volunteers and Naval Mill
fla and with the growth Of the Marine
Corps. the navy has expanded its forces
practically five times since the country
went to war.
In it's immense task OF conveying
troops ;here have been some losses, not
ably the Tuscania and the Antilles. but
the losses Of life have been fortunately
small in comparison with the number
of troops transported. At the same time
the American destroyers. working with
the British in the submarine zone. have
made themselves terror to the under
sea boats. How many OF these craft
they have accounted for remains mil
itary secret.
The treasury. concerned with flnanc-
ing the war. has raised from Liberty
Bonds and War Savings Stamp sales
more than $4,000. 5000 and on this. the
first anniversary OF the declaration OF
war with Germany, is launched the
Third Liberty Loan. Treasury estimates
put the expense OF the first year Of the
war at about s12,00o.000.o0o exclusive OF
the advance to the Allies.
These advances to all the Allies have
totalled. up to the close Of March Vs.
F; $50. 100000. The United States has been
secured with the bonds or obligations OF
the countries to which the money was
advanced. More than s125.o00000 OF the
sum went to Russia before the debac1e
put the country out Of the war. What
return. the United States will get, IL
any. is considered doubtful.
Chairman Hurley Of the shipping
hoard. in q recent speech in New York.
at which he outlined the shipbuilding
program fully for tho first time. de-
clared the great building program which
is to make the bridge of ships to France
is IS per cent toward completion. He
pointed out the magnitude Of the task
by recalling that the shipping board Is
building in a year. greater orGanlza-
ton than the Steel Corporation has been
able to build up in more than twenty
--cars. The recent disclosure by the
British Admiralty that German sub
marines actually are destroying the
worlds shipping twice as fast as It is
| being built is the spur which is expect
ed to put the full force Of the country
at this vital task.
Beside the work of the executive de-
partments Of the government, the year
has seen tremendous strides in the mob
| iIization Of labor. industry. science and
! invention with the sole aim OF winning
the war Hundreds Of business and
| professional men have given up private
interests to serve the government at
nominal pay. Business and manufacture
has given the best Of its secrets. What
ever criticism has been made OF the lack
of coordination Of all these tremendous
resources and power. none ever has
charged that private interest has with
| held them.
! What is expected to be one OF the
niyhtiest weapons toward winning the
war Is the War Trade Board. created for
the purpose Of cutting off supplies TO
Germany through the adjacent neutrals.
AS the war goes on, officials say, the
work Of this organfza ton. cannot be
| overestinated.
, 4 year Of war. all officials concede.
! finds shortcomings and defects. but It is
commended no, more than might have
: been expected from n peaceful nation
suddenly reorganized TO war basis
! President Wilson in n recent declara-
, ton pronounced the present year the
vital one in the winning of the war. AS
tho resources of America now being
gathered. get to the battlefronts with a
; mighty rush. they are fully expected to
!; carry the Allies through to victory.