The Birmingham age-herald., 1918-01-14
BIG PLANS UNDER WAY TO PROVIDE
 AMERICAN ARMY
By HOLLAND

New ork, January lo.-NSpeclall-lL happened that on the day when President Wilson addressed Congress and the world for the purpose of stating the peace aims of the United States and of the allies, several of the men associated with
 large business and financial affairs, who have been cooperating in Washington with the government were in New York and have been for two or three days since Tuesday of last week.
 Annual meetings of the national banks and other important annual gatherings brought these men of large affairs to New York. They have been in posi- ton, by reason of their association with
 the government, to learn many things in Washington of which the public has
 had little or no knowledge. From some of them important information has been
 obtained. although out of deference to the war departments desire, part of 1 it must remain confidential or at least stated only in general terms.
 l According to these excellent author l ities, the President knew we'll if the l issue is forced by Germany and Austria I so that it's termination will not be
 reached for two or three years, that
 within few months he will have behind
 him abundant men, abundant resources,
 abundant munitions, abundant money and
 abundant food
 | One of these days there may come
 from the war department an official
 statement which will tell the number
 of American soldiers now in France. It | is not 500000 but is several hundred
 thousand. Within the next 12 months.
 so the president has been informed. the
 United States will have recruited thor oughly trained and we'll equipped. an
 army which may not be as large as
 former President Taft recently said
 would be essential. 5,000000 men, but it
 will not fall much below that figure.
 This great army will have rifles in abun-
 dance. will have munitions in plenty.
 will be provided with big guns, if only
 two contingencies are happily met be- tween this time and January l, 1919. THE NEED OF SHIPS
 l If the army recruited within the next !! F months, including the soldiers all ready in service. should amount approxi- mately to 3004, 900 men, or possibly more, | then the only question which will arise with respect to transporting it to France | is sufficiency of ships It will be grievous misfortune in the opinion of those who are in high authority. If the
 greater part of this army be compelled to remain in the United States for months on account of lack of ships. There Is no grievous apprehension that the submarine will endanger ships, but there is apprehension lest abundant transportation of this kind be unpro- vided.
 The other conIngency refers not merely to labor but to skilled mechanics high
 grade artisans. Already the government tc scnA thaf hxr Nf Ja
 fact that so many men who are un- ' skilled are employed in the various mi- nitions and arms factories and those where big guns are being manufactured a large percentase of the material and H toots is necessarily sent to the scrap
 heap. The men do as we'll as they can,
 but they work with unskilled hands and |I untrained eyes. This wastage would |l not be necessary if all of the labor was that of skilled artisans. There are now about 250.000 skilled artisans at work | in the various industrial plants but there should be twice as many at least Tn the ordnance department there are about 5000 skilled artisans, not half enough.
 The government has learned that to secure as many as 25,000 skilled artisans lit is inevitable that there be turn over of about 10000 men. That is to say that out of so large number as that there can be gradually obtained by careful training 25 900 artisans who are at last skilled in the handling of tools and in the manufacture of implements of war.
 I AN INDUSTRIAL ARMY
 The Washington authorities are now earnestly considering plan which. if 1t be adopted. will make 1t possible to enlist a great army of skilled artisans. 4 There are several reasons why it is not deemed expedient to commandeer or con- ! script. so to speak. skilled artisans The \ relations of the labor organiza ton to \ their men furnish one of the reasons But If it could be possible fand the author it:es believe 1t is possible) to create a | separate army. so to call 1t, made up of men who volr1tarily enlist and who are qualified as expert artisans then | one of the great embarrassments under which the government now labors would The ended ThArA are many sksi'ed a-ti@a ms who would gladly enlist in what may be called an industrial department of the | army being thus real soldiers bui who do not want to be drafted or con- scripted.
 If this problem be solved. then the
 work of manufacturing munitions of war speedily. perfect in quality and, rela- { lively speaking, at low cost. will be solved and the great army which should be ready within year will be amply
 supplied with every requisite for mili-
 tary service. There has been some em-