The Logan Republican. [volume] (Logan, Utah) 1902-1924, 1918-01-22

/ dIHcS, bulgaria ana turkey
Financing the War.
As soon as war had been declared
it was seen clearly that vast sums
of money would be needed. The
Senate April IA and the House on the
18th voted a war credit of seven bill
lion dollars, three billions to be
loaned to the Allies. Before the
year was over that amount had been
loaned. Most off the huge sum was
kept in the United States and spent
here for the supplies the Allies need
ed.
To raise the money First Liberty
Loan was ordered, for $l,0O0.OOO.00O,
at 81 per cent. The subscription
books closed June Is, and it was found
that the great loan had been over
subscribed more than so per cent,
over 100000 persons having sub
scribed total of more than $1,000,
100000.
Congress during the summer in
creased the taxes, especially those on
large incomes, to total of $780,
100000, or more than twenty times
what they had been before the war.
A second Liberty Loan, at 4 per
cent. wass called for, and closed Oct.
u. Nearly 100000 persons sub
scribed $4.6l7.sa2,8OO. an average of
about $486 each.
In his annual report in December
the Secretary of the Treasury an
nounced that $S,l28O0OOOO more must
be provided. either by new loans or
new taxation or both, to carry on the
war to June so. Never before in the
worlds history were such huge sums
raised by loans and taxation. Yet,
thanks largely to the splendid hnan-
cial condition of the country. and the
sound banking system we have had
for the past three years, these vast
financial undertakings were accom-
plished with hardly q ripple on the
surface of the money market. Finan-
ciers shudder to think what would
have happened in the way Of panic
and distress had we attempted these
things under the wretched banking
system which we had for fifty years
prior to 1914.
Raising an Army.
I Before the war was declared, the
War Department had made plans for
universal military training of Am
erican young men. A few days after
the declaration, the Government cal
led for 16l, 500 volunteers, to bring
the Army up to the legal war strength
$4,000. At the same time 10000 vol
unteers were called for. to bring the
National Guard up to $4,000; and
10000 more were obtained to fill
vacancies. Enlistments in the Navy
began at the rate of about 1000 men
per day.
BY May l. the full naval strength
authorized by law was enlisted.
1000 men and the Marine Corps had
its full l7.400.
1t was seen that this would not be
enough. Public sentiment favored a
selective draft as fairer, quicker
and better way to raise the bulk of
an army. Congress passed a select
i've draft law and the President signed
it May 10. 1t provided for enroll
ment of all young men between FL
and 81 years of age, and the selection,
from that number, of First Army.
The registration made list of nearly
100000 young men. Presidtnt Will
son ordered an army of $4,000 select
ed from that number, for training
This was to bring the total number
of Regular Army, National Guard,
Volunteers and drafted men up to
l ,263,OOO.
Many did not wait for the decision
of the draft but enlisted at once.
In the first four months of the war
about 10000 enlisted, and other
thousands were hurrying to arrange
their business so that they could en-
list. Late in July it was decided to
bring the Army as soon as possible
up to 100000 men. In August the
Government took over the National
Guard of the States.
Steps in Actual War.
Gen. Pershing, commander of the
American Army, arrived in France
June IS, with his staff. A week later
the first of the American troops ar
rived. Since then there have been
many safe arrivals of troops and no
mishaps, although one large body
of our soldiers had narrow escape
from U-boats. In some way infor-
nation as to their route had leaked"