Americus times-recorder. [volume] (Americus, Ga.) 1891-current, 1918-01-10
COUNCIL OF DEFENSE
HAS MADE BIC SAVING
ON SUPPLIES o. WAR

WASHINGTON, January 10.-Expe-
ditious production and delivery OF war
supplies and substantial saving III con-
tract prices to the government have
been achieved by the Council of Ma
tional Deiense through its civilian ad-
yisory commission, according to the
councils first annual report transmit
ted to Congress today by tho Presi-
dent. The report covers the work of
the council for only four months, from
the time of organization, March 3, 1917,
u the end of the fiscal year, June
80.
'In a broad sense, the council and
commission have sought to make
available to the United States the
best thought and effort of American
icdustrial and professional life for the
successful prosecution of the war;,
says the report.
"The direction of the machinery of
American industry for the national
defense necessarily involves the crea-
ton of an organization of great flexi-
bility. TIE swift changes in strategy
and rapid Improvement in war ma
chinery attended by the equal, speSd
with which Implements of warfare are
sehapped and replaced at the front,
has been reflected by corresponding
rapid transformation and stimulation
Of the industrial organization within
the nations at war. The history of
the first three months of the war in
the United States has proven no ex-
ception.
1T has bsen the effort of the Or
ganization of the Council of National
Defense to hold itself in constant
readiness to meet such new demands
and to shift its ground and expand
it's facilities in the interest of the ma
tional service. It's organization has
been and of necessity must continue
in process of evolution rapid enough
to keep abreast with the rapidly
changing current of the times, and yet
conservative enough to prevent con-
fusion or lack of proper coordination
and control. In peculiar sense it
has felt itself called upon to be con-
stantly ready to fill in the gaps and
assist the regular departments of the
government"
| In order to assure the American for
! ce5 adequate equipment to bring VIC
tory, vast increases in the country out
put of war supplies were necessary.
The council has developed new sources
of supply for both raw materials and
finished products of supplies for the
executive departments have been so
co-ordinated. Standardized specifiica-
lions for tools and implements used in
the manufacture of munitions have
been introduced and the cooperative
organization of transportation and
electric communication for war service
has been enlisted an aircraft program
was inaugurtaed motor transportation
facilities stimulated labor leaders or
ganized conformity with representative
employers for the effective enlistment
of the workmen in war service, scien-
tiic research promoted, the engineed-
ing and medical professions mobolizee
for war and the coal industry organic
ed for more effective production of
fuel.
Assistance also was given by the
council to the business of the coun-
try in meeting changed conditions and
adapting resources to war demands.
The local activities of the states were
centralized.
Efforts of the American women to
assist in the conduct of the war re-
ceived special attention from the coun-
ell, which provided means for con-
I centratlng their energies eHectlVely.
"The Councils Aircraft Production
Board" says the report, state that
the lack of previous American expert
ence in battle plane construction led
to the adoption to large extent of
designs developed in the allied coun--
tries, or adoptions from these designs.
The difference in shop practice in this
country and in Europe resulted in the
development of the composite interna-
tional design, known as the Liberty
Motor so constructed and with it's
parts are standardized that it lends
itself easily to quantity production
with American shoa methods