davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
New-York tribune., 1918-04-07
Tt1r1air1g Yachts
into Men o. War

TINE Bureau of Yards and Docks Is
4 charged with the construction,
maintenance and repair of the public
works and public utilities Of the navy
establishment ashore. Public works in
clude buildings Of all kinds and their
roads. cranes, fire apparatus, vehicles,
draft animals, telephone and telegraph
systems and other services. This bu-
reau is not charged with the construc-
ton and repair of ships.
Since the declaration Of war train
ing camps have been provided, having
a capacity Of $4,000 men in winter and
100000 in summer. All camps in lv
calities requiring artificial heat have
been provided with central heating and
ventilation systems. Every facility for
rapid training has been furnished, and
especial attention given to sanitary
conditions. The cost of the buildings
and all improvements, excepting hos
pitfalls, has been approximately 1925 per
man, and the barracks have been pro-
vided as fast as needed.
Our entry into the war occaaioned
the taking over of hundreds of patrol
boats, fishing boats, yachts and mer-
chant vessels, all of which were pro
vided with equipment necessary to
enable them to serve as auxiliaries of
the feet; additional destroyers and
hundreds Of submarine chasers had to
be constructed; the battlcship fleet
always ready - required finishing
touches, and the reserve fleet had to
he put in service; the destroyers were
prepared for distant service, and the
repair ships that were to accompany
them were properly supplied with ths
material necessary for keeping the de
stroyers in continuous service.
New-York tribune., 1918-04-07

turned out by this factory was COM
pleted on March /. Additional ma
chimes will follow in rapidly increasing
numbers until about June /, when it is
expected to turn out at least one COM
plete machine q day.
The Navy Department had prepared
design for submarine chaser be-
fore the outbreak of the war.
1t was found that there was no pos
sibility Of obtaining steam power
plants for these boats in the large
numbers needed in the short space Of
time. An entirely satisfactory design
OF submarine chaser was prepared,
having length Of 10 feet and driven
by three 220-horsepower gasolcne en-
gines. Of these boats several hundred
were contracted for during the middle
Of April, 1917, and practically all of
these boats have been delivered.
The new patrol boats, named the
Eagle class, being built at the Ford
plant, arc to be considerably larger
than the submarine chasers, and will
correspond very closely to the earliest
destroycrs.
American battleships are the largest
which have yet been laid down by any
nation. The largest British battlcship
OF which We have knowledge displaces
27.50o tons; the largest German, 28,-
4da metric tons, or $4,000 Of our tons.
The largest Japanese displaces 10000
tons. These may be compared with our
Arizona and Pennsylvania, 31,40O
tons; Idaho, Mississippi, and New
Mexico, $4,000 tons; California and
Tennessee, $4,000 tons; Colorado,
Maryland, Washington, and West Vir-
ginia, $4,000 tons. The six new battle
ships which have been authorized are
designed to be 41,bo0 tons.
Our new battle cruisers Of $4,000
tons and 35 knots will be the fastest
in the world, having a speed equal to
the latest and fastest destroyers.
They will also be the largest in the
world, with the sole exception of the
four British battle cruisers of the
Hood class, which are al 200 tons.
New-York tribune., 1918-04-07
nericas First War Year Record One Of Mighty Preparato

Steps were taken to extend and perfect
coastal communication service and 800
miles Of new submarine telephone
cables were laid ard 750 miles Of
overhead lines constructed, this being
additional to the extensive telephone
system maintained. Through this
service immediate communication may
he had between Washington and any
point on the Atlantic coast
There were 229 commissioned officers
and 3,8e2 warrant officers and enlisted
men in the guard on April 6, 1917.
The personnel now consists Of 227 COM
missioned officers and 4,GS3 warrant
officers and enlisted men. A recruiting
and training station has been estab-
lished at Fort Trumbuil, New London,
Conn.
New-York tribune., 1918-04-07
Guns, Zig Guns
And More Guns

T\HE service of the Bureau of Ord
l. nance of the Navy Department in
clades supply guns and their control
equipment, together with powder and
projectiles, to all ships in the Navy.
II also provides, among other things,
armor plates for battleships, torpedoes
aud their launching apparatus, all our
naval mines, and the many new de-
vices that have been developed to com
bat the German submarine.
The work Of the past year has
largely dealt with an enormous cx-
pansion along lines laid down prior to
the declaration of war. AS early as
1915 plans were drafted in prepara-
tiQn for war. should it come. When
the PRESIDENT signed the declaration of
war, April 6, 1917, kilograms were dis
patched, setting in motion the nachin-
cry that had previously been prepared,
and during tho past twelve months the
work of the bureau has increased al
most 1900 per cent.
The burcau operates many ordnance
plants and factories. some Of which are
owned By the government, while others
have been reQuisitioned or are operated
under contract or on "cost plus per-
centage of profit" basis. Vast guam
sit:es oe material are also purchased
On contract.
Despite the huge increase in num-
Der Of guns supplied during the past
year and the restricted area and in
adequate facilities OF the naval prov
ing ground, the Bureau Of Ordnance
has continued to test every gun there
as we'll as to assign every powder
charge, test every lot of she'll, fuses,
| cartridge cases and armor plate and do
all ammunition experimental work.
In one plant taken over by the bu-
rcau, manufacturing steel forgings
the output was increased SOC per cent
within two months after government
managers were installed. H. another
| plant, manufacturing binoculars and
| optical instruments, the previous out
] put was about 100 accepted pairs per
, with OVcI 10 per cent OF the DlnOCu-
lars made failed to pass inspection
tests. Under navy control the output,
without the installation of new equip
mcnt or improved machinery, is now
nearing 1000 pairs per week Prac-
tically every pair made passes inspec.
ton.
The naval warfare Of the enemy has
brought many new developments. One
Of the most important steps taken by
tho United States vas the arming Of
Its merchant steamers, as we'll as the
naval auxiliarics, transports, mining
vessels, submarine chasers, etc. fol-
lowing the scvcring Of diplomatic rela-
tons with Germany.
Guns have likewise been furnished
to more than ESQ patrol boats, to all
our submarine chasers, to the army and
many to foreign governments. These
New-York tribune., 1918-04-07

to their original owners befo,.
pletion, while SO Of the s3s stir, va wy
construction had been launched T.. 40es
completed. A0s
OF the contract vessels two, Q. ia.
dead weight tons, had been comn,.s 's
on March 1. Three others, Of o. sa ~
tons, have been launched. ''s'u
The division Of wood shin :.
struction on March / had let cont,... ~.
for 400 wooden vessels. aggreeat;ns.s 8
proximately 1,715,0o0 dead weigh, s.1
None of this number has yet been ~
pletcd, but eight have been larn,,,
The estimated programme to Janu.,r,
next calls for the completion of va...,
now on the ways or in the water. :, tss
lows: May, IL; June, %; July, 50: A.
gust, 35; September, 81; October Is.
November, Z; December, 8, maxim.
total of 270.
The building programme of the Em.,
gency Fleet Corporation was BEINGS,
ricd on, March 5, in 151 plants. az \
which were engaged on wooden eor
struction and 66 on STEEL Of the *,
plants, 81 are classified in the corno,.
ton as new, having been constructs
especially to take care of contracts il
by the Emergency Fleet Corporation. 4,
Just as this country was entering uno,
The war; the remaining 70 are class;.
fed as old plants, though some of them
we're erected to accommodate the boor
IN shipbuilding that developed in IN.
United States in the early days of IN.
European war.
AZ the time the Emergency Fleet Coz.
poration was organized practically ali
the ways of the yards then in exist,
cnce were occupied by vessels buildpp
for the Navy Department or for priys,
contract. This condition of Attain
necessita.ed the construction of the 81
new yards before the building of shius
for the Emergency Fleet Corporaticr
could be commenced.
To spur the shipbuilding industry 70
speed. up the government work til.
Emergency Fleet Corporation has ex.
tended varying degrees Of financial as.
sistance to 63 plants, the aid going to
the construction of shipways, plants
and the installation OF plant equip.
ment.
New-York tribune., 1918-04-07

guns vary in calibre from the 14-inch
naval guns on British monitors to the
6-pounders en- the French fishing feet.
Since tie arming Of the Campana
more than 1900 vessels have been fur
nishcd with batteries, ammunition,
spare parts and auxiliaries, a proceed
urc which had never been contem-
plated by the department prior to the
outbreak Of the war.
Owing to the great demand from
both the army and the navy for the
standard high explosive INT, or tri
nitrotoluol, the bureau has decided to
use q new substitute product, which
promises to be satisfactory and Of
which an ample supply seems available,
to supplement the output of INT and
make greater quantities Of the latter
available for army use.
The task Of combating the German
submarine has brought the invention
of many new devices. An efficient
means of attack against the subma-
rnc was found to lay in the use Of
depth charges, or explosive charges
fitted with & mechanism designed to
explode the charge at a predetermined
depth below the surface Of the water.
The force Of explosion of q depth
charge dropped close to a submarine is
sufficient to disable or sink it. An
American type of depth charge has
been developed and issued in quantity
to our forces. A quantity Of the Brit
ish type is being manufactured for
that navy.
The first year Of war saw the com
pletion of the latest type of naval 16-
inch gun, throwing a projectile weigh
ing 2,100 pounds. Our newest battle
ships will mount them. At present our
largest battleships mount 14-inch guns,
which throw a projectile weighing 1,4OO
pounds.
The bureau has recommended sew
eral offensive naval operations in de-
tail to the Navy Department. For the
ones accepted and being carried out
vast amount of ordnance material is
being provided. on scale heretofore
not considered possible.
New-York tribune., 1918-04-07
Training Schools
For Merchant Recruits

''he expanded old yards and those
newi.' constructed had to be manned
A pressing need for skilled workmen
developed. To meet the situation the
Emergency Fleet Corporation organ.
lied a nationwide campaign and estsb.
lished training schools for the men re.
cruited into its service. The results
achieved can be best realized by com.
parative figures. Census reports for
1915 show that in 45 steel yards then
reporting there were only 1882 work
mon employed, while reports made to
the Emergency Fleet Corporation on
February 16, 1918, by So out of pos.
sible 63 steel yards give an enrolmer;
of 162,680. The census reports for 1915
from Is wooden yards records 1859
workmen; those of the Emergency Fleet
Corporation as Of February l6 last
from SO out of possible rs yards, re.
ccrd 29,959.
New-York tribune., 1918-04-07
NAVAL CONSULTING BOARD

WHEN the prospect of war became
w Imminent the Naval Consulting
Board held special meeting in New
York. Ideas were interchanged and all
necessary confidential information held
by the navy was given so that means
for combating the U-boat could be
quickly and successfully met.
Problems were formulated and placed
before specialists whose life study best
fitted them to produce a successful So
luton.
Working in harmony with naval cx-
perts, the outcome of this meeting has
been excellent results.
IN the work Of examination and con-
slderation of the great volume of in.
ventions, ideas and devices submitted
the board has rendered a signal SER
vice. Beginning with March. 1917. the
Navy Department was so overwhelmed
with correspondence that it was we'll
nigh impossible even to sort it. Let
ters, plans, and models were received
at the rate of from 500 to 700 a day.
In the last twelve months upward Of
10000 letters, many including detailed
plans, some accompanied by models,
have been examined and acted upon.
While a comparatively small num-
Der of inventions have been adopted.
some of them of considerable value.
the majority have fallen in the class
of having been already put in use or
discarded as the result Of experience.
The navy has readily accepted any
idea or invention based on fundamental
principles of science, worked out in
practical form and not at variance
with what experience has taught to be
simple and useful.
New-York tribune., 1918-04-07

commerce of this country by granting
war risk insurance on American vessels
and cargoes. had issued total insurance
of $1,oS3, 1881 ,225, covering total Of H..
S46 policies. Premiums on this insur-
ance amounted to SAC, ISL 3S; losses
s24,424, ,745.72; expenses, s113,l377o.
To March 12, 1918, the bureau had
issued insurance in the amount of sl2-
465,i16,500 to 1,53S,S51 applicants
among the soldiers and sailors under
the act of October 6, 1917, to grant IN
surance to the fighting forces and pay
lndemnities in case of injury, or family
compensation in case of death, and also
to provide allotmcnts and allowances
for the support of dependents. During
the month of February, 1918. 5s3'o1s
checks were issued in payment Of sllo''
mcnts and allowances, aggregating WV
976,543, for the support of the DE-
pendents of soldiers and sailors.
War risks on masters, officers sa'
crews on American merchant vessels
issued by the bureau to March II Gov.
cred 56,l5S individuals in the sum o.
S92,034,81 insurance written: total pr'
miums were s606,905; total losses wers
Sl6l.59l; total expenses, Sl6,12S.
Loans in the amount of approx
mately $1,000, 900 have been made du1.
ing the last year under the Fedef'
Farm Loan Bureau Of the department -
farmers at reasonable interest rates 7"
provide the means for raising necss'
New-York tribune., 1918-04-07
NATIONAL. NAVAL VOLUN.
TEERS

4 T the outbreak of the war, sos
~ officers and $500 men of the Ma
Va! Militia were mustered into the
service of the United States Navy.
Since April G. 1917, the total strength
Of this branch Of the navy has been
gradually increasing, until the present
strength is sos officers and $4,000 men.
The National Naval Volunteers have
been assigned to duty on nearly every
ship OF the navy. Many Of the enlisted
men have been commissioned III the
Naval Reserve force, and number of
the officers have received commissions
for temporary service in the navy.
New-York tribune., 1918-04-07
Buying Supplies
At Double Quick
'THE war has not nccessitatcd any

THE war has not nccessitatcd any
Il change in the purchasing system Of
the navy, where for thirty years there
has been one centralized office under
the Paymaster General. who is rcspon-
siblc to the Secretary of the Navy for
the efficiency of the supply of the fleet.
The law prescribes q certain definite
procedure in the placing Of contracts,
and it has not been found necessary in
the navy to depart from the principles
of open competitive bidding, except
when the demand is far greater than
the supply, and in such cases orders
are allocated equally and proportion.
ally among the trades. Secret bidding
has not been resorted to.
At each navy yard and station are
general storchouses with a supply off.
GER in charge, who is directly response
Die Tor the stock, aggrcgating about
10000 different items.
When manufacturers have recog-
nzed the fact that they cannot secure
New-York tribune., 1918-04-07
The Building
Programme

The building programme Of the Emer-
gency Fleet Corporation is divided into
steel and wood construction. Exercis-
ing its power of requisition. the Ship
ping Board or March last had taken
over 425 steel vessels Of 2,999,1O8 dead
weight tons, and had let contracts for
720 steel vessels, of 5,166,4Oo dead
weight tons, making total OF 1.145
steer ships with an aggregate dead
weight tonnage of S,164,5o8 OF
the reQuisitioncd vessels, -, of 435, ,576
dead weight tons, had been completed
and put into operation: Is, of 152 ZOO
dead weight tons, had been reconveyed
New-York tribune., 1918-04-07

forces and the supplies necessary to
subsist them in foreign fields.
One step designed to effect this DUR
pose had already been taken; two
others followed shortly after the dec
laration of war. Through the shippine
act, approved September 7, 1916, Con-
Cress created n United States Shipping
Board to encourage and develop q
naval auxiliary, q naval reserve and
merchant marine; empowered that
board to- form corporation to pur
chase, construct and operate merchant
vessels, which it exercised through the
incorporation IF the Emergency Fleet
corporation. and authorized $50 O0O.-
New-York tribune., 1918-04-07

Since the above date contracts have
been placed for 949 vessels, including
100 submarine chasers for the navy of
one of the co-belligerent nations.
The work Of the bureau has included
the repair and fitting for service Of
number of interned German ships,
while more than 700 privately owned
vessels have been purchased or char
tered and have been or are being fitted
for naval use, and in addition more
than so vessels have been turned over
to the navy by other government de-
partments.
In addition to the preparation Of de-
signs for the new destroyers, subma-
rine chasers, and mine sweepers, the
bureau has prepared designs for vari-
Gus other types OF vessels.
Included in the building programme
of the bureau are between 800 and 900
small boats, and both at navy yards
and at private yards small boat work
is proceeding.
There has been marked progress in
WV oe'eiVpheHt OF HaVai AVIATION.
Orders have been given for seaplanes
flying boats, dirigibles, and balloons.
The above material is being built in
private establishments and also at the
naval aircraft factory in Philadelphia.
This factory was authorized by the
Secretary Of the Navy July 27, 1917.
On August the first contract for
factory buildings was let, and on
Augast 10 ground was broken for the
first building. The first machine
New-York tribune., 1918-04-07
MARINE CORPS.
INCE the opening of the pres

1NCE the opening of the present
war the Marine Corps has grown
from total of 1926 enlisted men and
426 officers to a present strength of
1889 officers and 3S 629 enlisted men.
The increase in enlisted men has
been by voluntary enlistments, in one
instance a college battalion cnlistins
as whole. The enlisted personnel
represents all classes of the commu-
nifty, college and business men, profess
sional men, athletes, mechanics, labor
crs, and in one instance an ex-Con-
gresham, who, though slightly over
the usual age. has attained the rank
OF second lieutenant through his devo-
ton to duty and application.
New-York tribune., 1918-04-07
NAVAL RESERVE FORCE

a T THE declaration of war some TO-
L y 600 officers and men had been en-
rolled in the Naval Reserve force. a
large percentage being on duty at the
>lme under training Enrolments have
continued. until at the present time
there are about $4,000 men and over
10000 officers.
The Naval Reserves have been in
valuable in assisting the navy to meet
the large wartime expansion. There
is now a bill before Congress trans
fcrring all national naval volunteers
to the Naval Reserve.
New-York tribune., 1918-04-07

from the navy any business If COM
mission for some intermediary is in
cluded in their bids, they have adopted
the policy Of direct bidding.
Care is taken in the fixing Of fiat
price to prevent inequalities of rs9
In many lines production had to be
increased, this being ob.ainable only
by policy Of liberality in the prices
fixed by the government.
In administering the commissary
department Of the navy every effort
has been made to the end that without
regard to cost tho men Of our navy
might continue to be. as Tie Surgeon
General has stated they are. "the best
fed body of men in the world"
The high cost Of living has been re-
fected in the cost Of the navy ration.
for during the year 1917 the total
cost was s0.43S as against $o.37613 for
1916.
The regulations prohibiting the pur-
chase of patent and proprietary foods
are rigidly enforced.
There we're in store and ready for
| issue on December Is at the provisions
and clothing depot at New York ano
the four naval acknowledgement, Nor
foik, Great Lakes and San Francisco
the following quantities Of principal
items:
Blankets, 2o9,272; caps, 1o6,37s; un-
dershirts, heavy, 1880; underdrawcrs
heavy, 9,210; Jerseys. 102, ,36s; jumpers,
white, 1885; jumpers, blue, 1850;
overshirts, 104,362; socksy woolIcn, 81,-
1876; trousers, white, 1860; trousers.
blue, 145,744; SHOES, 24410; gloves,
1906, and overcoats, 1850.
During the previous years the fleet
has wintered in southern waters, but
upon the outbreak Of war special heavy
winter clothing for standing watches
on the bridge in inclement weather
was necessary.
The Bureau of Navigation has dc
cided uron an outfit, to consist Of extra
woollen underwear and socks. blanket
overshirt with hood, windproof suit
with hood, pair Of heavy woolcn nit
tens, pair of heavy leather sea boots
Tor dcstroyers, and pair of heavy
arctics for vessels other than destrov-
ers. Contracts have been awarded for
these articles, and they are being de-
llvered to vessels as required.
In addition to this heavy clothing,
special outfits consisting of an imita
tion leather jacket brceches, helmet
cap, pair Of gauntlet mittcns. and inner
suit OF Oxford gray woollcn close
lifting jacket and brccches, pair Of
arctic ovcrshocs, pair of laced leather
boots, two suits Of extra heavy wool
and cotton underwear, and two pairs
of extra heavy woollcn socks have been
authorized for issue to submarines.
Avlators' clothing of an approved de-
sign is also being purchased as re-
quired.
! The total advertised purchases o1
the navy in 1916 were $40 100000. The
high water mark Of expenditure for
one day in the bureau occurred on
Saturday, February 23, 1918, when
checks were drawn for more than $50
100000 on account Of munitions alone.
The approximate total value of pur
chases OF and contracts for materials
for the navy during the last twelve
months is s50o,0oo,000 it does not in
clude, however, purchases of materials
made by shinbuildng companies for
navy construction.
New-York tribune., 1918-04-07

h SUPPORT Of the war programme
i Of the United States the Treasury
Department, TO March ~, 1918, has
ISSUED in Liberty bonds, certificates of
Indebtedness, war savings certificates
and thrift stamps total to the value
Of $3.50, ,S02, ,05296:
saroad sIrsI dLpc5ty ETY. Loan 900 600 900 90
Ccrtitcates OF indebcdness:
TSiaj rsa i5sJs 5sscm;d ~ - tss Ss9
Total outstanding ......... G55 727 soo m
War savings certificates and thrift
stamps '.......''.............. 90 .2ss. 4o2 a6
Io'A S. $50 500 .o52 50
To March -, 1918, the aggregate
loans of the United States government
to foreign governments associated i,
the war against Germany amounted to
s4436,329, $50.
While the greater part of the war in.
come and excess profits taxes are not
due until June, the Treasury had col.
lectcd in internal revenue taxes $685.
267, 900 to March IL, and had sold ST..
255,000,000 in certificates of indebted
ness which will be receivable in pay
ment of internal revenue taxes.
From April 6 to March IS, 1918. the
Bureau of Engraving and Printing had
issued 17,675.37l;552 single United
States notes, certificates. bonds, stamps
or sheets of checks, drafts or miscel-
laneous papers.
From September 2, 1914, to March 13,
1913, the Bureau of War Risk Insur-
ance, created Immediately after the out
break Of the European war to assist tho