Republican farmer., 1918-02-15
MORE ALLIED SHIPS
WILL BE AVAILABLE
SOON, BAKERS HOPE
Secretary Gives Details of Tonnage Now Ready for Trans
portation of Troops and Supplies Senate Commit
tee Has Practically Concluded It's Inquiry.

'"The office of the Director of Pur.
chases and Supplies thus becomes a
clearing house for all orders placed
by the War Department, although the
actual details of the contracts will be
handled as heretofore by the subor-
dinate bureaus. The Director of Pur-
chases and Supplies is the overhead
purchasing agency, with a general
eye on the industrial field and a COM
prehensive grasp of production con-
ditions and prices.
1.-The Director of Purchases and
Supplies is empowered to determine
priority where two branches of the
war department require the same ar
ticle.
In the event the War Department
should require some article also re-
quired by the navy or other depart
ments, or the Allied countries the
Director of Purchases and Supplies
will confer with purchasing repre-
sentative of the other department,
and the War Industries Board, and
priorities then will he determined.
For the internal requirements of
the War Department alone the direc-
tor, Gen. Pierce, is the arbiter of pri-
ority, and, exercising this function,
will avail himself of the advice OF the
Surveyor of Purchases and Supplies,
Mr.. Stettinius.
1T is planned that under this sys-
tenn there shall be coordination sys-
tenn and overhead regulation in the
letting of contracts by the purchasing
branches-signal, medical, engineers,
QuartermaSter and ordnance"
| Continuing, the statement says:
In addition to his duties as QuaR-
termaster General, Major Gen. George
W. Goethals will act as Director of
Storage and Traffic. In this latter
capacity Gen. Goethals will direct pri-
critics of storage and war traffic in
the United States, the enbarkation of
supplies q troops, inland war trans
portation and storage at inland points,
embarkation points and overseas
points.
In exercising these duties Gen.
| Goethals must work in conjunction
with the Shipping Board, the Direc-
tor General of Railroads and the sew
eral supply bureaus. He will, of
| course, maintain cooperative rela-
tions with the overhead Division of
Purchases and Supplies headed by
| Gen. Pierce, which furnishes the sup
plies for storage or traffic.
Jervey Acting Director.
''Under the reorganization plan \
permanent director of operations is
to be named. This officer will direct
the operations of all branches of the
army, including tank and gas service,
recruiting, mobilization movements
and distribution of troops, construc-
ton plans and projects, assignments,
equipment, overseas priorities, decis-
ion as to camp sites, environments and
posts and personnel. At present Brig
Gen. E. Jervey is acting for the Gem
eral Staff in this capacity.
| There is also to be appointed a
permanent executive assistant to the
Chief of Staff, who will direct mill
tary intelligence, administration and
control, acquisitions and permits, pro-
motions and assignments, translation
and compilation, fire prevention and
other administrative matters. This
work is now in charge of Brig. Gen.
W. S. Graves of the General Staff.
"The Fifth Division will be headed
by the president of the War College.
In the absence of Brig. Gen. P. D.
Lockridge, President Col. D. "
Ketcham is acting. This assistant to
the Chief of Staff will supervise war
! plans, organizations of all branches
| of the army, research and inventions.
tactics, the training of the army, the
! methods of warfare, military schools,
projects for national defense, reguIa-
tons, rules and publications.
cooperating with the Secretary
of War and the Chief of Staff is the
War Council, of which the Assistant
| Secretary of War is member. This
body occupies an advisory capacity in
major problems and in the formation
of departmental policies