The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1918-03-13
Isr are to be sunt to huge proper

der are to be built to huge proper
tscns
The house naval affairs committee,
having surveyed everything that the
American navy has done since the
United states entered the war, brought
out . report declaring that the noet-
Ing force Of the United States was
newer In better trim.
About all these developments was
an atmosphere surcharsed with the
aA1k OF war. Peace gossip was reie-
gated to the background. In all quar-
ters the presidents message to the
Russian soviets was accepted as q
rMIiyinR call. IL was described on all
sides as the Hrst utterance OF an al
lied statesman TO show that the war
axalnst Germany has got to be won
IN the East as well IS the West be-
FORE peace can come.
Tho national arYny--the selective
Ayrsy~-ss TO so forward with all pos
sfbie dispatch. Reports to the acting
oAief of staff exceed all expectations
in this direction.
FROM a military standpoint the
draft army II "a well trained today
"A II can Be In the fundamentals that
ara being taught on this side OF the
Atlantic Beyond, in France, there
Il a harder school through which all
troops. of whatever class, must SO
before they can go into the trenches.
IL is the school OF Anal training and
the Instructions can be given nowhere
else AZ things stand the seiective
army, II was Indicated at the war
department this afternoon, Is ready
now TO go across. It is only que@-
ton of transportation. A horde of
rurxed farm lads, esllow faced store
clerks. men from Offices and from
bitches have been transformed In SIX
months into as trim an outfit, short OF
regulars, SIS ever stepped out In pa
rHde.
Houae Adds $4,000, oOo.
Indicative of the tremendous prep
arations now under way, the war de-
nartn,ent gave sudden notice to con-
gress today OF It's purpose to ask an
addition Of $4,000. 900 to the huge
military budget of S7si 100000 passed
by the senate this afternoon.
TO those critics in congress who
would demand OF the administration
an accounting before IT goes further |
in the conduct of the war, ent
Wilson gives acant comfort with the
scene Shutters at the Capitol setting
the stage tor Ii resumption OF the at
lacks on Secretary of War Baker, AND
a bitter fight over the Overman Dill
ana the war cabinet measure, the
president made public the eorreapon-
denes that passed between him and
Mr. Baker on the eve of the latter
departure for France.
In n the president gave notice OF ,
hts intention 20 stand by Baker,
We shall look eor your return with
impatience, because your guidance Is
constantly needed here" he wrote
Great Military Depots.
Washington. March 12.--UnpTec"-
dantsd war Developments OF building
of great military depots and huge
ordnance factories, TO cost between
s&oo 900, 600 and $500. o0o, 900. Ia the
government program for this year. II |
was announced this afternoon.
The emergency construction divl-
sion Of the yard industries board,
which guides the building policy OF
the army and navy, recommends tne
obstruction of the following:
Two great high explosive factories,
one In Nashville, Tenn. the other in
Charleston, w. Va. IS cost between
s1oe. 100000 and 22oe. 900.
SIX military storage depots. one at
sach of the principal ports on tho
Atlantic, north OF Hampton roads, TO
cost sI6.oeo.000 each. and to com
prise quarter mastery warehouses.
terminaia. ordnance warsh ouses, piers
and other water front improvements,
sFVtVSSsSpN
Thirty huge depots to be buff near
thirty OF the main cities OF the Md
die West, TO cost 500. 100000.
Concentration environments and
warehouses for the signal corps. esti-
mated at $50. 1000. 900.
War gas factories. powder works
and other miscellaneous military |
buildings. aggrsgating $50, 100000.
according to Major W. Amfwrdilwy |
This is the greatest construction
project ever oontem plated by any
govern rnent, according TO Major w. |
4. 6tArrett, chief of the emergency
construction division,
Even with the sixteen cantonnen<a
for the national army and the six-
tsen camps for the national guard, |
he big embarkstion camps, the ayia-
ton schools and all the other war
constructions, less than s200, o09, o0o I
wss spent.
This program for military develop
nnerf OF the Northern Atlantic SEQ
board and the country west of the
Aneghenfea, is equal TO a quarter of
the entire construction work of every
description throughout the United |
States In normal time and Will re-
vivs the depression Of construction
WORK. which virtually ia at a stand