The Washington herald., 1918-06-29
1,7O0 CHEMISTS
EMPLOYED FOR
GAS SERVICE
L 2>sfer Of Bureau ofMines
Men Ordered by
President.
WAR DEPARTMENT PLEA
Action Is Taken at Request
of Baker; Overman
Authority Used.
WAR DEPARTMENT PLEA


prising the chemistry section of the
Bureau OF Mines at American Uni
versity were transferred from the
Bureau Of Mines to the newly or
ganized Gas Service of the War De-
partment under Gen. Sibert by exec
utive order Of President Wilson last
night.
President Wilson's action was
taken under authority given him by
the overman act and IL the first
notable use made Of the new and
wide powers conferred on him by
the bill. Tie step was taken at
the request of War Department ON
cials. Seer AIRY Baker, In urging
the transfer upon President Wilson,
paid high compliment to DR.. Van H.
Manning. director of the Bureau of
Mines. who organized the section.
Began Organization Early.
Immediately after the entry of
the United States into the war
against Germany DIR. Manning be-
gan organization of o bureau of ex-
perts to study methods of combat
ing the German gas attacks and de-
veloping gas as an offensive weapon
for the American army. The body
Of men gathered in the chemical
section Is probably the greatest body
of experts ever brought together.
Authorities on gases from all sec
tions of the country accepted the
invitation of DR.. Manning to de-
vote their efforts to working out the
gas problems for the army. Prac-
tically every university in the coun-
try had at least one representative
among the hundreds Of experts.
Proposal that the section be trans
ferred from the Bureau Of Mines to
the War Department was made sew
eral days ago, and Secretary Baker
wrote to President Wilson Tuesday
explaining the position OF the War
Department and giving recognition to
the work Of the section.
- Praises Bureau Of Misses.
TN connection with the proposed
transfer of the chemical section at
American University from the Bureau
Of Mines to the newly constituted and
consolidated Gas Service Of the War
Department" Secretary Baker said
In his letter to the President, which
you are considering. am specially
concerned to have you know how
much the War Department appre-
ciates the splendid services which
have been rendered to the country
and to the army by the Department
Of the Interior. and especially by the
Bureau of Mines under the direction
of DR.. Manning. In the early days
Of preparation and organization, DR..
Manning's contact with scientific men
throughout the country was indispen-
SADLY valuable re was able to sum-
mon from ~" universities and the
technical laboratories Of the country
men Of the highest quality, and to
inspire them with enthusiastic zeal in
attacking new and difficult problems
which had to be solved with the ut
most speed. I do not see how the
work could have been better done
than he did IL, and the present sug-
gestion that the section now pass un-
der the direction and control of the
War Department grows out Of the
fact that the whole subject of gas
warfare has assumed a fresh pres
sure and intensity, and the director
Of It must have the widest control
30 as to be able to use the resources
at his command in the most effective
way possible. The proposal does not
involve the disrupture of the fine
group OF scientific men DR.. Manning
has brought together, but merely their
transfer to Gen. sibert's direction" {"
Concentration the Reason.
Concentration of all facilities for Of
fensive and defensive gas Operations
was given as the reason for the tralIs-
fer President Wilson in a letter to
DR.. Manning informing him of the
transfer praised the work Of the sec
ton. Il have had before me for some
days." the President wrote, ''the uues-
ton presented by the Secretary CT
War involving the transfer of the
Chemical section established by you
at the American University from the
Bureau of Mines to the newiy-organ-
lied Division Of Gas Warfare in which
the War Department Is now concen-
trating all the various facilities for Of
fensive and defensive gas operations.
am satisfied that a more efficient
organization can be effected by hay-
ing these various activities under one
direction and control. and my hesita-
ton about acting In the matter has
grown only out Of a reluctance to
take away from the Bureau Of Mines
piece of work which thus Ear il has
so effectively performed The Secre-
tary Of War has assured me of his
own recognition of the splendid work
you have been able to do, and I am
taking the liberty Of enclosing a letter
which I have received from him, in
order that you may see how fully the
War Department recognizes the value
Of the services.
Results Kept Secret.
II am today signing the order
directing the transfer. want,
however, to express to you my own
appreciation Of the fine and help
full piece of work which you have
done, and to say that this sort Of
team work by the bureaus outside
ofthe direct war-making agencies
is one Of the cheering. and crafty
ing evidences of the way our on
cial forces are inspired by the pres-
ence OF great national task"
Experiments conducted by the ras
section have been among the most
closely guarded secrets OF the goy-
ernment. II Is Known, however.
that important discoveries have
been made by the scientists, and
their experiments have resulted in
the determination Of War Depart
ment officials to make extensive use
of gases as a means Of offense and
defense In France.
!. Some absolutely startling results
have been obtained by the section
and their inventions are already be-
ing put In use by. the. American