Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1918-02-08
WHEN COMPARED TO OTHER WAR
FAILURES NAVY AND FOOD
BRANCHES STAND OUT.
OTHER DEPARTMENTS
LOOK LIKE FAILURES
Shipbuildins Department Only Now
Getting Under Way After Blunderin9
Lamentably-War Department De.
Laws Have Cost Lives Of Men and
Millions in Money-Fuel Blunders.
[By f. G. Doucherty.l

WASHINGTON. Feb. S.-There are two
branches Of the war administration in
Washington that stand out from the
others r.ght now as successes. They
are:
The navy. which has met every ex-
pec:at;on. and has proved TO the salts
faction even Of the senate investigators
that i IS prepared to meet every stu
alton Il may he brought to face.
Tire food admin istration which lack
ing real authority that only price
fixing powers can give. has checked
runaway prices, induced hitherto un-
heard o. food economies and accom-
pltshed It's mission OF providing wheat
and meat exports for the allies from
American saving The newspaper cor
respondents are convinced that Mr.
Hoover viii continue 20 be master or
his situation.
ContrasteG with these successes are
some reve-ses, some OF them no less
than failures. which have given war
preparations serious set back. They
are:
The shipping boards shipouild!ng
program. now getting reasonably well
under way after fights and mistakes
that delayed the shipbuilding work TO
the danger point.
The war department ineTiciency.
particularly in the Quartermaster and
ordnance branches. and thru the weak
e-ing OF the general STAFF. which, no
matter how il may be CLOSED over by
optimistic speeches and statements has
cost lives, millions II money and de-
lays the cost Of which can not now he
computed.
The fuel administration. which failed
utterly to meet expectations and ac-
complish the things It was expected TO
accomplish. Perhaps is task was an
i'm possible one. But be that as il may
it is difficult 70 point 70 any con-
structive help tina, has been given In
dustry or the home coal bin by the
work of this bureau.
GarfeId's Costly Experiment.
DR.. Garheld's closing down order to
end a railroad congestion, and the dis
covery later that a railroad embargo
order was the thing needed after all
was more or less Of costly expert
ment, but it was q cost that went
gainst the civilian public. rather than
the war administration.
The shipping board and war depart
ment errors have been more costly to
the war program. on which the nation 5
entire energies are bent. Under Mr..
Hurley'a forceful MANAGEMENT the
shipping board Is making up some Of
It's lost ground. but It can not be seen
where the war department has helped
things by its changes.
The situation there seems to De that
new experiments are still the only pro-
gram. and the nation is in the eleventh
n orth OF the war.
General Crozier has been dislodge ed
as head Of the ordnance department.,
which failed signally to supply mum
tons needs. In his place there are
new divisions. new officers. new expert
nents. but apparently little real pro-
gress. The latest feat Of the ordnance
bureau was practically TO suspend buy
ing work for week IN important d.
visions, much like Garaeld's closing or
der, while new chiefs figured out jus,
what their functions were 20 be. One
new official, Edward R Stett!nius, an
able man who has been the allies chief
pure hasing agent, has been given a
title but 10 one n the war department.
today was able to say just where he
fits IN with an organization so badly
over organized that Il had 70 stop part
Of its work to get Strengthened out.
r the war department, with a head
less general staff an ordnance bureau
stepped IN confusion, signal corps
| wr--.lins, and a Quartermaster corps
giving Goettals a harder lob than the
Panama canal pulls ont OF its hole It
Will be almost a miracle. II It does
not pull out there will be a shake-up
that will turn the place inside out. All
the army. as represented by line off,
GERS IN Washington, can 90 Is hope
FOR the best. and most Of them are
adding prayers with their hopes.
LOSE HEARTS IN IRELAND