Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1918-05-03

adopted last year and only now bs-
ginning to produce results was ex-
tremely moderate. Only q fraction Of
the $4,000 guns urgently requested by
the allies was provided for. and admin
istration officials contented themselves
with denial of Representative Medill
McCormick's disclosure that the French
and British military commands had
made such appeals.
New War Plants Needed.
Now it is proposed to manufacture
all the artillery asked by the allies and
more. In view OF the year Of time lost,
the administration looks upon the i'm
perative need Of artillery as an emer-
gency requiring drastic measures.
The problem has been discussed by
war department officials with the heads
of the great steel plants and consid-
cradle encouragement has been given.
altho no hope is held out of producing
the guns this year that ought to have
been provided for last year.
Steel company officials informed the
war department that 1t would be neces-
sary to construct a large number of
ordnance plants to manufacture the
ordnance contemplated. This 1t has
been decided to do as soon as congress
authorizes the requisite appropriations.
The government will advance to the
steel companies the funds necessary to
construct the plants under an agree
ment guaranteeing the private concerns
against loss in meeting this war emer-
gency.
Allies Feeding Pershing's Men.
The estimates for the equipment and
maintenance Of the army at home and
abroad will also be huge. 1t trans
pired. however, that the French and
British governments are Transporting
to Europe and supplying with artillery.
rifles, ammunition, and other equip
ment, and also feeding all the Ameri-
can soldiers who are being brigaded
with allied troops.
The agreement under which the
brigading was carried out provides
that the allied governments shall prac-
tically equip and maintain the Ameri-
can soldiers so assigned. This arrange
ment relieves the American govern
ment Of the necessity Of supplying
these American troops and makes is
possible to send Ave times as many
soldiers to Europe as otherwise could
be done. "a
The brigadins of American troops
with the British and French forces is
an emergency movement covering the
period Of the present German offensive
only, after which the American units
will be consolidated in American di-
visions.
Million Men at Once.
Secretary Bakers plans. according
to the estimates made by members OF
the military committee. will call for an
additional army Of about 100000 men
at once and estimates to be submitted
for the appropriation will be on that
basis. Eventually the plan would call
for about 100000 additional men from
the present registrants. all TO come
from Glass /. including the men who
become p years Of age next year, Of
which. it is estimated. there will be
approximately 100000.
Explaining his reasons for asking
blanket authority to draw on the man
power of the country, Secretary Baker
made a brief statement following his
appearance before the committee:
The war department program"
said the secretary. was presented to
the committee this morning. 1 de-
clined to discuss the numbers Of the
proposed army for the double reason
that any number implies a limit and
the only possible limit is our ability to
equip and transport men. which Is con-
stantly on the increase.
AS to the matter Of quotas, we take
the position that We desire to have the
subsequent draft quotas based on the
number of men in Glass l without ref
erence to credits"
The pay envelope should be an Incl.
dentai-not an ultimate ambition.