South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1918-01-02
French Commissioner
Thanks US. For War Aid

locomotives We obtained all We
were requested 70 procure; 800 en-
gines. 900 miles OF track, or steel
rails and 5000 cars Of every de-
scriptiOn In addition the $50 loco
motives sent by the American gov
eminent 20 the expeditiOnary forces
in France will greatly relieve the
congested condition Of the French
railroads. The United States also
conferred another great favor upon
US. agreeing TO transport material
and leaving .he question of adjust
ing the account until the close OF
hOstilities.
There remained the question Of
steel We had given large orders
but with the diminishing means Of
transports the goods were stocked
up i'm the American ports. First it
was necessary TO find ships Second
Is. for the year 1918. we have sue
ceeded in obtaining deliveries Of
more than 100000 tons Of steel.
Thus we have not only been able TO
realize a great saving. but to assure
ourselves a minimum import OF
100. 900 tons of steel per month.
which will suffice for our needs.
Food Supplies From L. :.
With regards 10 the principal ar
ticles Of food and supplies. wheat,
sugar. meat and other foodstuffs.
purchases are affected i'm block by
the inter-allied organization in Lon
don. This organization could GER
fveTr
made some Improvement myself
had an expert sent from France 20
see the quality and quantity of
wheat shipped over II was. thanks
10 daily intercourse with Mr.. Hoover,
the food controller that we were in
formed Of the purchasing possibili-
ties from month To month our
work would have been facilitated if
we had been informed by London
and Paris OF the amounts of the pur-
chases that had been made else
where, but unfortunately this was
not done
1t was only last september that
/ the sugar shortage was put up to
me. At my request. Mr.. Hoover inn
mediately granted me a license for
the export Of 10000 tons, which
covers our immediate needs At the
same time / was asked 10 occupy
myself with the petrol crisis The
American government placed three
more tank steamers at our disposal
and ] believe more are TO follow
/ Another pressing question was shat
| Of cotton, but the necessary meas
ures have been taken TO meet our
/ needs. / can only touch on the nu-
/ merous other matters. such as agri-
cultural machinery. We obtained
/ 1000 Of these machines In May
! Sec'y McAdoo also granted us in
creased credits TO enable us to pro-
vide supplies for the invaded re-
/ giOns. giving us S5.OOO,OOO a month
to spend in this work. We are now
trying 20 obtain the necessary ton
! mage for the transport of the sup
plies. The already apparent result
is that:
! First: The increase of tonnage
/ realized. or certain before Dec. 81
of this year. represents so percent
of the tonnage available last July
Second. The assured increase tol
l191S-and il may be exceeded-rep
resents so percent of the same ton
mage.
The orders placed by the French
go eminent amount TO $4,000 tons
only half of which has been reGuisi
toned by the United States I fur
lther obtained in five months Amer
lean tonnage amounting to NOR
than 10000 tons. It is, beyond
doubt, certain that next year on
transport situation from Americ
will be greatly improved.
Military Cooperation Given.
Americas military and nava
preparations were very rapid. Wit
b an amazing quickness the Unite
= States. in close conjunction with n;
/ resolved the four important prob
e lens of organization. military in