New-York tribune., 1918-01-11


equipped and trained as rapidly as
those already in training can be
transported.
z. The army has been enlisted and
selected without serious dislocation
of the industries of the country.
'3. The training Of the army is
proceeding rapidly, and its spirit is
high The subsistence Of the army
has been above criticism; its initial
clothing supply, temporarily made
quate, is now substantially complete
and reserves will rapidly accumu-
late. Arms of the most modern and
effective kind, including artillery,
machine guns, automatic rifles and
small arms, have been provided by
manufacture or purchase for every
soldier in France, and are available
for every soldier who can be gotten
to France in the year 1918.
"a. substantial army is already
in France, where both men and Off
GERS have been additionally and spe-
cially trained and are ready for ac-
tive service.
IS: Independent lines of commune
cation and supply and vast storage
and other facilities are in process
of construction in France.
sc. Great programmes for the
manufacture Of additional equipment
and for the production of new in
struments Of war have been formu-
lated"
II make this statement" continued
the Secretary, fully aware that there
have been produced before the mem
bers of this committee some express
sions of doubt, difference of opinion
and disapproval. The War Depart
ment has spent eight months hearing
similar expressions, analyzing them,
correcting the conditions out of which
they grew, perfecting its organization
70 prevent their recurrence, and all
the while driving on to the accomplish
ment of the main task.
MY military assistants and I ap-
preclatc the work that this commit
tee has done, and will value sugges-
tlons from the committee as a whole.
from its individual members, and from
every other patriotic citizen which will
enable us to carry on this work more
effectively and more rapidly.
In the foregoing statement there
are two exceedingly significant figures,
namely, that on the first day of April
the Ordnance Department consisted of
" ofhce1s and the quartermaster gen
erals department. of BAT officers, while
they now respectively comprise 1904
and 6,431 officers. There was no ready
trained body of men in the country
who could have been selected suddenly
to assume the highly technical and spe-
ciallzed work of these two divisions.
Men of somewhat similar training had
to be chosen. AS the work proceeded.
subdivision and resubdivision became
possible.
"On December Is / was, therefore.
IN a position to announce a general re-
organization, accomplishing the follow
ing results:
u. Created a war council upon
which General Crozier, General Sharpe.
General Weaver, General Crowder and
the chief of staff have been designated
to sit with the Secretary of War and
the Assistant Secretary Of War, and to
which council men of capacity, either
from the army or from civil life, will
be added from time TO time. The pur-
pose OF the council is that its members,
being free from the burdens Of detail
administration, can take large super
visory view of all questions of organ
ization and supply, and give to the gov
ernment the highest value of their
talents and experience
". Under General Wheeler. with the
advice Of his military assistants and
OF industrial experts, the machinery Of
the ordnance department is being thor
oughly reorganized in preparation for
the new phase of its work upon which
it is now entering. Its several opera
tions will be conducted under the di-
rection either of officers already in the
service who are now in a position to
give their entire energies to their ad-
ministration or by men specially
chosen from civil life because of their
experience and capacity.
70. The quartermaster generals de-
partment is in process of similar re-
organization and subdivisoning under
General Goethals, who enjoys the
unique experience Of having worked
out at the Panama Canal problems of
transportation and supply of a magni-
tude never until now. approached in
the history Of our government. Here
also the efficiency of the department is
being strengthened by the calling from
civil life of men of the highest capac-
lty to administer certain of its grea
subdivisions.
"a new. view of the work sof the
Council of National Defence and of the
War Industries Board is now possible.
"1hc Council of National Defence is,
of course, an advisory body without
executive power. Its members have
severally the powers Of their respec-
tive departments. The purpose of the
council. however, was a reconciliation
of conflicts and survey of the ma
tional needs and resources. This pur-
pose it has served and is serving. The
General Munitions Board and its sue
cessor, the War Industries Board, with
their committees, were organized by
the council for the following purposes
"First-Assign priorities as among
the several departments of the govern.
nent and the Allied governments il
their demands upon the industries O.
the country.
"Second-Advisc as to supplies o
materials and labor.
"Third-Advise on questions OF price
"Fourth-Sccurc industrial and labo
cooperation.