The Chattanooga news. [volume] (Chattanooga, Tenn.) 1891-1939, 1918-01-10

partment in 1918, $3.01S,000, 900 was
appropriated, or a sum more than foul
times as great as the 1915 appropria-
| tions for all governmental purposes.
Kept at Main Task.
| II make, this statement" continued
the secretary, fully aware that there
have been produced before the men,
bers of this committee some express
sions of doubt, difference opinion, and
disapproval. The war department has
spent eight months hearing similar ex~
pressions. analyzing them, correcting
| the conditions out OF which they grew,
| perfecting it's organization to prevent
| their recurrence; and all the while
driving on to the accomplishment of
| the main task.
my military associates and ap-
| preciate the work which this commit
tee has done, and will value SUCCESS
tions from the committee as 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"
The secretary declared there were
two exceedingly significant figures in
his statement, namely, that on the first
day of April the ordnance department
consisted of 81 officers and the quar-
termaster- generals department of
BAT officers, while they now respec-
lively comprise 1904 and 6,431 officers.
"There was no trained body of men
in the country who could have been
selected suddenly to assume the high
technical and specialized work of these
two divisions" he said. men of some-
what similar training had to be chosen
AS the work proceeded, subdivision and
resubdivision became possible.
Results Accomplished.
"On Dec. Is / was, therefore, in a
position to announce a general reor-
ganization. accomplishing the follow
ing results: o..
Il. Created q war council upon
which Gen. Crozier, Gen. Sharpe,
Gen. 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, win be added
from time to time. The purpose
of the councilyis that its members
can take o. large supervisory view
OF all questions tsf REORGANIZATION 4
and supply, and give TO the gov
ernment the highest value of their
talents and experience.
"2. Under Gen. Wheeler, the ma
chinery of the ordnance depart
ment is being thoroughly reorgan-
lied in preparation for the new
phase of it's work upon which 1t Is
now entering. It's several oper-
ations will be conducted under the
direction either of officers already
in the service, or by men specially
chosen from civil life because of
their experience and capacity.
"3. The quartermaster generals
department is in process Of SIM
liar reorganization and subdivis-
ioning under Gen. Goethals. Here
also the efficiency of the depart
ment is being strengthened by the
calling from civil life Of men of
the highest capacity to adminis-
trate certain of it's great subdi-
visions.
"a new view Of the work of council |
IF national defense ana of the war in |
1ustries board is now possible.
Defense Councils Work.
1.-THE council of national defense is, |
If course, an advisory body without |
executive power. The members have
ieverally the powers of their respective
The purpose of the
,ouncil however, was a reconciliation
# conflicts and survey of the ma
ional needs and resources. This pur-
,ose it has served and is serving. The
General munitions board and its sue
essor, the war industries board, with
heir committees, were organized by
he council for the following purposes:
81. Assign priorities as among the
everal departments of the govern
nent and the allied governments in
heir demands upon the Industries of
he country.
"2. Advise as to supplies of ma
erials and labor.
"3. Advise on questions of price.
~. Secure industrial and labor CO.
peration.
"5. Avoid enhancement of prices,
onfusion of industry, exhaustion of
lbor, and generally to prevent all
voidable evils which might result /,
rom the speed and magnitude of the .
ew operations.
"To these objects 1t was admirably
dapted, and it has accomplished great ,
Tork.
1--WE can now see the entire situation. !,
he initial rush needs are substan- |,
ally supplied. The technical corps =,
ave been expanded and reorganized b
pom industrial and efficient lines.
1.-THE CO. ordination of ally needs with
UT own purchases has been effected. :
n agncy exists to prevent conflicts :
nd to adjust those which cannot be :
revented." )
"On the first day OF January 1918, !
early two billion dollars of the appro- :
ration had been obligated by con- J
acts, or disbursements said the sec :
,tary.
Details Staggering.
This business involved accounting.
of standards, prices. ,
lantities and the creation of new
facilities.
'9n the woolen goods section alone.
lie cooperation of over three hundred
ills was involved. and the following
ems give some idea of the extensive
iaracter of the operations: There
i've been purchased over 100000
(Continued on pace five.)