Middletown transcript. [volume] (Middletown, Del.) 1868-current, 1918-03-09
NINE PAIRS SHOES
FOR PERSH|NG MEN
GENERAL ASKS FOR LARGE
FooTGEAR SUPPLY FOR SOL
DiERS IN FRANCE.
AlRPLANE MiSHAPS ARE FEW
With Hundreds Of Men Learning to
Fly, War Department Records Show
Number Of Accidents at Military Avi-
alton Fields Comparatively Small.

Number OF ACCIDENTS at Military AVI'
alton Fields Comparatively Small.
Neutrality-suspicious.. Pershing has
requested shipment Of 1880 pairs Of
shoes for each $1,000 men monthly.
which is approximately nine pairs Of
shoes per man per year. This guam
tity is In excess Of actual consumption
and is being used to build up re-
serve for all troops in France. When
such supply is accumulated. the
quantities per man will be reduced.
The quartermaster generals de-
partment now has on hand and due
on outstanding contracts, 7.564.O
field shoes and 7,873,OOO marching
shoes It will be necessary to secure
more than a million additional shoes
during the year.
Records of the war department show
that from the beginning of training in
jun, 1917. to February %. 1918, the
fatalities at military aviation fields
in this country have been 81; 10 Of
tirers and % cadets killed in training
flights, and Y men killed in unantfor-
lied flights and ground accidents.
Since the training began in the
United States. student aviatOrS have
flown considerably more than 100000
miles. Hundreds Of hitherto ineN'
narienced men have been learning to
fly. Their early flights are under the
guidance Of instructors. and prior to
these flights two or more months are
spent in preliminary ground work.
| There comes a time, however. when
every student aviator must take his
machine up alone. and every precau-
ton has been taken to reduce the
number of accidents and safeguard
the aviator in his solo flights.
The fuel administration is carrying
on a series of conferences covering all
industries which use large quantities
Of fuel. with Il view to learning the re-
G;;irements Of each line during 1918.
The industries themselves are playing
Il leading part in these discussions.
The aim of the fuel administration Is
to arrive at percentage of produc-
ton which, under the circumstances,
will be satisfactory to the manufac-
turers and their wOrkmen. but which
will not represent consumption OF
fuel for the manufacture Of supplies
| not needed during the current year.
hnc
limiting the use of fuel for the pro-
| duction Of window glass to so per cent
! Of the amount manufactured in 1917
! is the result of one of these confer
| ences. A survey Of the field indicated
, that while not more that 5.OOOOOO
! boxes of window glass would be used
| in 1918. competitive conditions were
! likely to result in an Overmanufacture
Of at least 100000 boxes.
| 1t is through this system Of lin,ita-
ton. together with large economy in
i, the methods of using fuel. that the
! fuel administration expects to supple
| rient the production of coal this year.
! II is hoped. as the railroads strengthen
their facilities. that it will be possible
To mine and transport a larger guam
tlty of coal this year than last, but it
IS through these methods of reducing
consumption that Il repetition of this
years shortage is expected to be pre-
| vented.
Rifle and cartridge production in the
! United States has developed in volume
| and in quality on scale assuring the
satisfactory equipment of the army
according to a statement authorized by
the secretary Of war.
To achieve the rifle and ammunition
production program the government
has expended Or has obligated itself to
expend, during 10 months of war
s4OO, 100000. and 200 officers. SO.OW
men, and 10000 women have been en-
gagged exclusively in the manufacture
of rifles and cartridges. Two govern
ment plants and three privately owned
plants are engaged in making rifles
and one government plant and nine
privately owned plants are engaged in
cartridge manufacture. Ordnance ex
perts in this country and in Europe
are in agreement that the United
States army is being equipped with
two Of the best three rifles In the
world.
"Stars and Stripes" is the name o1
the weekly newspaper being published
in France for American troops. under
the direction of the intelligence sec
tion. Practically the entire paper !!
! devoted to American news. including
a daily radio report Of about 1.4Ot
words supplied by the committee OF
public information to the French gov
eminent.
Exports Of corn to Canada for feed
ing and manufacturing purposes hav'
been limited to those varieties ant
grades which are not suitable for sect
purposes.
Divisional athletic directors VIII
, have received commissions will accom-
, panv their contlngents to France. &C
cortling to the war department com
, mission on training camp activities
? Boxing instructors will not he sen
| with the troops. as at present the nee'
, for these men is considered create
| on this side.
: Thu omount of sugar consumed Il
1917 in the United States was ahou
!, $50 pounds per capita. according t
figures issued by the Department Q
, Agriculture The average annual cor
: sumption for the five-year period enc
inv in 1910 wsS SIT hounds per capt.: