Evening star., 1919-05-13


During the last couple OF years of
war our Uncle Sam has been learning
a great deal, much of which has upset
the old gentleman's previous convic-
tions. He learned the necessity of
conserving natural resources; of ac-
quiring foreign reserves of oil and
other raw materials. He learned the
desirability of making these United
States absolutely self-contained and
self-supporting in the event OF an
emergency, and as result has fos-
tered domestic dye industry to re-
lieve this country from German mo-
ropoly.
He learned the advantages of indus
trial cooperation. When maximum,
economic, efficient production was es-
sential to success of the war, he called
in the industries and they pooled their
resources and skill-just as he had
previously forbidden them to be
pooled. He took over and operated as
a unit the railroad and steamship
services, which he had previously de-
clared should be conducted on a COM
petitive basis. AS result of this the
Chamber of Commerce of the United
States has urged that the antitrust
laws should be overhauled, and Con-
gress is looking with favor on the
proposal.
Much more of this sort of thing he
learned-but this much will serve as
an example.
Wartime Lessons.
Uncle Sam was a good student in
learning from the war experiences. He
has been an equally good teacher.
He taught conservation through the
food and fuel administrations, the
| War Industries Board and other war
service. He taught thrift through the
! liberty loans and the war savings
stamps. But he taught directly. too,
for he has been conducting the big
gest trade school the world ever
| knew.
! Uncle Sam won the war because.
when he didn't have what he needed,
he went right ahead and got it on
| wholesale plan. with an "It can't be
done-Here it is" spirit. When he saw
he needed-and did not have avail
/ able-hundreds of thousands of arti-
sans for his big army, he organized
| gigantic school system to train them
intensively. He conducted 157 trade
| schools. in every state in the Union
| save Wyoming. carrying on training
in 81 different trades-and in six
months delivered $4,000 specially 1T
ted men to the Army. 10000 Of whom
were sent overseas before the armis-
tice was signed; had an additional
10000 practically ready. and contract
relations were complete for the train
ing of 100000 additional men up to
July l of this year.
| The declaration Of war by the Unite d
States placed before the War Depart
ment the task of raising the regular
standing peace-tinfe Army of $1,000
million. In the beginning men were
obtained by voluntary enlistment On
| May Is. 1917. the selective service act
was passed by Congress. This law
lauthorized the President to build up
| a large army by a selective process
designed to interfere as little as pos
sible with the man power of agricul-
iture and industry. also necessary to
the successful prosecution ST war.
Need Of Specialists.
/ An organized army consists of more
than mere aggregation of men. Oc-
cupational specialists in a large num-
ber of trades are absolutely neces-
sary. OF every 100000 men required
by the staff corps. 50 900 must be spe-
cialists; of every 100. 900 men used by
the infantry. 10000 must be special
lists. Every combat division composed
of $4,000 men contains 691 chauffeurs,
auto and truck; $50 telephone repair
men. 167 mechanics. 1913 teIegraphers,
156 radio operators. ISL carpenters.
142 linemen. 1913 tractor operators. 1928
imachinists, 122 truck masters, IS auto
mechanics, 81 blacksmiths. 81 mechan-
ical craftsmen, 63 electricians, So
Heather and canvas workers, 29 switch
board operators-and a lesser number
from 68 additional trades.
still larger proportion of special
lists is needed in the strictly mechan-
ical units of ordnance, engineers mill
tary aeronautics, Signal and Motor
Transport Corps.
The committee on classification of
personnel was able to supply from the
draft forces only "A per cent of the re-
Iouirements of the field artillery, ~ per
cent of coast artillery. "a per cent of
the Signal Corps. As per cent of the
Engineer Corps and Al per cent of the
Construction Corps during the whole.
period of mobilization. A systematic
and well co-ordinated method of serv-
ing all branches Of the military es-
Itablishment was essential
Committee on Education.
The general staff of the ARMY is
Ayo1 Nrl4