New-York tribune., 1919-05-18
Rail Control
Beat Cernany.
Ayers McAd0O
Secretary Tells How Ameri-
can Com merce Was
Checked Until Food Could
Be Hurried TO Allies

How the United States railroad ad-
minstration helped save the Allied
cause from defeat and disaster in the
war was told by William G. McAdoo
last night at the dinner of the West
chester County Democratic Club at the
Biltmore Hotel. He also said that in
this effort the roads incurred q large
part of the 100000, 900 operating deficit
for 1918. Because peace was practi-
cally concluded, said Mr.. McAdoo, he
felt at liberty to make known the IN
side story of how American railroads
had made certain the ultimate defeat
of the enemy.
He also defended the Democratic Ad-
ministration's conduct of the war and
predicted that Republican attempts to
discredit President Wilson's leadership
would result in an overwhelming de-
feat for them at the next election.
Their efforts to distort the Presidents
conduct of the war, he said, would re-
suit In disasters that would compare
with the last two national elections.
Allies Appealed to U. S.
Explaining the part of the railroads
in saving the Allies, Mr.. McAdoo told
how Allied morale had suffered through
lack of food and of the appeals made
to this country to prevent semi-starva-
tlon of the armies and the populations
OF the countries at war with Germany!
The situation was so serious, he said
that the prime ministers of France,
Great Britain and Italy met at Yer
sailles in February, 1918, and drew up
a statement to be transmitted by the
French Ambassador to President Will
son. Mr.. McAdoo was represented at
the meeting by Carl r. Gray, director
of the division of operations Of the
Railroad Administration, and Edward
Chambers. director of the traffic di-
vision. In addition, Mr.. Hoover, the
Food Administrator; Mr. Garfield, the
Fuel Administrator, and Chairman Hur-
ley of the Shipping Board were present.
Even more serious than the mes
sage, he said, was the oral discussion
at that meeting, which indicated that
the Allies were facing almost COL
lapse. The Interallied Wheat Com
mittee had reported deficit Of 100000
tons of bread cereals and stated frankly
that collapse might follow. The rations
Of the Italian armies had been re-
duced twice, and the French had been
compelled once to reduce to amount
Of food allowed to their fighting men.
Million Tons of Grain Needed
One million tons Of grain, as mini
mum average, was necessary in the
months Of February and March, they
decided, and they pleaded that abso-
lutte priority be granted to food until
the crisis was passed.
MIR. McAdoo issued orders at once
to send empty cars from the East to
the West and to rush them back filled
with food supplies.
"The greatest hearsy in railroad
management is to haul car empty
when it can be loaded" said Mr.. Nc
Adoo. "But If empty cars had been
held in the East long enough to take
the loads that were offered, they would
have been delayed in the East as we'll
as at destination where the loads had
to be removed. These delays would
Of themselves have been fatal. 1t was
necessary absolutely to arrest the
domestic commerce of America until
this emergency could be met, and no
authority except that Of the Federal
Government could have met the emer
gency.
"This successful operation under
government control of the railroads
saved the war for America and the
Allies, because failure to meet the
food crisis at that time would have
been an irretricvable disaster. This
great operation was carried through
rsgardiess Of cost. TO haul empty cars
Is always costly. That is why evcrv
railroad man abhors the unnecessary
handling OF an empty car. And yet
thas incident illustrates what had to
DO repeatedly done during the period of
Continual nm a,uu~ ssn.