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11 'li I -p- Stab HI :!si i t I THE WEATHER Complete Service - of the Associated Press Fair, not so cold Monday; rain in 1 H past: rain or snow in west at night o Tuesday; warmer. . ..u 'it FO.UND i867 VOL. CI-O. 114, TVTLMrNTGTON, K. C MONDAY "MORZSTING, JANUARY 14, 1918 WHOLE NUMBER 39,291 HERMAN DELEGATES WAR LORDS' AGENTS IS RUSSIAN SUSPICIOI ing as if They Knew Germans DOUBT THEIR GOOD FAITH Trotzky Reiterates Attitude As ---'.' . - 1 - "Pk 3 To Subject r copies; .ueiuanus i rt.nr,c! rioplflrp PnrnnRP. A RACY DEBATE INDICATED Kussisn and German Accounts of Saturday's Meeting Vary. Amsterdam. Jan. 13. The report of the ''Wolff bureau, the ' German semi official news agency, on Saturday's de liberations at the Brest-Xiitovsk peace ooniBiBin-o oi ........ 1 -.- the sitting: Count -Czernin, Austro-Hun-a.nan foreign minister; annouced that the 'central -powers recognized the Ukraine delegation as "an independent delegatioir representing-' the Ukraine republic" -but that formal recognition of ihe Ukrainian republic as an inde pendent state ,;y-ould be reserved for life : peace treaty-'; ' - . ."'. .? ; j ! ; ' Bolshevik! and the Ukraine. if. Trotzky, the: Bolsheviki foreign jmnisfcer-, followed' Count Czernin I say ing that such conflicts as had occurred between the Russian government and the Ukraine - have -- "had no connection wit? the- question of the self-determin ation of tne UKraine, concermng which there is no room for conflict between the if.v-0 sister republics." . ; M, Boluwisch, the Ukrainain secre tary of state, , accepted the. statements of Count Czernin and-: M.- Trotzky; and announced that his delegates would participate in the peace, negotiations rii that basis. . Protest Russian Wireless Statements-- - Later in the session the delegates 'discussed the German claim that Rus sian; wireless statements issued dur ing ithe recess constituted a transgres sion of the spirit of the armistice. M. Trotzky desired to know in what par ticular the spirit of the armistice had been transgressed and General Hoffman of the German delegation replied: j : "At the head of the armistice treaty ftnod the words "bring about a lasting rer.ce," Your ' Russian propaganda transgressed this intention' because! it (iirt Inot strive after a lasting peace, J)ut ;to carry the resolutions concern ing civil war into the countries of the central po-vers." . . , i Vothinfr in Armistice About It. 1 M.; Trotzky answered General Hoff man.: pointing out that all the German ew?papers were being freely admitted into; Russia, even newspapers which vere supporting the' views of the ex treme Russian reactionaries. Complete equality had been observed in tins res pect, and it had nothing4 to do with armistice treaty. General Hoffman re torted that this protest was not di rected asralnst the Russian press, but against official government statements and statements which ibore. the .signa ture of Ensign Krylenko, commander -in chief of the Bolsheviki forces. ; To this Trotzky replied that the treaty contained no restrictions .'on expressions of opinion by citizens of the Russian republic or their govern ing officials. Dr. Richard Von Kuehl marm, the German --foreign minister, interrupted M. Trotzky, saying: Insist on 'Xnn.tntprf.r.iiiv. - "Non-interference "in Russian affairs the fixed priciple of the German government, but the government has the rigiu to demand reciprocity on this subject." ' Answering Dr. Von Kuehhnann, "On the other hand, the Russians nl -recognize it as a step forward if we Germans freelvand frankly . ex 5ress .-their viewstregarding internal nditions in Russia as far as they think it necessary' RlSIA ACCOUNT OF PARXEY varies from the German London. Jan. 13. The Russian ac unt of the session of the peace con s' at Ere-St-LItovsk shows a oon--iGera ne variance from the German j-uion transmitted by the- Wolff Bu-'-au Saturday Rune yo?:ian version- pictures the rUSs an. f,ef ates as acting through- ,."L, " -1 niore than a suspicion rather ; an ac!,tal conviction that the g? .'1'"'!-ates were virtually t-oni Z th railitary and annexa zkv'J"' gr0UTj3- One passage of Trot--mit S?oTp uhich the Wolff Bureau I'lifS it in CCfm an for ' tC., S:':ce" ty of our aspirations on', ' ?K. - sufficiently proved by f ude: bearding the free right and t':- ''.'i'"nen "of inland, Armenia. to 5pf'", a- ' he other side has only "',''"''" an analogous attitude regard ReVr resioas occupied by it." 4 to an early part of Trot- 5Peak. "Jpec;i' he German version hic!-f t certain telegram about r&grei- -f. Trotzky expressed athipff" osAlb. R,)SEian ' version says the occu- t.Vi will the MnPeile Phould be replaced by re Cr, ' - a lJrivileged group. Near toan v-r , Passage which the Ger er:.on g-ivea tYius: "Th. p rmaa Veion Differs. rote"a, ;'s'an government, however, or Id r . ' aa o its program a of n, 0 the People for the peoples (Cw lengthen it in its de- 'ierTri .?dge asserting that tted tA .-yew point regarding r,f ... ' J,,Jiies :s merp.lv that. aued On Page Two). WINTER'S GRIP STOPS FIGHTING Little Going on Anywhere Except by Patrols, a Few Big Guns and Italian Aviators. GERMAN PRINCE'S ADVICE Von Hohenlohe Says President's Mrs. age May Become Way for Peace ' If Germans Will Get Right Idea About America, - (Associated Press Summary.) Winter has settled down in earnest over all the important war fronts and beyond artillery actions which are be ing carried out'over very limited sec tions there has been little fighting either in the west or east. Only Patrols, Artillery, Airplanes. . Only patrol encounters are reported along the British lines, and artillery action at two points' on the French front. In Italy the terrific artillery and infantry fighting has -given way to aerial warfare which, however, though it is spectacular, has little di rect bearing on the progress of the campaign when confined to combats between individuals or squadrons. German Offensive Held Ui. For nearly a month now the front in France and Belgium has been al most snowbound. Thus the long wait ed German offensive with the heavy reinforcements which Germany trans ferred from the Russian front to the West, has been delayed for weeks, if not, possibly, for months. Rosso-German Peace Parleys. The peace negotiations between the Bolsheviki an a the representative of the quadruple alliance at Brest-Lito-vsk continue, but without definite re sults. Another delay in the assembl ing of the constituent asembly is like ly because of the issuance of a de cree at .Petrograd providing for new elections to replace members of the constituent assembly who are deemed not to represent the interests of Jhe workmen and. peasants. Food For Northern Russians. According to reports from the Rus sian capital. Northern Russia is to re ceive ample food supplies from the Ukraine, through reconciliation of the Bolsheviki and the Ukrainians. Ev ery effort has been made in the last few weeks by the Bolsheviki authori ties to prevent; the threatened famine in Petrograd and other cities of Rus sia where the;Bolsheviki hold the pow-' er. . - Bolsheviki .in Kaledlnes Capital. It is also , semi-offlcially reported from Petrograd that the Bolsheviki have taken control at Novp-Tcherkask, capital of the province of the Don Cos sacks and headquarters of; Gen. Kale dihes, hetman of the Cossacks. ' Britain Connects. With Trotsky. The London Daily Mail reports the establishment by the British govern ment of informal relations with Maxim Lritminoff,. recently appointed by the Bolsheviki government as Russian am bassador at London. The explanation of this, according to the Mail, is that possibly Lenfrne and Trotzky, if they retain the de facto power, might even tually give heed to the counsel of the allied governments and it is, not desir able tjjat communication with Petro grad b cut- off. Another. Crown Council Held. A' meeting of the crown council at Berlin is reported by the Lokal An zeiger, composed of Field Marshal Von Hindenburg, General Von Ludendorff, the crown prince and other German leaders. Relations, with Russia prob ably will be the- most important sub ject discussed. Prince Hohenlohe's Views. Prince Alexander von Hohenlohe, who has long held liberal views and was among the German representa tives at the pacifist conference in Switzerland, expresses the belief that should the Germans as t people rid themselves of the fixed idea that America entered the war only for sel fish and material interests. President Wiison's new message can become a way toward peace." PRINCE VON HOHENLOHE GIVES THE GERMANS SOME ADVICE Berne,- Switzerland, ' Jan. 13. Com menting on President. Wilson's address Prince Alexander von Hohenlohe, who was anong the German representatives at the pacifist congress held at Berne last November, writes in the Neu Zu richer Zeitung as follows: "Every, unprejudiced leader must ad mit that President Wilson's new mes sage can hecome a way toward peace: But for that it will be neoessary that the German people disengage itself from the . fixed idea that America en tered the war only for selfish and ma terial interests. "The truth is that President Wilson, in declaring war on Germany, follow ed the pressure of the overwhelming majority of , the American people and that every American soldier sailing for Europe goes in the firm conviction that he is to fight for the threatened freedom and justice of the world.'" FORMER CONGRESSMAN GARDNER SERIOUSLY ILL CAMP WHEELER Macon, Ga., Jan. 13. The condition of Major Augustus P. Gardner, former congressman from Massaunusetts, who is ill of pneumonia at the base hospi tal at Camp Wheel er, was regarded as serious by physicians attending' him toniffht. v. Tip AMERICAN BUSINESS FORCES III WAR FOR PEACE Chamber of Commerce of United States Submits Referendum to Half Million Business Men. THREAT OF WAR AFTER WAR Give German Business to Under stand Its Government Must Be come Instrument of People, v Washington, Jan. 13.-iAmerican business men are asked in a referen dum submitted today by the chamber of commerce of the United Stares to pass upon a proposed warning to German industrial leaders that they cannot hope to resume friendly commercial relations with the United States after the war unless the German government has become a responsible instrument of the people. Learned Lesson Now. ! It is proposed that the Germans be told that the United States in common with other nations, supplied raw ma terials with which Germany made ready to start the world war find that the lesson has. been learned. Newspa pers and business men of neutral coun tries will be relied upon to . carry the message. ,. . The referendum, suggested' by .the Boston chamber of commerce and now laid- before half a million business men through their commercial organ izations submits this resolution: Resolution Submitted to 500,000. Whereas, the size of Germany's pres ent armament and her militaristic at titude have been due to the fact that her government is a military autocra cy, not responsible to the German peo ple, and - "Whereas, the size of the German armament after the war will, be the measure of the greatness of the arma ment forced on all nations; and - "Whereas.- car&ful analysts' "of econo mic conditions shows that the size of Germany's future armament, will fun damentally depend on her after-the-war receipts of raw materials an'd pro fits from her foreign trade; and Economic War for Peace. "Whereas, in our opinion the. Ameri can people for the purpose of prevent ing an excessive armament will as suredly enter an economic combination against Germany if governmental .con ditions in Germany make it necessary for self-defense; and "Whereas, we believe the American people will not join in discrimination against German goods after the war if the danger of excessive armament has been , removed by the fact that the Gerrrian government has in reality be come a responsible instrument con trolled by. the German people; there fore be it '.'Resolved, that the chamber of com merce of the United States of America earnestly calls the attention of the business men of Germany to these con ditions and urges them also to study this situation and to co-operate to the end that . a disastrous economic war may be averted and' that a lasting peace may foe made more "certain. Peace or Become Outlaw. "If the proposed action carries," says a statement from the chamber's head quarters "the Industrial leaders of Germany, who with the military party constitute the most powerful caste in Germany, will be bluntly told that Germany must choose a responsible government to conclude a Just peace (Continued on Page Two.). ' FREIGHT MOVING WEEK HANDICAPPED BY SNOW Herculean Efforts Being- Made to Speed Traffic. ' Western Blizzard Has Greatly Added. to Congestion But Thousands Offer Support to Clean Up and Clean Out This Week. Washington, Jan. 13. Freight mov ing week opens tomorrow with com mercial and official agencies in almost every city enlisted in a national vol untary campaign for prompt unloading of freight cars to "help clear the rail way congestion which was increased by the storm now passing over the east. Railroad administration officials to day sent appeals to various organiza tions in the principal cities urging re doubled energies to clear the termin als in view of the extra burden, thrown on railroads by the blizzard. McAdoo Wires' Chiefs. To A.' ,H. Smith, assistant director d ncharge of eastern lines, and R. H. Aishton, jvice president of the Chicago & Northwestern, Director General Mc Adoo telegraphed: - "I am very much distressed at the inconvenience and suffering the bliz zard has brought to . the people in the west and central west. The paralysis of railroad -service is inevitable, but I should like you to use every possible means to overcome the situation and restore railroad service at the earliest possible moment." r ' - Snow plows and additional locomo (Continued On Page Two) Plants Making . Supplies For Government Destroyed By Fire Bugs Last Night Indianapolis, Ind.. Jan. 13. Fire broke out in the industrial building which housed 23 manufacturing concerns tonight and destroyed the building and adjoining property, causing a loss estimated at $1,000, 000. Fire Chief Loucks said he believ origin. Several of the manufactur companies were making machinery for the government under war con tracts. Five dwellings, a church, grocery and saloon were also burned. No lives were lost, although falling walls placed firemen in grave don-' ger and hindered them in their work by cutting line after line of Lose which were playing water on the flames. The flames spread rapidly, and fanned by a high wind sent show ers of sparks throughout the neighborhood setting fire to near by structures and in two hours had destroyed the building. CONGRESS WILL - 1 E PROBES War Preparation Investigation and Railroad Legislation Will Absorb f Attention. NO LEGISLATIVE PLANS J- News Print Paper Resolution Will Come Up Tuesday No Vote On Suffrage Within Fortnight Coal Shortage, Etc. Washington, Jan. 13. With virtu ally all important legislation still' In formative stages congress, plans this week to keep its committee steadily at work on the administration railroad bill and other pending measures and with war preparation investigation. Neither senate nor house has an im portant legislative program for the week other Jh.ajxv con Senator, Lewis', resolution for formal endorsement of the president's peace program, however, may be the vehicle for extensive senate debate by the leaders of . both parties.. Print Paper Resolution. On Tuesday " the senate will dispose of the resolntion proposing to give the president power to control fhe print paper industry. Some senators think it socialistic and unnecessary and con siderable opposition has developed since the measure has been under de bate. In the house, work on huge appro priation bills is proceeding rapidly. Disposal of the annual Indian budget is set for Thursday! . : Suffrage Vote In Fortnight. No move to bring up. the woman suf frage constitutional amendment ap proved by the house' during the past week, is expected for at least a fort night in the senate, although its op ponents, believing . they now have enough votes to. defeat it ' are anxious for an early vote. . . With Secretary Baker's examination in the senate military committees war inquiry concluded, the committee will resume tomorrow further inquiry into the proposal to establish a new depart ment of munitions which .- President Wilson and Secretary Baker- oppose. Daniel . Willard', chairman; Bernard Baruch and other members of the war industries board and members of the cpuncll of national defense, possibly including Secretary Daniels are to be examined during the week. Take Up Munitions Ministry. The committee plans to temporari ly suspend its-hearings this week and take up the question of creating a mu nitions director, proceeding 'afterward with investigation of other war de partment . activities. Interstate Commerce Commissioner Anderson will resume his explanation of the railroad - legislation , tomorrow before the senate interstate commerce committee and the similar house com mittee will hear railroad ' executives. Pursue Coal Shortage" Inquiry. With Its sugar- shortage investiga tion virtually concluded the senate manufacturers committee, in pursuing Its inquiry of the coal -shortage will hear SecretaryLane tomorrow and af terward Francis S. Peabody, coal pro duction director of the council of na tional defense. Inquiry into delay of the. shipbuild ing program also will be continued to morrow by the senate commerce com mittee. FORT FISHER FIGHTER, E. E. ROBERTS, IS DEAD Was Awarded Medal for Capture of Gray Jacket and in the Taking of -Wilmington's Fort. - New York, Jan. , iZ. Edward: Ever ett Roberts, invent6r of the Roberts marine water" tube boiler died today at his home in Brooklyn at the age of 76 years. Hecame of New England stock and was born In Manchester England, while his parents were tem porarily abroad. ' At the outbreak of the civil war Mr. Roberts entered the United States navy, served three years with Admiral Farragut as engineer officer on the United States, gunboat Kennebeck and was In all the naval battles in. the lower Mississippi. Congress awarded him a medal, for hisaervice in the cap ture of ."- the blockade runner Gray Jacket and, in. the taking of Fort, Fish er, while captain' of.AdiiUraPorteT'a flagship. Colofedau' v - . 0 GOLD WAVE BROKEN WARMER WEATHER IS NOW PROMISED Mercury Ranged From Anything on Down to 34 Degrees Below in North Dakota Town. K0 DAMAGE IN FLORIDA Thousands, Including Women and School Children, Turn Out in Chicago Clear Away Snow. Washington, Jan. 13. Wit, uniform ly higher temperatuTes reported from all parts of the country; the weather bureau tonight announced that the cold wave that has gripped all states east of the Rocky Mountains for several days, now is broken. . Temperatures far below the seasonal average still prevail, but a gradual re turn to normal conditions is forecast. Reports tonight indicated a rise of from 10 to 20 degrees in all affected j states except those lying on the Atlan tic coast. In the middle west it was still se verely cold early today, but by night fall the mercury In most sections haa climbed considerably. 34 Below In Dakota. . Williston, N. D., with 34 below, re-1 ported the lowest emperature in the I country, while at St. Paul the mercury ; fell to 10 below; Louisville 6 below,! Chicago 4 below and St. Louis 2 beio.i From the south were reports of zero at ! Nashville, 4 above at Atlanta, 6 above j at Birmingham', 4 above at Little Rock, 20 above at Mobile and ?4 at New Or- ! leans. j A new low pressure prevailed in the i Rocky Mountain section, with general J snows and rains. This disturbance will move eastward tomorrow, attend ed by rains-- in the. gulf states" and in Ohio river valley FROM SOUTHEASTERN POINTS Atlanta, Ga., Jan. 13. Rising tern- j peratures here and at other points in i the southeast were reported tonight i after the extreme cold weather thai prevailed during the last 24 hours. Fuel shortages in a number of the South Atlantic cities intensified the suf fering from the cold wHve. A plan was perfected at a conference of fuel aa ministrators and members of the coun cil of state defense here tonight by which individual consumers will be given priority right over manufactur ing establishments and stores irt re ceiving coal for immediate heeds. Reports from the storm swept sec tions in South central Georgia tonight indicated unofficial temperatures of ten to twelve degrees below freezing pre vailed during the greater part of the day. There was virtually no damage to the fruits and citrus crops in Floi ida. ALL CHICAGO TURNS OUT TO DIG' A ROAD FOR TRAFFIC Chicago, Jan. -13. Picks and shovels, wielded by . hundreds of thousands of volunteer workers and tensof thou sands of munitions and railway em ployes today succeeded in breaking the absolute traffic tie up in Chicago and the middle west which had been caused by the intense blizzard Friday and Sat urday. : First Trains In 24 Hours. 1 Tonight railroads entering Chicago operated the first outgoing trains since yesterday afternoon. From many cities came reports that volunteer workers (Continued On Page Two) SHIPPING BOARD WILL RE ORGANIZE FLEET Make American Merchant Marine v More Effective. Result of Inter-Allied War Conference in Paris Plans Call for Complete Transportation Branch of Board. Washington, Jan. 13. Reorganiza tion and extension of the operating de partment of the shipping board so as to place representatives in London, Paris and Rome and. branches at rui ly all important Atlantic coast ports was .announced tonight as one of the direct resttrts of the1 inter-allied war conference. The plan is not only to make more effective control of the American merchant fleet, but to insure complete co-operation . with the ship ping of the allies. IS New Vessels This Month Chairman Hurley of the board also announced that the country's shipyards are speeding up faster and producing tonnage in a greater measure than ever before thought possible. Eighteen ves sels. -requisitioned on the sticks o 145,091 dead weight tonnage will b completed this month he said, and, dur ing February 23 ships of 182,000 tons will beturned out.'. Twenty-five of the 41. vessels are building on the Pacific coast. . . In. a statement on the operations de partment's expansion, Mr..; Hurley said; Upon the reeammenaation or isawin (Conunuep un jrage awoj . ORDNANCE BUREA U OF NA VY IS GIVEN SPLENtilD REPORf LESS ESSENTIAL STRIES FIRST Their Coal Will be Curtailed' This Week in Eastern Cities to Re lieve Famine of Fuel, i TO SUPPLY HOUSEHOLDERS State Fuel -Administrators to Deal With Shortages in Their States I Under General Instructions From Garfield Figures. Washington, Jan. 13. Curtailment of coal to the less essential industries in eastern cities as a means of reliev ing the fuel famine will be begun ear ly this week. Reports today to j the fuel administration told of continued widespread, suffering in New York, Philadelphia and other cities. Apportionment of coal will be left largely to federal fuel administrators in the states in which supplies are short. They will work under general instructions from Fuel Administrator Garfield to supply first householders aim iieji.L jnuu&ii its producing war ma- terials. Many 'industries whose prod ucts are not necessary for waging; the war probably will be required to shut down at least three days a week until the fuel crisis is over. U Looking After New York. Dr. Garfield today instructed P. B. Noyes, head of the fuel administra tion's conservation division, to ascer tain the situation in New England. Mr. Noyes went to New York Saturday to assist in procuring fuel supplies j for Xew York. . i ! State fuel administrators already have been given rather wide powers in apportioning coal in cases of emergen cies, buf the'b6rfage has. become o general throughout the east that Dr. Garfield has decided specific instruc tions concerning distribution must be issued. The - less essential industries will be treated alike, and fuel adminis trators willi be asked to observe the general rules to be drawn. Production Figures. Production of bituminous coal in the first week of January returned almost to the level of early December before the severe weather bgan to irnpeae op erations. The averasre -;:y produc tion was' X847.000 tons, according; to the United States geological ; survey. Production -of-beehive coke amounted to 515,000 tons. Losses in the anthra cite industry were larger than in eith er soft coal or coke, the week's ship ments amounting to only 27,517 cars. General improvement in working con ditions was reported from Illinois, In diana; Ohio, Pennsylvania, West Vir ginia and Kentucky. In Virginia, Ala bama, Iowa, Arkansas and the West Virginia Panhandle losses due to labor shortage - increased. FINAL PAYMENTS ON BONDS . COME IN TODAY AND TUESDAY Washington, Jan. 13. Banks throughout, the country tomorrow will collect the final 40 -per cent instalment on the second Liberty loan, although payments are "not due at federal re serve banks and other treasury agen cies until Tu-esday. Large overpay ments on previous - instalment collec tion dates have left only ? $455,000,000 to be paid in tomorrow and Tuesday. Total collections from the second Liberty loan have been 53.453,000,000. Tuesday also is the final day for re ceipt of payments on the latest issue of treasury certificates of indebtedness arranged . in anticipation of big tax collections next June. This issue still open for subscriptions. is AIRSHIP DELAY DUE TO j LOW-PRICES ON SPRUCE New York, Jan. 13. A report on the causes of delay in the production of spruce for airplane construction sub miftpfl tr HnwarH TO. Pnffln. chairman of the aircraft board, by the Aero club of America, made public here tonight, states that the lumbermen "cannot pro duce airplane spruce at the price set by the government." The special committee of the Aero club which investigated the situation recommended that "in this case as I in other cases, the cost plus 10 per cent plan""be adopted. The difficulty, the report added, is purely economic. MUST NOT PAY BONUS FOR GRAZING PRIVILEGIa Washington. Jan. 13. Holders of permits for grazing livestock oh the! natibnal forests were notinea today by . the secretary of agriculture that the j payment of any bonus or allowance fori waiver of the grazing privilege in con- 1 nection with sales of livestock or ranca properties will be cause for revocation i of the permit. The regulation is in- tended to prevent the acquisition j of anything approximating vested rights ! in the public property by private indi-; vlduals or companies. URGE THAT GOVERNMENT PAY PAY" FOR STUFF AS OTHER BUYERS New York, Jan. 13. Prompt payment by the government for its war supplies and other obligations without expect ing longer credit than is accorded I to smaller buyers, was urged In resolu tions adopted by the credit : defense committee of the national association of credit men, made,-public- herb to night. Copies will be, sent to President. Wilson, members of the cabinet and the council of national defense, -it was an nounced. , . ' . ' . -V D Marvelous Foresight, Efficiency . and Results Discovered by Congressional Committee.! ; i - : j ' i " i ''THE NAVY IS READY" Proud Declaration of Secretary Daniels Borne Out by Facts Found by.Investigation. i r HAS MET; EVERY DEMAND ,-. ' ' i ': i - T I ii:'. Chairman of Committee Directed to Make Public Summary. Washington, Jan: 13. Complete ! sat isfaction with the work of the navy's ordnance bureau and its preparedness for. war is expressed by Representa tive Oliver of Alabama, chairman of the house, naval investigating j sub committee.Mn a statement tonight sum marizing for his colleagues results of the ordnance phase of the inauiry. I ' j "The I testimony convinced the .com mittee." says the statement, "that the prevalent belief and opinion as to th navy's readiness are well founded.? l 'Navy On Its Job. I Aiany interesting facts brought! out. in secret session are disclosed by the chairman. Among other things He saya more than ; eleveu hundred merchant ships have been equipped with ' guns and ammunition by the navy since the steamer Campana was fitted out March 14, last, and that appreciable quanti ties of guns, large and small, with am munition for them have been furnished, to EnglandV France and Italy. Many merchantmen of the allies in addition to virtually the whole American i mer chant flee&- have .been arwed torflghf submarines. ,' I ', Committee Was Impressed. L I "The committee was- so impressed, after exhaustive inquiry, by the effi cient manner in which the bureau had in every, way performed . the extraor dinary. duty which war imposed,"! says Mr. Oliver,; "that the cbmmittee direct ed me to make a summary of what (was ascertained in the hearing and inves tigation ; " ; . ; j . i "The bureau, so far as could be learn ed, has fully satisfied the demands made upon it by the vessels operating in European J waters. A letter ifrom Vice-Admiral Sims compliments j the work . of the ordnance department. Other officers in the war zone, writing in sirpilar vein, have given like ' testi mony, :i ; . ! ' I ;;- i-' . i "Fine System Discovered. ' "As a preliminary to its hearings,' the committee visited the V; offices of i the bureau and personally examined ; into the organization and operation of I. the administrative details. The committee was most favorably Impressed with the business organization. Inquiry re vealed the fact that practically all j let ters are answered $n the day of theii1 receipt. By a system of progress re ports and follow-up methods provision exist to insure the actual delivery off material. ' The sighing up of a con tract, marks but the-beginning of j ac tion; the follow-up and thorough) In spection Systems and the policy oritail co-operation with the manufacturer insure prompt delivery. ' j i Carrying Peak 'Load Smoothly. ! . "The organization of the bureau in time of peace has been developed so as to make it' an organization for ; war with the result that it is working smoothly and efficiently, "notwithstand ing the fact that the expenditures have increased from about $3,000,000 to more than $560,000,000. Ordnance People's Work. "Despite the pressure placed upon the bureau ; by the demands for more ordnance material of standard types, it has been able to develop much material Including large depth charges, . new submarine bombs, non-ricochetlrigt shells, bomb-dropping sights, i howlez- ers, guns for throwing depth charges. smoke screen apparatus, heavier ord nance on aircraft and many other im portant designs which we .f eel it un wise to disclose, and made such prog ress on essential articles of lesser im portance. ; "Where there were shortages in Ae reau tqok steps immediately to develop market of various materials. t.h b- new sources of supply. It placed con tracts rapidly, and the committee Is confident that, the navy need fr,r "- nance during this war are fully cov- , ered by existing contracts and with th capacity now under its control. t : Some American Efficiency. II Reserves of ammunition and shell have, been acquired and money place at! the disposal of the bureau we I find has been spent wisely and has been obligated practically as as It jbe- came available. The srrreaa had for years been preparing for war. Guns, mounts, shell, powder and ordnance equipment In large quantities had been1 manufactured and held in readiness ;for eventual . use. With the declaration te armed neutrality, guns and ammuni tlon were promptly placed on the mer chant ships of the United States. Upon the declaration of war. telegrams long1 held in readiness were put on the wire and the wheels were in motion with out a jar the machinery took up the load placed upon it. There has been no breakdown, not let ud: on the con trary, there has been greater speed and greater momentum, i I Little or No Delays. "Deliveries under wartime contracts' of ! guns, mounts , and accessories are how being received.;. Little or no delays have been experienced and the Indus- I (Continued Oa JPage Two) V I . - .... - ..!:--.:..: H I II i i it- 5 W ' I i 1 ! H I, i ' i : t '.! -',:'
Wilmington Morning Star (Wilmington, N.C.)
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Jan. 14, 1918, edition 1
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