AMERICA'S ACTIVITIES.

Press, Volume LIV, Issue 16209, 11 May 1918, Page 10

AMERICA'S ACTIVITIES.

(By Cable.—Press Association. —Copyright.) (Australian and N.&. Cablo Association.) WASHINGTON. May 8. Mr E. N. Hurley, head of the United States Shipbuilding Board, made a statement that the American shipbuilding bill for the year 191S-19 would bo 2,223,000,000 dollars. The shipbuilding estimates include General construction 1,38G,000,000d01. Plants ... 652,000,000'10i. The figures show an increase _of 800,000,000 dollars over the original estimates. , , It is announced that the strength ox the National Army in America and abroad in June will be 1,247,000. "WASHINGTON, May 9.

Mr Newton Baker, Secretary for War, lias announced that there is no shortage of light and heavy Browning machine-guns. , On the American front heavy German artillery was fired for the first time liorth-west of Ton!. The authorities have discovered Count von Bernstorff's codc, by which he directed spies. Thousands of messages are now decipherable. it is officially announced that four Japanese ships, the first instalment of 250,000 tons purchased or chartered r>y the United States from Japan, have arrived at a Prtcific, r „ WASHINGTON, May 8. The German-Spanish propaganda document says that Germany will not lose her African colonies, as British Ministers declared that they did not intend to increase the holdings of the British Empire. Official advices received hero sny that tho mutinous disturbances which occurred in tho Austrian fleet caused changes in the High Command.