AMERICA AT WAR.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CXVII, Issue 17878, 26 August 1918, Page 6

AMERICA AT WAR.

THE MERCHANT MARINE.

MESSAGE TO BEAZTL AND THE ARGENTINE.

NEW YORK, August 22

Mr Josephus Daniels, speaking at a banquet in honour of the Argentine and Brazilian navies, said: —" There will always be friendship between the United States and the Argentine and Brazilian States. We will construct a navy the greatest in the world. The United States does not want more territory, but will continue to send ships vo Lit rope until a just and lasting peace is achieved. Admiral Mahan told me that no nation lias a groat navy unless it has a great merchant marine. We shall have the latter large enough, so that we may sail into every port of South America."

SERBIAN REFUGEES

PRESIDENT WILSON'S REQUEST. (Received August 25, 5.5 p.m.) NEW YORK, August 23. President Wilson has asked Congress to pass an Act admitting several thousand Serbian refugees from Russia to tho United States. President Wilson said that he hoped this action would have a good effect in the Balkans.

THE LIEERTY MOTOR

DELAY IN PRODUCTION. (Received August 25, 5.5 p.m.) NEW YORK, August 23

Only four thousand Liberty motors so far have been delivered to the Allies. Tho motors aro too heavy and too powerful for light fighting 'planes, and aro imperfect in some degree. Sti.ll there is not a single American battle 'plane or heavy bombing 'plane yet on tho American front. Up to August 1 only Dehivillands, numbering six hundred, had been sent to France. The expenditure of millions of dollars has been resultless. It is recorded that unfair preference has been given to certain manufacturers.

THE SHIPBUILDING

NEAV YORK, August 23. For the week ended August 15, ten shins, of 51,700 tons total deadweight tonnage, were completed, seven of which were steel and three wood. An extraordinary heat wave reduced the number of ships launched in tho same period. According to an announcement by the United States Shipping Board, more than 1,500,000 dead weight tons of shipping have been added to the American merchant marine by various means since the nation's entry into the war xip to Augtigt 15. :

AIRCRAFT PRODUCTION.

AMERICAN INVESTIGATIONS. WASHINGTON, August 22. Tho Senate Committee, investigating aircraft production, scathingly denounces the incompetency, mismanagement and delays shown in the first year of tho war.

The committee recommerfds the setting up of a -separate department to control aviation on the British model. Millions of dollars were wasted in experiments in aircraft when good Allied models were available. Inexperienced automobile manufacturers were allowed to dominate the aircraft programme, and many defective machines were sent to General Pershing. The committee expresses a hope that production will soon improve.

THE AMERICAN ARMY

1,500,000 TROOPS OVERSEAS. (Received August 25, 5.5 p.m.) WASHINGTON, August 24. Tho United States troops overseas now total 1,500,000. (Received August 25, 5.5 n.m.) NEAV YORK, August 23. Senator Reed, speaking on the Manpower Bill, said that tho United States would require to send 6,000,000 men to France before the war ended. Ho expected it to last two years more. Half a million men ought to be sent immediately to Russia. AMERICA'S AID. EFFECT OF ARRIVAL OF TROOPS. (Received August 25, 11 p.m.) OTTAAVA, August 24. Sir Robert Borden, who is returning from the Imperial Cabinet, states that)

the arrival of th.o United States troops freed tho Allied commanders from tho necessity of remaining ,on the defensive. The victory of tho last few weeks would have been impossible unless tho American reserves had been available and unless tliero had been the most effective harmonious co-operation between the United States, Britain and France. The Canadians captured 10,000 prisoners in the recent advance and 150 camion. Thj future of tho world's peace depended on tho co-operation of tho United States and Britain. Together they could ensuro equality of opportunity for tho smaller nationalities and backward races, thus giving much hope for the future League of .Nations. The mastery of the air was rapidly passing to the Allies.

"WHIPPET TANKS." HENRY FORD'S CONTRACT. (Received August 25, 11 p.m.) NEW YORK, Aupust 24. Tho "Now York Times" Detroit correspondent says that Henry J. Ford has been given a Government contract to build 1000 "whippet" tanks. NO GERMAN PEACE. ALLIES MUST DICTATE TERMS, (Received August 25, 11 p.m.) WASHINGTON, August 23. Senator Lodge speaking u the Foreign Relations Committee, said that Constantinople must be made a free port. Palestine cou.d never be restored to the Turks. No peace discussion with Germany was possible until she was beaten. Peace must be dictated by the Allies. German propaganda, which was poisonous and insidious, must be resisted. Tho world must be made safe for democracy,, but not the icind of democracy now tyrannising Russia-