AMERICAN PREPARATIONS.

Otago Witness, Issue 3336, 20 February 1918, Page 16

AMERICAN PREPARATIONS.

Sir Baker is reorganising the War .Department, dividing it into five branches, with the. object of securing efficiency and eliminating red tape. A Bill lias been introduced in the Slenatc providing for permanent universal military training. Arrangements are now complete for making British residents in the United States subject to the draft. A depot has been -established for the reception* of Germans taken prisoner in France. Mr Garfield rescinded the order closing industries on Mondays, as the country's coal supply is now sufficient for all needs. Ann Morgan, daughter of the late Mr Pierpont Morgan, is raising an army of American girl volunteers to gather the wheat harvest in France. A eories of conferences is being held with party leaders in an endeavour to arrange for a fusion of parties in the United States Congress. Representatives of both' parties will attend the White House for the first time in „ the history of the United States. A proclamation by the President places the entire United States foreign commerce under license. This means that no commodities may be exported or imported except under Government license. The object is to make the maximum shipping available for war supplies. The American .Government is building two gigantic poison gas plants for uso by the Americans on the west front. The second largest urgent Deficiency Bill in the United States' history has been reported in the House of Representatives. It authorises 1,107,000,000d01, and covers the deficiencies for the year ending June 50. It includes for military establishment 579.000,Q00d01, and for naval purposes 4G,000 ) OOOdol. The Federal Government has. asked Congress to pass an appropriation for 277 million dollars for the supply of bombs and aeroplanes. President Wilson has granted an audience to Lord Reading. British Ambassador, who expressed King George's gratification that the United States and Great Britain were participating in a common cause. President Wilson replied: "I believe that the righteous cause we are prosecuting serves to bind closer the United Slates' and Great Britain's peoples, and will hasten the establishment of a lasting peace." A German named Henning, who was charged with treason, had been acquitted. The trial began on February 1 One witness asserted that, while a munition works inspector's attention was distracted. Henning tampered with submarine periscopes. " He threatened a companion with

death if he reported the incident, and added: "We Germans have the situation in our own hands." _ . ,r THE SHIPPING SHORTAGE. The. Ministry of Shipping has added a provision to tho regulation making the Shipping Controller's approval necessary before a person can purchase shares in a company whereby he control ;of ships. In tho House of Commons Mr Bonar Law stated that tho Government had built 1,163,474- tons of new shipping in 1917, and bought 170,000 abroad. Our imports_-for the last quarter of 1917 were the same as in the early of the year. According to a semi-official statement Great Britain and the United States produced 2,064,000 tons of shipping in 1917, whereas the " sinkings were estimated at 6,000,000 tons. -. ' Mr Hurly, Chairman of the United States Shipping Board, urges the shipyard strikers to resume work as a patriotic duty, and thus enable America to maintain a continuous supply of munitions and food to France. The United States' Government is likely to take drastic action in connection with taking over the shipyards at Washingtonr As a result of charges that 25 million dollars have boon squandered in the construction of Government shipyards at Hog Islands and at Philadelphia, Mr Wilson has ordered an investigation, with a view to criminal proceedings if justified. The Government has issued a. proclamation taking control of all coastwise and lake water Iransportation. Mr J. Daniels, Secretary for the Navy, announces that the world's record in ship construction has just been achieved. An American battleship was launched four months after the keel* was laid. Tho French Budget Committee voted 110.000,000 francs for chartering Brazilian vessels.