AMERICAN PREPARATIONS.

Otago Witness, Issue 3344, 17 April 1918, Page 16

AMERICAN PREPARATIONS.

It is estimated that 250,000,000 dollars were subscribed to the American Liberty Loan on the first day of the campaign. Six hundred towns have already over-subscribed their quotas. It is estimated that 40 million (? thousand million) dollars have been subscribed to the Liberty Loan. The American _ War Industries Board is creating a requisition division, with plenary powers, to oontrol and speed up the nation's resources and industries to meet war needs. Sir John Foster Fraser, in a speech, stated that the British Admiralty completed arrangements whereby America i»

now ablo to quadruple the number of troops hitherto sent to France, and there is every indication that America would have 1,500,000 troops in Franco by Christmas. Tho New York Times states that America has a ship tonnage of 2,762,605 for transporting troops and supplies. The United States Government will immediately assume control of all American ooastwiso shipping, docks, and warehouses. President Wilson has, issued a proclamation seizing tho four coastal shipping lines, comprising 60 vessels, to bo used in order to hasten tho transport of troops to .France. Tho Allies consenting, the United States authorities have established a naval base at tho Azores. United States destroyers and submarines aro based there. It is also a homing station for aeroplanes. The Portugu so are co-operating cordially at the base to protect trade routes to South America, as well as to Mexican Gulf ports. Tho American Federation of Labour

states that an American Labour Mission to London will urge the necessity of a complete victory and an uncompromised peace. It will not take part in any agitation for a Stockholm International Labour Conference. Despite Labour leaders’ protests, the Senate has reaffirmed its decision denying workers the right to strike in war-time. Mr Taft addressed the Now York Legislature, and declared that America within two years should send 5,000,000 men to the west front. She would thus assure victory and render impossible any repetition of the Kaiser’s dastardly acts. The Legislature adopted a resolution pledging Now York State’s entire resources for the vigorous prosecution of the war until the Prussian autocracy is defeated. Colonel M'Roberts, of the United States Ordnance Department, in the course of a speech at a meeting of the National Security League, said that 85,000 machine guns had been sent to France. More, than a million rifles had been manufactured, and the production was 11,500 daily in March, while 270,000.500 rounds of small arms ammunition had been completed'. A Bill has been . introduced in Congress permitting the use of bar silver in the settlement of foreign trade balances. Mr M'Adoo, Secretary of the Treasury, points put that the European Allies want silver, in order to relieve the strain on their gold reserves. The Bill proposed the conversion of 250,000,000 silver dollars into bars. PRO-GERMAN PLOTS. Professor iSperry, of Syracuse University, in giving evidence before the Senate Subcommittee, said that Hearst’s suggestion to establish a German-Amcrican alliance met with the full approval of the German Government. Its members in many instances, as individuals, were active in the interests of Germany. Funds for the proposed American embargo were obtained almost exclusively from German-American sources, tylr Hoarst (yellow journal proprietor) suggested organising an international German alliance in 1907, and had offered to pay the expenses of American delegates to a proposed European convention. The conquest of Canada by the 550,000 Gorman reservists in the United States was part of the plan of world-wide conquest. A Philadelphia telegram states that the GermanAraerioan Alliance has agreed to voluntarily disband. It will devote'its funds, amounting to 26 million dollars, to the Red Cross.