Great Manufacturing City Shows
Remarkable Speed in Turning Out
Work for the United States—De
troit Men Conceived Liberty Motor.
DETROIT, Midi., May 18.—The
tremendous part which the automobile
factories and other industrial plants oi"
Detroit are playing in the prosecution
of the war is shown by figures obtain
ed for the Associated Press by the
Detroit Board of Commerce. Accord
ing to these statistics war contracts
totalling .$(>00,000,000 have been turn
ed over to local firms since last April,
but industrial leaders ar.d trade ex
perts seem agreed that this fact is sec
onardy in importance.
The leading spectacle in Detroit’s
war drama has been the remarkable
speed with which many of these con
tracts have been tilled. It is believed
that no city in America got under
headway for government work more
quickly; kept more free from strikes
and labor dissension; protected its
industrial resources more perfectly
from enemy plots, or accomplished
more when rail and water transporta
tion facilities were lacking. There has
not been a strike of important pro
portions in Detroit since the United
States entered the war. Several at
temots at incendiarism were nipped in
the bud and there has been no serious
fire at a war products factory.
Detroit men conceived the Liberty
motor. While motor experts were per
fecting this piece of machinery, a local
factory, nearly a quarter ot a mile in
length, was being built. A short time
after the motor was approved by the
government, it was being turned out
in this factory.
On another occasion, government
representatives came to Detroit with
contracts for $30,000,000 worth of
ordnance. A large automobile com
pany accepted the task; spent more
than $1,000,000 for building construc
tion and in a comparatively short time
had installed the special machinery
which the government had furnished.
Manufacturing then became a routine.
Then a proposition was made to
manufacture shells here. Several busi
ness men held a meeting, organized a
company, and a new industry was
lounoea.
Antisubmarine boat plans were an
nounced at Washington early in Feb
ruary. A few days later it was an
nounced that contracts had been let
for a plant, to be built at Itiver Rouge,
a suburb of Detroit, where hundreds
of these small boats are to be built
and launched. The factory was
ready by the 10th of May, according
to contract. Between 10.000 and
15,000 men were employed and the
announcement has been made that the
government will construct a small
naval training station there so crews
mav ho ready lor each boat as scon as
it strikes the water. The boats then
will start for the Atlantic ocean via
the Detroit river and Crea‘ Lakes.
Months ago automobile mala rs saw
the threat of freight congestion. Auto
mobiles of every kind, from great
trucks and ambulances to swab, nign
power officers’ cars were being mao.o;
airplanes were being constructed and
and pails for a new type of ocean
going vessel were lteing ba it in the
same factories. The railroads found
th< freight burden too heavy, so one
Detroit automobile concern suggested
to the government that its war trucks
be allowed to deliver themselves. Per
mis. ion was given and the plan proved
successful. The cars not only deliv
ered, themselves at seaports but car
ried capacity loads or freight. '
Day after day long lines of new
trucks stream from the heart of the
city and, according to investigations
made by the Board of Commerce,
"they make the trip to Philadelphia or
Baltimore in much better time than
the steam freight sendee.”
Detroit’s two big shipbuilding com
panies are, of course, doing nothing
but war work. Their construction in
11)17 was a record, and greater
achievements are forecast for this
year. The plants are building vessel;
of a length that will pass through tin
Canadian canals and are fitting othe:
lake ships for the journey to sal
water.
Detroit factories now are getting
ready for their big output drive. Fuc
restrictions imposed by the nationa
and state administrators have beer
lifted, navigation is practically opened
freight service is expected to be mucl
; better and motor truck trains wil
continue to rumble eastward. Ther
j the fear of over-production setbacks
! will be dissipated, it is believed.
—
American Steamer Neches Sunk by
Torpedo and lT. S. Steamer Zaan
land Went Down in a Collision—NT
Lives Lost.
WASHINGTON, D. C., May 17.—
Tlie navy department today announces
that the United States steamship
Zaanland was sunk in a collision at
sea May 13. All on board were res
cued. The Zaanland was one of the
vessels recently requistioned by the
United States government from the
Dutch government. It was lying in
the port of New York for a long
period. It was a cargo ship, capable
of carrying 8700 deadweight tons, and
was manned by the navy for army
purposes.
SUNK BY GERMAN SUBMARINE,
WASHINGTON, D. C., May 17.—
The American steamer Neches was
sunk by a German submarine May 14,
according to an announcement of thr
navy department today. All aboard
were saved by patrol boats. The
Neches was a cargo carrier of seven
thousand tons burden.
President Wilson Asks Him to Make
Investigation Into Activities of Air
craft Production Board—John I).
Ryan Is Now in Charge.
WASHINGTON, D. C., May 17.—
Charles Evans Hughes, eminent attor
ney, former member of the United
States supreme court and republican
nominee for president at the last elec
tion, has been named by President
Wilson to assume charge of an inquiry
into charges and allegations against
the aircraft production board. Hughes
is to be given a free hand in the mat
ter, as the president desires a thor
ough investigation. He is expected to
arrive in Washington in a few day;
to begin the probe.
John 1). Ryan, the copper magnate,
is now in complete charge of aircraft
production matters and things arc
moving- along much smoother than
heretofore. Ryan is the same type of
man as Charles M. Schwab, giatcly
placed in charge of shipbuilding mat
1 ers.
fk
Ij
WASHINGTON, I). C., May 3 7.—
Tiie United States shipping board to
day declared that fourteen concrete
ships are under construction at the
present time. Some of the vessels will
be cargo ships, while others will be
employed as tankers. The most im
portant concrete ship building plant is
in California. The concrete ship
“Faith” which was built by the Cali
fornia firm, has had her trial trip and
meets all expectations. Concrete ship;
can be built in sixty days.
TWO BOYS CAUSE WRECK.
FARGO N. D., May 18.—Two boys
12 and 13 years old, confessed today
to having caused the wreck of the
North Coast Limited last 'J'uesday.
[
OFFENSIVE IS BEING TAKEN BY SONS OF ITALY AND
AUSTRO-GERMAN TROOPS HAVING HARD TIME
DEFENDING POSITIONS OCCUPIED BY THEM
SINCE NOVEMBER—OFFENSIVE IS A DEFENSIVE
MOVE.
SUMMARY.—Atnoni? tlu* nigged peaks of the Asiago
| plateau, the Italian front is aflame with action. The aggres
sive. however, is being taken by the Italian forces. The Aus
tro-Gemian troops, instead of launching their long-expected
assault on the Italian lines, have been compelled to fight hard
to maintain positions which they have held since November.
The fact that the Italian armies took the initiative seems to
indicate that they seek to carry the fight to the enemy in such
,a way as to break up any arrangements for the launching of a
strong Teutonic assault. This move has many precedents in
warfare. A strong offensive at threatened points is considered
a defensive move, in certain circumstances.
ITALIANS ENTER ENEMY LINES
ROMM, May 17.—The Italian army carried out an offens
ive operation against the enemy yesterday which resulted in
the Italians entering the Austrian trenches in tin* sector- of
Monte Asolone and the Brenta and Piave rivers. Idle Austrian
lines wen* entered at two points. The Italians inflicted heavy
losses on the enemy and captured many prisoners.
AUSTRIA REPORTS BITTER FIGHTING.
VIENNA, May 17.—An Austrian official report today says:
Bitter lighting is in progress today on the Italian front be
tween tin* Brenta and Piave rivers.
STILL WAITING FOR THE ENEMY.
WITH THE BRITISH ARMY ON THE WEST FRONT,
May 17.—The allied armies are patiently waiting for the next
move of the enemy. The weather conditions are ideal for light
ing, but the Germans have as yet made no move to show their
! hand. It is believed, however, that the enemy may strike at
any time now. It is expected that the next push will be one of
great magnitude and fierceness, more intense than the one
started in March. The next battle may be flu* crucial one for
tIk* Germans. They will undoubtedly attempt to smash through
the allied lines at some points.
—
AMERICAN ARTILLERY BATTERS HUN LINES.
WITH THE AMERICAN' ARMY OX THE WESTERN'
FRONT. May 17.—American heavy artillery is today employed
in battering enemy lines of communication. F. S. batteries
last night set several fires behind the German lines in the Mont
didier sector.
NOTHING DOING, REPORTS HAIG.
LONDON. May 17.—General Haig today reports that be
yond artillery activity on both sides, particularly on the battle
front north of the river Lys. nothing important is going on.
BRITISH WIN IN AFRICA.
LONDON. May IS.—Official—The British forces cam
paigning against the Germans in German East Africa, won an
other success, after heavy fighting, and inflicted heavy losses
on the enemy. The engagement began when a small body of
British and African riflemen surprised an important German
camp and set the huts on fire.
The ice began moving in the Susitna
river in front of Susitna station on
May 14 according to a statement made
today by Lee Considine who arrived in
Anchorage yesterday with the United
States mail from the station.
Captain J. A. Johnson, owner of the
J. J. power boat sailed over to the
mouth of the Susitna yesterday and
returned last night with the report
that the river was still frozen solid and
no evidence of the ice moving out.
Old-timers state that the move
ment of the ice near Susitna sta
tion indicates that the river from
1 there to its mouth will be free and
! navigation possible by the middle
of next week.
The mail was brought to Anchorage
yesterday by Mr. Considine with his
! dog team. This means of transporting
the mail will very likely be the last,
the next shipment of mail going by
the way of the Susitna river.
TACOMA, May 17.—T. S. Street, of
Edmonds, Washington, a member of
Stever.s Post No. 1 of Seattle, was
yesterday elected department com
mander of the Grand Army of the 'Re
public, for the district comprising
Washington and Alaska. He had no
opposition.
CAMP LEWIS, Tacoma, Wash.,
May 18.—Twenty-live baseball players
drawn from the ranks of major and
minor leagues, and college athletics,
compose the first squad reporting for
practicing with the division team of
the Wild West division _ and from
which the members of the Camp Lewis
team will be chosen. The captain of
the team is Charles Mullen, former
second baseman for the Chicago and
New York American baseball teams.
Captain L. A. Wattelet, infantry, U.
S. N. A., former manager of the Vic
toria team of the northwest league, is
director of baseball at camp.
Among the big league stars are
“Death Valley” Jim Scott, former
White Sox pitcher and now a captain
at the Third Officers Training camp
here. Hap Meyers, formerly first base
man for the Boston Nationals now is a
private in the 322nd field battalion.
Louis Guisto at one time first baseman
for the Cleveland Americans, now is
shouldering a musket in the 363rd in
fantry.
Here are the others: Joe Connolly,
363rd infantry, formerly with the
Northwestern league; Walter Mails,
363rd, pitcher, formerly with the
Coast league; Mclvor, 316th engineers,
former Northwestern league pitcher;
Marck Higby, 362nd infantry ambul
ance company, former Coast league
pitcher; Charles Schmutz, of the am
bulance company of the 362nd infan
try, former Northwestern pitcher;
Howard Mundorff, military poltce, for
mer Coast league outfielder; Red Old
ham, 348th machine company, former
Coast league pitcher; Harrington, of
ficers training camp, former Olympic
duo catcher in San Francisco; Ser
geant Ten Million, 301st infantry, for
mer Ndrthwestern outfielder; M. If.
Shriver, officers training camp, former
! University of California infielder; Ser
1 geant McKay, 346th machine gun com
1 pany, former University of South Da
! kota infielder; Rohwer, officers train
I irig camp, outfielder; Carl King, mili
; tary police, catcher; Kingman, first
base; Tom Hickey, 363rd infantry,
' pitcher; Ed Klein, 363 infantry, pitch
j er; Hal Chase, 347th field artillery,
pitcher; Ted Allen, 347th field artil
lery, pitcher; Jim Reardon, 363rd in
j fantry, catcher; LaMara and Hollo
way, depot brigade, utility.
Strongly Objected to German Aggres
sion in Russia, Which Has Gone
Far Beyond Limits of Brest-!.itovsk
Treaty.
1
WASHINGTON, D. C., May 17.—
As the administration has been harsh
ly criticized for seeming to recognize
the Bolsheviki government in Russia,
the state department today published
; a copy of the Russian soviet’s order
protesting against German aggres
I sion. This protest shows that the Rus
i sians gave notice to the Germans that
1 they intend to mobilize all necessary
: forces to secure the freedom and inde
! pendence of the Russian republic,
which is-now menaced far beyond the
' limits established by the Brest-Litovsk
treaty, signed by Germany and Russia.
The publication of the Russian pio
i test is made to show that the soviet
government does not approve of the
present German aggression in Russia
and that it intends to resist such ag
gression by armed forced.
Extra Gangs and Graders Needed in
Anchorage Division of Railroad—
Twenty-Five Are Wanted for Sew
ard Division.
One hundred workers are wanted in
• the .Anchorage division of the govern
; merit railroad, according to the notice
posted on the bulletin board in the cf
i lice of Fred Lilyman, superintendent
of the employment bureau of the Alas
kan Engineering commission.
About seventy-five of the men are
needed for extra gangs and grading
work on Turnagain Arm and about
twenty-five for work on the main line
north of Anchorage.
In addition to the 100 men wanted
in the Anchorage division, the com
mission’s employment bureau here has
been asked to supply twenty-five men
to the Seward division.
The pay to laborers is 50 cents ar,
hour. One dollar and twenty-five
cents a day is charged for board.
BISBEE, Ariz., May 17.—Twenty
of the most prominent citizens of the
Bisbee and Warren copper districts,
arrested on federal indictments in con
nection with the deportation of a
thousand copper miners, alleged mem
bers of the Industrial Workers of the
World, appeared in court yesterday
afternoon. Each gave bonds in the
sum of five thousand dollars and was
released, pending trial of the case.
Don’t judge a man by the creases
in his trousers. They may bag at the
knees even when his bank account
increases.
/
; Handling the Transportation Problem
I ....of a City of Between 30,000 and 50,
000 Confronts Camp Lewis.
—
CAMP LEWIS, Tacoma, Wash.,
j May 17.—Handling the transporta
tion of a city of 30,000 to 50,000 by
| means of automobiles when as many
: as 20,000 of the population want to
.go in one direction at one time is one
of the problems of Camp Lewis which
is left in the hands of the Camp Lewis
j Transportation company for settle
, ment. There are no street cars and
the distance from the entrance to
| camp to the farthermost barracks of
the cantonment is more than three
I miles.
The Camp Lewis Transportation
; company, with a line of busses, has
the contract for carrying the men back
and forth within the cantonment for
a consideration of five cent fare. And
for four days of the seven in each
week it is a comparative]v simple mac
ter because there is little travel of
the enlisted men from their barracks
to the Tacoma bus station on these
days. But Wednesday afternoons and
1 Sundays probably two-thirds of the
■ camp is deset ted and the thousands of
men must bn moved within a spa^s of
about two hours. For this purpose
i twenty busses are in use and they
! prove insufficient for thousands ol
the men walk the full distance from
their barracks to the Tacorna bus sta
tion or to the railway station, from
which place special trains are run on
tiie holidays to take the men from Ta
coma and Seattle.
Fcr months, before the pavement of
! many of the streets of the camp, the
! hauling of these men was an unprofit
able venture. The streets were rough,
full of chuck holes and ruts and brok
; en springs more than ate up the prof
its from the industry, officials of the
I company estimating that it cosc two
and one-half cents per passenger more
than the bus fare of five cents. But
I with the pavement of California and
Washington avenues, the cost of re
pairs to the machines has decreased
and a fair profit now is realized.
The big rush hours are from noon
to two o’clock Wednesdays and Satur
’ days and from 6 o’clock Sunday night
! to reveille Monday morning, when all
the soldiers must be back in their bar
! racks ready for their military duties
of the next week. Nearly 10.000 men
have been carried from the Tacoma
bus station at camp to their barracks
by the transportation company be
tween 6 o’clock Sunday night and
] Monday morning and not one of the
| men is kept waiting more than 15
minutes.
i he crowds ere handled in the camp
bus station with all the precision with
I which large crowds are handled in
j city street railway terminals and
j t-hor ? is little confusion, the men pay
j ing their fares and falling into line,
ready to leave as soon as the bus
; enters the station.
| Pirns for handling the big crowds
i even more rapidly are under way. Jr
| is planned to install larger busses with
I traders attached for running on the
] r aved streets, virtually doubling the
capacity of the busses. Orders have
been placed for the larger busses anil
within a few weeks they will be in
j can p ready to move quickly the thou
| sands of soldiers seeking to get away
quickly for a holiday in the city.
The busses are run on Caliornia
avenue for soldiers living on the north
side of the parade grounds and on
Washington avenue for those living
on the south side. The barracks are
built along California and Montana
avenues on the one side and Oregon
and Washington avenues on the other
so that the soldiers can be taken b\
the busses within two blocks of the:r
quarters.
ARREST BRITISH DESERTERS.
BOSTON, May 17.—Wholesale ar
rests for desertion from the British
and Canadian armies will be made in
this country within a short time, ac
cording to John P. Trant, British vice
consul in this city.