AMERICA’S PART.

Hokitika Guardian, 26 August 1918, Page 3

AMERICA’S PART.

; fPFH PRESS ASSOCIATION .—COPT RIGHT.] I THE WAR’S DURATION. NEW YORK, A.ug. 23. - Senator Reid, speaking on the ManPower Bill, said that tho United States requires to send 0,000,000 men xo France before the war will be ended. It is expected that the war will last two years more. Half a million men ought to be sent immediately to Russia. United States troops overseas now number 1,500,000.

THE WEEK’S 1 LAUNCHINGS. NEW YORK, Aug. 23. For the week ending 15th August, ten ships of '51,100 and 85,170 total deadweight tonnage were completed. Scveu of which are steel and three concrete. An extraordinary heat wave reduced the number of ships launched for the same period.

NAVAL POSSIBILITIES. WASHINGTON, Aug. 23. The “New York Times” Paris correspondent interviewed Franklin Roosevelt, Assistant Secretary of the United States Navy, regarding the possibility of a naval battle. He said that opinion is divided, whether the Germans will bring out their fleet as a final desperate forlorn hope, or conserve the bottle fleet intact as a pawn in the peace negotiations. The Allies are more than ready if Germany brings out her fleet. The German fleet is not much stronger than in 1914, because the Germans have devoted all their industrial energies to providing munitions for the Army and building submarines, rather than strengthening the Navy. The submarines were lio longer a menace, but. only accidental danger to ocean traffic. Allies’ effective devices bad forced U-boats to operato at sea, instead of near harbours, and have thus decreased their efficiency.

“LIBERTY’’ MOTORS. NEW YORK, Aug. 23. Only 4000 Liberty motors have so for been delivered to the Allies. The motors are too heavy and powerful for light fighting. The planes are imperfect, in some degree. Still not a single American battle plane or heavy bombing plane is yet on the American front. Up to August Ist, only Dehivillands, numbering 600, bad been sent to France. The expenditure of millions of dollars has been residtless. It is recorded that unfair preference has been given to certain manufacturers. AMERICAN MISMANAGEMENT. WASHINGTON, Aug. 23. The Senate Committee are investigating the aircraft production. It scathingly denounces the incompetency, mismanagement, and delays shown in the first year of the war. It recommends a separate Department of Aviation on tho British model. Millions of dollars have been wasted in experimenting in aircraft, when good Allied models are available. Inexperienced automobile manufacturers have been allowed to dominate the aircraft programme. Many defective machines have been sent to General Pershing. The committee hope that the production will soon improve.