Honolulu star-bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1912-2010, 1914-12-09
By FREDERICK J. AAsklN.

war Textile mills. automobile factor
les and big harness shops are accept
ing huge contracts for goods ultimate
~ to be delivered in Europe; and at
the same time the demand for food
stufTs and for horses and mules Is
steadily increasing.
AS far as the manufacturers are
concerned a dense cloud of mystery
envelops their operations. 4 manu-
I facturer in the middle west accepts
a contract to make goods to be deliv-
cred to some person in New York.
He does not know whether the mate
rial he is turning out will go to Brit
ain or France, to Germany or Aus
tria; whether it will cross the Allan
! tic to help to equip the army Italy
is holding in leash, or whether it
| will cross the Pacific to find its way
to the Russian army over the Trans
| Siberian railway. All he kHaWs is
that payment for the goods il guaran-
! teed by responsible American agents.
! Further, he does not inquire, and
even if he were so curious as to in
vestigate it is doubtful if be could
find cut anything.
Last week. for instance, the D"thlc-
| hem Steel Company Of Bethlehem,
Pa, let a contract for nearly $1,000,
600 worth of artillery harness and
| cavalry saddles. The contract vent
to a vehicle manufacturer in, the mid
die west who does not $make3harness
or saddles, but who IN turn is sub
letting the work to several midwest
ern and southern establishments.
Where Does it Go? ..E )
| Nobody. knows where all ,tilisT har-
| ness is to go, for the models to be
! the delivery is to be made, on the
order of the Bethlehem Steel Com
lpany.
In the matter of motor trucks the
Bethlehem Steel Company is reputed
to have been appointed purchasing
lagent for the French government,
but there is much doubt as to whether
or not the harness and saddlery
equipment is destined for France. AS
to the motor cars, the steel company
invited manufacturers to send their
cars to Bethlehem, Pa, to be submit
ted to tests. Later the steel company
|
ers that orders from the French gov
eminent would be distributed among
them. that delivery might be made
promptly.
Yet, not all buying, is so indirect
1t is reported on good authority that
the Russian government placed an or
der for a million dollars worth OF
motor trucks directly with Detroit
makers. A steel manufacturing com
! pany at Sharon, Pa, obtained direct
4 order from France for $500 automo
bile frames. ~ = ,>'4 - >-.'..
Distributed Among Five Firms.
4 Another French order for automb
Ibiles was distributed directly to five
motor, making companies, the total
lcrder calling for 1860 trucks, to cost
more than $6,0O0,O00. On Oct one
OF the large makers of expensive mo
tor cars recalled all it's idle men and
i speeded up it's plant to its full ca
pacity in order to take care of ship.
ment Of $50 trucks ordered directly
from Russia.
Several weeks ago it became known
that Italy had purchased a million
| pairs of army shoes in ST. Louis, and
there are substantial rumors that this
Close on the heels of the Italian pur-
chase came reports that the Greek
government also is about to ask for
bids for all sorts of military supplies
Iof the character of transportation and
artillery equipment
Italian Government Active.
The activity of the italian govern,
ment Is the cause Of much specula-
ton. The theory ordinarily accepted
in the United States is that Italy is
/ simply perfecting her stock of equip
ment so that she will be fully pre-
1 pared should events require her to
tabandon neutrality and enter the great
/ struggle. This same school Of opin-
lion, is almost unanimous in predicting
that when Italy does go in she will
take the side of the Allies against
Germany and Austria.
| Another story, and one that appar-
ently finds much credence SJAbHg those
closely connected with the British gov
ernment is that the huge italian or
ders are really being placed for Ger
man consumption. 1t Is pointed out
that there is no proof that the al
legged orders from the italian govern,
ment are, in fact, not governmental
orders, and that the circumstance of
their being placed through commits
sion houses tnat ordinarily represent
the Italian government is not to be
given. too great weight. They believe
that the equipment being shipped to
Naples and other Italian ports will
find its. way across the bordeE into
Austria and thence to Germany, all Of
which adds a spice of mystery to the
ordinarily prosaic transactions of bust,
lness.
i Textile Factories Busy.
Textile manufacturers are accepting
|orders that usually are much more di-
Irect. One day last week one COM
mission house in New York accepted a
contract directly from the British gov
eminent calling for 100000 worth Of