Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1914-11-10
j. S. DEFENSES
In DIRE NEED
OF SHRAPNEL
Supply of This Country Pitt
full in Comparison With
Europe's Frankford the
Sole Mandatory.

AHS pAtbtlll uupIepdIBuutSb VI AhN
United States to defend herself from land
attack by hostile nations, according tc
military men, has perhaps never before
been better illustrated than today, wher
large corporations. knowing this Govern
ment operates only one plant for the
manufacture of shrapnel complete, are
either erecting or contemplating building
great establishments to make artillery
ammunition.
1t is generally conceded by army ex-
perts in position to know that in Europe
at the present time any one of the great
nations at war is firing more shrapnsl in
a single week than Is manufactured by
this Government in a year. Lieutenant
Colonel George Montgomery. command
ant Of the Frankford Arsenal, says re-
serve store of 100000 pieces of three
inch shrnpnel alone, to say nothing of
other ammunition, is needed to place our
land defenses in n position to cope with
sudden emergency.
Coupled with this statement, Colonel
Montgomery reluctantly admitted It
would take the Frankford Arsenal from
seven to ten years to make that number
of mechanical fuses, to say nothing OF
shrapnel cases. And the Frankford Ar
senal is the only Government plant MAX
Ing fuses.
INT lICACIEs OF SHRAPNBL FUSE.
A shrapnel fuse is nearly as intricate as
n watch. It is made up of number OF
brass and steel parts, which are turned
out on especially prepared machinery.
Some Of the parts, particularly the spiral
container, each round of which holds
few grains of high explosive, are so care
Al.,N tatt nf
of an inch will cause a hitch In ignition.
When complete these fuses are inserted
in the forward end OF shrapnei case
and set like the combination OF a safe, TO
act under given conditions. BY manipu-
lation of a graduated disc the shell Is
y made to explode at any given distance
after being fired from a field piece.
1t is in the manufacture OF these dell
cate and deadly instruments the United
States falls dangerously behind other
nations.
RESERVE PITIFULI.Y INADEQUATE.
To army men this condition is dis
tressing Many of them are unable to
understand why the Government has
taken no action to fOrtlfy itself against
invasion. They say II n foreign Power
once conquered the United States navy,
this country would be paying indemnity
to its antagonist at the expiration Of one
month.
Even Congressman Michael Donohoe,
who has done much toward the enlarge
ment of Frankford Arsenal and has
worked for an increased appropriation to
the end that the plants output may be
increased admits with regret the present
inadeuuacy of the Government reserve
ammunition fund. "At the present time"
he said. "It would take us years to pre-
pare for q situation we should now be
ready to handle"
Congressman ]. Washington Logue also
admits the War Department is obliged to
purchase much material needed for land
defenses from outside concerns. because
our own ordnance departments are not in
a position to make those supplies.
PLANS TO INCREASE PRODUCT.
This condition long realized by manu-
featuring concerns backed by sufficient
capital to enable them to produce am
munition in addition to their regular COM
modify. has led to considerable inquiry
regarding the making of shrapnel.
In one instance this activity has taken
q tangible foothold. The Bethlehem Steel
Company has in course of erection on a
hillside at its Reddlngton proving ground
a department for the manufacture of
fuses for ammunition. 1t is said here
all the various types OF time and de-
tonating fuses will be constructed, both
for -shrapnel and shell ammunition.
1t has also been rumored for some time
that the William Cramp Ship and Engine
building Company of this city has been
contemplating similar step, but confir- |
nation OF this report Is lacking. Other |
concerns have been similarly named
The new Bethlehem plant Is about a |
half mile west OF the Lehigh Valley Rail- |
road station. Onicials OF the steel COM |
pany are reticent about their new venture |
and the matter Is not discussed outside |
Charles NJ SchwRb. president OF the |
company, is in Europe. His assistant, |
John ID. Hagenbuch, beyond admitting |
that fuse plant is to be built. will not |
discuss the work "It is true We arc |
building such an addition to our works"
he said, but I can say nothing further
about It at this time"
scHwAB's COMPANY INouIRINa.
II is known. however, Representatives
OF tho sehwAb company have for soma
time been visiting Frankford Arsenal ana
familiarizing themselves with every de-
tai In the manufacture OF fuses for
shrapnel Colonel Montgomery Conducted |
them through the local institution, fur
nishec data concerning machinery, work.
men and output and In every Way aidsd /
the Bethlehem men In their Quest IN tbs
interest OF fuse manufacture
was glad TO help them" said Colonel
montgomery In discussing the matter
Inc new Bethlehem plant will be of
-9oASN0iANc 70 THIS GOFerum9nt IN |
the manufacture OF shrapneI needed sa a
reserve supply in case OF emarEenev-
look upon Mr.. Schwab's decision 10 eract
fuse plant as one OF the most patriotic
services he could have rendered his eoun-
ny. When the new establishment a. An
ishsd 1t and the FFankfofd Arsenal vIiiI
pe the only two places in the United
states where shTapnel Is made conpIsts
Fisnty or large concerns. including Beth
lehsm. make casings at the present time
Dut JUST now our arsenal here IL ths |
only place where fuses complats srs |
made and assembled. II will be dIfienit
20 estimate the value OF what assistancs
the Government can get from the schwab
ORDERS FROM FRANKFoRD
Frankford Arsenal orders At present
considerable cases or fOrgings from ths
Bethlehem Steel Company. They now
have an order with that eonoern 81.
io,ooo foTgings. These Will 81 re- -.
make up a portion OF the reouisition -
., $4,000 worth OF three-incb shrar,',N, -
which the local institution h asl+sd ~
produce this year. 70
Considerable fouT-inch shrann.I
eiso been ordered from the Frsnksard
Arsenal
W0mR VuTTYa zDa,, a7