The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1915-08-01
FRANCE IS MAKING
HER OWN MUNITIONS
Has Used No Foreign Shells
Thus Far in War
FUTURE DISCOUNTED
Have Special Secretary Who Will Be
Able to Provide for Any Sudden
Need-Real Expert in In
dustrial Service

Paris, July 15.-(Correspondence of the
Associated Press.)-In spite of Gerna n
assertions to the contrary, 1t is stated
mat the French have as yet EMPLOYED no
1oreign-made munitions, and their artiI-
lery' which is the strongest and most ef
iective arm of their army, has been able
TO depend wholly upon France for its
proJectiles. The possibility that the occa-
sion might one day call for even. more
extraordinary quantities of shells tho,
are required now and especially the mu-
hitions agitation in England, have led
the French to foresee and discount any
sudden need which might arise by the
appointment OF the under secretary of
state for war whose duty should be TO
give particular attention to the produce
ton of munitions for the French army
and navy.
In Three Divisions
ALREADY Albert Thomas, the Incumbent
OF this post, has organized the service of
military production in three general di-
visions; a techinac service, an indus
trial service and a labor service. At the
head of each he has placed competent
men familiar with the work before them
At the head of the technical service. Mr.
Thomas has set three military Officers
themselves technical experts, who have
also had practical experience on the
iishting line. They serve as a buffer be-
tween the war department and the critics
OF the government in the Parliament
Also, they constitute the court of first
examination for all the scores of inven-
tons and tactical suggestions which pour
In upon the French government every
day.
The industrial service is in charge of
a self-made man who began life as a
workman and rose to be one of the big
gest manufacturers in France He knows
both ends of production, and it is there
Tore he who has charge of making the
utmost of the industrial resources in fac
tories. machinery and tools, of the French
republic in its one present business of the
hour, war. Thousands of offers from fac
toryn owners to put all or part of their
shops at the disposal of the government
are already in the hands of Mr. Thomas
The industrial service is expected to
work out a system by which these NAV
all be used for that kind of work for
Which they are best suited Later, it is
Planned that every factory in France will
be called upon to furnish the government
with detailed report of the sort of ma
chlnery installed in each and the kinds
of work each can do. The government
will then take possession of such shops a s
It requires and as happen to be most
fsvorably situate for munitions work.
Labor Service Most Important
The labor service Of the war depart
ment presents the most compiled tions
ad is by far the most important in France.
At the outbreak Of the war every able
bodied man in France was mobilized: the
factories therefore were forced either to
shut down or to supply the places of
skilled workmen with such material as
happened to be at hand-men who had
been Judged physically unfit for military
service, women or boys. The result was
naturally. an immense decrease in pro-
duction and a rise in the cost of manu-
featuring due to the use of awkward, I'M
trained factory hands. As the war set
tied into the siege of Germany, 1t be-
came evident that the lack of skilled
workmen in the factories handica pped
not so much private enterprise as the
very work the government itself must
depend upon for success in the war. The
Dalbiez law was, therefore, passed, per-
hitting the government to take from
the ranks wherever found such skilled
laborers as might be required in fac
tories operating on military materials,
and return them to their FORCES and
benches. still as soldiers upon active mill
tary service, and under military disci-
pune. AL tie Hedu Oh, ln6 ldDOr service
thus created Mr.. Thomas has placed a
military commanding officer, who will
command his men in the workshop pre-
cisely as he has been used to command
them in the field.
AS the staff of the officer In command
of the labor service, convalescent officers
sof junior grades. or officers who have
been incapacitated from further field
service by the loss of limbs or other per-
nanent injuries. will be detailed for this
special and most valuable service.
In this way" said Mr.. Thomas to an
editor of LIE Matin. there will be no
more delay In going from the front to
the factories, the workmen do not cease
to be soldiers. They change corps. that
ALL We want everybody In the country
to understand that there are not two
kinds of employment for Frenchmen these
days. Every Frenchman is fighting