The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1915-08-01

At the outbreak OF the war the ma
tsons OF the Entente. relying upon the
contDl of the sea given 20 them by
Great Britain's fleet. turned to America /
for food supplies, materials for cloth.
ing. automobiles and many other arti-
Of n modern army.
by October they were seeking rifles
and sman arms ammunition here. and |
contracts OF Considerable size for these
products were given to American manu-
faeturers. But It was not until early
in the present year. when It was real
feed that the outcome of the wal was
to depend largely on artillery and enor-
nous quantities OF shells. hat any great
effort was made to get such supplies
from this country.
German Americans. late In 1914 and
before any considerable amount OF guns
and ammunition had been ordered, In
stituted . campaign against the ship
ment OF munitions OF war to the Allies
on the ground that Germany wal cut
OI tTOn pdTtrSIpdIOu III olHiiidT Oonc-
fits and that therefore such trade on
the part OF the United States was
u%nneutral The Atminist ration, how
ever, stood hrm on the principles Of
international law and the United STATES
statutes and precedents governing such
traffic. and held that II would be I'M
neutral, rather. to stop the trahic. since
such an embargo would directly bene-
NJ one Of the eontendine groups and
hurt the other.
1t Is impossible to estimate with &C.
curacy the total value OF the war or
ders so far received in this country.
Reports were circulated In Wall Street
Of the giving OF this $50. 900. 900 order
and that 500, 900. 900 order. and In some
cases the manufacturer have taken
pains 20 announce that the reports we're
exaggerated.
Orders were given In large amounts
early In the present year by the nations,
lighting Germany, for the most part
acting through great Britain, Among
the American firms which participated
in the larger orders were the Bethle-
hem Steel Company. the crucible stee,
Company, the Westinghouse Air Brake
Company. the American Locomotive
Company. Baldwin Locomotive Com
pany, the Pressed Steel Car Company,
the Union Metallic Cartridge Company.
the United States Cartridge Company.
Standard Steel Car Company, the Du
DA-s ,al ,Nt.o. r-nurdar toraac ~
Recording and Computing Machine Com
pany of Dayton, Ohio the Winchester
Arms Company. the Remington Arms
Company. the Savage Arms Company.
and a score Of others Individual or
ders range as high a SEQ, oo0,o 900.
Am~rfr.n Shells Blamed.
Stories OF the huge orders for shells
placed in America quickly gave rise
to statements widely published in Ger
many telling Of the effect OF Ameri-
Germans who had lost their lives through
this means.
These stories served the purpose OF
propas anda against the United States
and did much TO aggravate the situa-
ton arising out OF the attacks on Ameri-
can vessels by German submarines and
the sinking OF the Lusitania.
Lack OF a sufficient supply OF high
explosive shells and other ammunition
FOR the big guns has been given a. the
main cause OF the Russian retreats and
of the failure OF the British In the
western theatre 10 make material head
way. The realization of this state OF
affairs in England led to the ~antza-
ton OF the Ministry ~ a coalition Cabi-
net, with a new portfolio. that OF Min
lister OF Munitions. given to Lloyd
George. He began Immediately to or
ganize the entire munitions industry OF
the country IN a war footing.
In the department OF munitions Ger
man efficiency and foresight were seen
u their best. Germany. with her grea'
Krupp works and other plants, had been
for many years the chief source of wal
materials for nations with less favor
able opportunities, She had great sup.
plies OF equipment and munitions ir
readiness for the time when she should
need them. in addition to the means fol
continuing the supply almost indefinitely
Moreover, at the beginning Of the wa
Germany brought every available indus
try into line az a producer OF munitions
The Allies were less fortunate. ant
when the tremendous expenditure OF am
munition and the enormous number o
guns required for modern armies were
snade manifest In the early struggles o
Tne war, ana when anueu 10 tHS Was TN
evidence Of the necessity for a vast ex
penditure Of nigh explosives, made neces
sary by the peculiar nature of trencl
warfare, which reduced field fxhtini
practically 10 a siege OF fortified posi-
et0ES, Great Britain, France and Russia
5ound}their arsenals unable TO copy WIFI
the demands from the generals In tn.
&c
French Grasp situation.
The French grasped the necessities o
the situation sooner than did tho Britis
or the Russians they organized their IN
dustrial resources fer the supply Q
Gun!tions n brought back from activ