The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1915-10-17
WAR SCANDAL SEEN
IN ACID BUYING HERE
London "GlObc" Says Mystery
EnvelOps Big Waste Of
Explosive Material.
FAVORITISM Is ALLEGED
Special Correspondence to THE srs.

met Ministers for the failure 10 pro.
ducc munitions in sufficient quantities,
It now appears, according to rcvela-
tons Just brought out. that the short
age is at least partially due to serious
blunders on the part of those who are
In charge OF the work OF supplying to
the British Government materials used
in the manufacture OF high explosives.
In one instance alone, which has already
been cabled 90 THE suN. sI.25o.o00 10
said to have been completely wasted In
connection with the purchase OF sui
phuric acid in the United states.
The disclosures are made by the GI00e,
which says that the payments made In
connection with this purchase have an
unpleasant flavor of secrecy and a thor
ough Investigation of the matter is de-
inanded.
From the facts printed in the Globe
It appears that gross incompetence and
n scandalous waste Of public money nave
occurred In this one particular instance.
and the fear Is expressed that the case
does not stand by itself. but It Is symp-
tomato of much that is going on behind
the back OF the British nation.
The firm OF c. Tenant. Son d Co..
officers Of which are closely connected
with n member OF the Cabinet. Is con-
spicuously mentioned in connection with
the Globe disclosures. The article. which
begins by telling OF the Globes warning
in August regarding the purchase OF
acid, says in part:
Not Purchased In Britain.
'.In the spring OF this year, for rea-
sons doubtless believed to be good and
sufficient, hut which We hope will be
made the subject of inquiry In the House
of Commons, the firm of c. Tenant.
Sons. & Co. by no means remotely con-
nected in a family sense with a mem
Der OF the Cabinet, was commissioned
to buy large quantities of sulphuric
acid in America. Why no attempt was
made TO secure the acid in this country
we will not stop to inquire. 1t has been
declared that British manufacturer
could not even supply all that was
needed for ordinary commercial pur-
poses in this country. Whether that Is
so, the fact remains that this frin
bought large quantities for the British
Government In the United States.
'But the method Of transshipment was
SO hopelessly defective that hundreds of
thousands of pounds, 1t is estimated.
have been lost 10 the taxpayers OF this
country. What IL worse. the delay and
the defects led to n shortage OF supply
Just at the time when IL was most
needed. There has been a good deal OF
talk about labor difficulties in onnec
ton with the production of high eX-
plosive shells. 1t Will come as a sur
prise to the public that the failure Of the
supply of sulphuric acid was a main
contributory cause of the shortage. 1t
should be explained that uleun. which
is concentrated sulphuric acid. Is an cs-
sential in the manufacture of all high
explosives, including cordite. 1t is also
essential to the manufacture of nitric
acid, which In turn IS a necessary in
gredient for all high explosives. Sui
phuric acid must he shipped in glass
carboys or in vessels composed Of sub
stances which do not act chemically
when in contact with the acid.
For some reason II did not suit the
firm in question to insure the shipment
IN that way. The acid was sent over
here in an impure form and in iron
drums. which even IL the acid had been
pure. would have been corroded and
made to leak. Leakage was the result,
and so powerful IL the acid that the
ships bearing the cargo We're greatly
damaged, the holds gave off SO much
noXious gas as greatly to endanger the
health of the crews. and in one case the
crew, having gained some knowledge of
the wholly inadequate methods employed.
refused TO sail, and "A much needed cargo
of su!phuric acid was held up AT New
York for two months.
Experiment Cost $500. 900 Extra.
ANY one with the most elementary
knowledge of the properties of %sulphuric
acid could have predicted these waste
full and costly results. What was the
outcome? Two vessels which carried the
cargo We're damaged. " not beyond re-
pair. SO Grievously that the owner of
them claimed heavy damages from
Messrs. C.. Tenant. Sons q Co. There
was nothing for Il but 10 take over the
damaged vessels, and no less a sum than
f60, 600 $500 ,0OO) was the price of this
ridiculous laundering.
why has it been necessary TO e to
America for an impure acid. is il n fact
hat Messrs. Tenant have been the sole
agents for the British Government, and
why was It not possible TO buy the acid
direct and SO save the profit of the mid
dleman. We have evidence of the in
competence of the high explosive depart
ment which thought II fitting TO appoint
as the comptroller of the shipments of
olelnn a young man. wholly inexperi-
enced, at a handsome salary. his only
qualification apparently being that he
was the son of his father. This young
man was completely ignorant of the
properties of oleum. His first introduce
ton to the acd was when he was called
upon to advise as to the best method
of shipment.
1T Is estimated that up to date more
than f250,OO0 Sl, $50, O00) has been
wasted when account is taken not only
of the actual damage to ships, the com-
pensation paid in respect of the time
charter on the vessels, the damage 10
docks and wharves, the injury TO men
engaged in handling the iron drums, SC.
There are other aspects of this con-
tract for the supply Of sulphuric acid
which need Investigation. The relations