The Bemidji daily pioneer., 1915-07-28

the 1nuuStry OF the nation IL the war
was to be brought to successful
conclusion. France did 1t early. In
the war, but her industrial resources,
even in peace times, were exceedingly
limited as compared with those of
the British empire. and today her
most important industrial provinces,
including 70 per cent of her steel
production, are in the hands of the
enemy.
Must Help Other Allies.
1t is up to Great Britain to help
not only France. but Russia. as we'll
as herself. The driving of the Rus
sian armies out of Galicia was due
solely to their lack of ammunition.
Hitherto Britain has been concen-
trating upon soldiers. Now she is
concentrating on munitions. "Get
into the factory line and supply the
firing line" has replaced on the
posters the old familiar "Your King
and country need you at the front. !"
They are even bringing back from
the trenches skilled workmen whose
enlistment, it is now agreed, should
never have been permitted. The
enrolment Of volunteers for the
Kings army-the use of the term
"Kitchener's Army has, been aban-
doned in the posters-of course con-
tinues, but the enlistment of men at
all qualified to work in munition-
shops is discouraged. =.
With the realization that organi-
zation of the country's industries for
the manufacture of munitions had
become imperative came appreciation
of the fact that the machinery of the
government was inadequate. Lord
Kitchener had not only been overload
ed personally, but the antiquated
system of the War Office had proved
itself incapable of handling the prob
lem. So the mostly
Prime Minister Asquith decided to
appoint a general business manager.
Told the Truth.
Lloyd George, the little Welsh
solicitor who so successfully had been
running the nations. finances, after
a record of constructive reform leg
islation. without parallel in history,
was chosen. He was given the title
of Minister of Munitions; but his
commission was practically to take
charge of. the industries of the coun-
try. The first thing he did was to
tell his fellow-countrymen the truth
the: grave danger confronting the
Empire through the deplorable slack
ness hitherto prevailing in the manu-
facture Of the instruments of warfare.
Next he. brought both labor and capi-
tai into line. He got the tr AIDES un-
ions associated with munition- max
ing to- agree to suspend. during the
war, their rules restricting output
and to- bend all their energies toward
thedesired object; and he got the
manufacturers to agree to forego all
additional profits arising out of wal
contracts in excess of 20 per cent
To cineh matters he had Parliament
put these and other regulations into
legislation, including immediate gov
ernment control of the workshops
and the creation of Munitions
Court with power to inflict adequate
penalties for .slackness, strikes, lock-
outs, etc. Finally, to insure an un-
interrupted flow of munitions in the
largest quantity possible from the
United States and Canada be sent hot
foot to, America one of England's alb
lest business men, D. A. Thomas.
Meantime just to demonstrate,
Lloyd George went out into one of
the manufacturing districts where,
under the old system of sub-contract-
ing, about 10000 shells month
were being produced, injected little
ginger, and started an output of
1900 shells a month, which he ex-
poets to have increased to an average
of 100000. He believes that under
the system already inaugurated the
United Kingdom alone will soon be
able to exceed the estimated product
of the Central Continental Powers
of 25O,00O shells day.
The story of France will be found
on page two of this ISSUE