South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1915-03-16
LABOR SCARCITY
HURTING BRITISH
Government May Take Over
Factories for Production of
War Material = Excessive
Drinking Partly to Blame.

LONDON, March 16.-"Our progress
in equipping the army has been seri-
ously hampered by the failure TO OBJ
tain sufficient labor and the necessary
plant for the supply OF war material"
said Lord Kitchener, secretary for
war. in the house of lords Monday
evening.
Lord Kitchener held excessive drink
ing partly TO blame for this condition.
which he said was causing him ''seri-
Gus anxiety"
He urgea the passage of the bill au-
thorizing the government TO take
over factories for the production OF
war material and recommended that
men who served their country in MAX
ing this material receive field medals
like the soldiers at the front.
Notwithstanding our great efforts,
he said 1--WE have unfortunately found
that the output OF munitions of war
does not equal our necessities and does
not fulfill expectations A very large
number of our orders have not been
completed on the dates for which
they were promised.
The supply OF material for the
next two or three months is causing
me very serious anxiety. The enOr-
nous output which we require to place
our troops in the field. thoroughly
equipped and with sufficient ammuni-
ton, is undoubtedly possible, but can
only be obtained by careful and delsb-
crate organization. We must develop
all the resources of the country and
enable each competent workman 10
utilize in the most useful manner pos
sible all his ability and energy in the
common object that we all have in
view, which is the successful prOsecu-
ton OF the war TO u victorious termi-
nation.
Drink Is Blamed.
'IR some cases the temptations TO
drink account for the failure to work
up TO the high standard expected. L
cannot too earnestly point out that
unless the whole nation works with us
and for us. not only supplying the
manhood of the country 10 serve in
the ranks, but also supplying the nee
'essary arms. ammunition and equip
ment, successful operations in the va
riOus parts of the world in which we
are engaged will be very seriously
hampered and delayed
when the new plant is available
for the production of war material
these firms not now engaged should
release from their own work the labor
necessary to keep the machinery fully
occupied. This result can be obtain
ed under the provisions of the bill
about to be introduced whereby i'm
nOEl1IlL
der government control
Reviewing recent military opera
tions, Lord Kitchener mentioned es-
pecially the Canadian division, the
men Of which he said, had shown
their mettle and received the warm
commentator OF Sir John French for
their high spirit and bravery. They
have done their part
Speaking of the capture of NeuNe
Chapeue and L'Epinette. he said:
"Our casualties in the three days
fighting. though probably severe,
were not nearly so heavy rs the enc
my's. a large number of prisoners
were taken"
New Troops I'm France.
Lord Kitchener announced that
since his last speech substantial rein
fOrCements have been sent to France.
These included the Canadians, the
North Midland and the second Lon
don divisions with other units.
These" he said, were the first
complete divisions OF the territorial
force to go TO France, where ] am sure
they Will do credit To themselves"
The health of the troops, he said
was remarkably good. The French
army. except for slight withdrawal
near scissors owing TO reinforcements
being cut off by the swollen Aisne. had
made further important progress at
various parts of the line. especially
in Champagne.
"In the eastern theater violent Ger
man attacks directed against Warsaw
have failed" ne said. There was
considerable concentration of German
troops i'm the attack upon the Russian
positions in east Prussia. After caus-
ing a retirement of the Russian forces
they are now either we'll held or are
being driven back.
Turks Arc Defeated.
I'm the Caucasus fresh defeats have
been inflicted by the Russians upon
the Turks. The latter were repulsed
hv our forces in Egypt when they at
tempted an attack upon the Suez ca
nal.
The situation in the Dardanelles is
wei lin hand"
In the house o. commons, Under.
Foreign Secretary Primrose stated
that the British government was TAX
ing all possible steps through the good
offices of the United States To ensure
the safety of British subjects IN Mex
leo"
In reply 10 questions about the Jap
.nese demands upon China he stated
that one or two Of them might be con-
sidered as coming within the category
of matters reserved for settlement at
the close OF the war in accordance
with the Joint understanding OF the
allies.