The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1915-09-23
Special Corresponds nee 10 The srS.

dvanc by the enemies OF compulsory
military service is the danger of Gripping
the essential trades of Great Britain,
and particularly the Industries engaged
In the manufacture OF war material. An
Idea of the tremendous scale on which
war equipment of every description Is
being manufactured In Great Britain In
found in statistics relating to the textile
industries In Leeds and other big York
shire towns where mills. big and small.
are working night and day to turn out
huge quantities of khaki cloth not only
for the British troops but for those Of
the allies as we'll. The belligerent troops
are now taking to wearing khaki and
the other allies are evidently doing the
same, for French, Russian n Italian
officers are often seen wearing khaki
uniforms Of the regulation type.
In one big mill In Yorkshire 1000
miles of khaki, about fifty sin inches
wide. II being woven, dyed and turned
into 100000 complete suits for soldiers
In "A week. When the war started how
and where to get khaki and tailors to
make 1t up into garments quickly enough
to Keep pace with recruiting Inc needs
OF the forces In the field was almost as
serious a problem as that OF inducing
men to enlist. Both these problems, how.
ever. were solved with equal rapidity.
Advisers OF the War Department
quickly convinced the authorities that
they must look TO the great cloth manu-
featuring area OF the West Riding OF
Yorkshire not only for khaki bur also
for tailors to convert Il into uniforms.
All manufactures whose machinery and
hands could make khaki throughout
Yorkshire were put on their mettle. M
right vigorously did they respond % the
call As Leeds IL quite competent AMI
willing TO be a centre for receiving an |
distributing ood and clothing for a
many men as are likely to he brOughc
within compass of the northern COM
mand. hat city was choseu as the CEN
tire for storing and distributing both food
and eliot ing for all the military units in
the entire area.
York Centre az Industry.
To Kings Mills practically all the
Khaki destined Ia he worn 10y soldiers in
the northern command comes. The
West Riding contributes n very large
share nearly all the rest is produced
within the county ~ York. All this vast
weight ~ cloth arrives neatly packed In
cInNaS bound bales. not too heavy To
handle, and all bearing an official inn
primatur denOting that a Government
textile expert has approved the cloth at
the mills, which saves time. Every atom
Of material that goes To the makeup OF
u military suit comes To- this centre.
mostly by rail. but busy railways are
relieved 10y motor trucks and
huise drawn wagons Manchester and
other centres send large ~c"nsignments Of
cotton. thread and other material for
Innings. trimmings. sc. Birmingham is
laid under heavy tribute FOR buttons and
huckies. ana other parts III the Country
contribute.
Every big ludust.Ii! centre Of England
= directed To- making things associated
with the Wal and the proportion Of the
population which Is now working ON war
material - In many cases as high as 90
per cent, taking into account of course,
only the industrial ability of the popula-
ton \ cunctct" example ~ what is being
done .s found IN BIRMINGHAM. where the
has transformed the entire appear-
'nce OF the. city, and whore a tremendous
quantity Of wal material of every de-
srIiutiOn = being turned out.
TIL" first action on tn. part OF the au-
thpr.ticS Immediately after the outbreak
Of the war was 10 create a munitions
committee. Birmingham became the
'"ntr" OF an extensive muuition area,
reaching as far a. Crewe and taking in
the populous surrounding towns OF VOL
v"rhamptuu. Worcester. kidderminster
ana Wa.lsal. In all these smaller towns
subcommittee were set up which are
Keeping In close touch with the main
munitions committ"" at Birmingham.
IheSe committees PREPARED detailed re-
ports of trr capacity Of all the various
'I'iories ara plants FOR turning out war
mate IA. or military equipment u the
ceptral committee AT Birmingham havine
compiled and analyzed ,hese reports
he"ps in close touch with the Ministry
of Munitions in London.