The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1915-12-07
DUTCH W0RKMEN
MUST! STAY B ! !.
q, r culiar Problems.
Face the r eople of the
4 Netherlands.

" (By: Associated Press!l

y ~ (Bys Associated Press!l !, X.
THE! HAGuE Netherlands. Dec. q
The restrictions by the Dutch Gov:
ernment OF; movements Of metal work.
ers who were Intending, to, 20 to Great,
Britain to take X advantage OF high
wages there has called attention to
theiposition Of the n Netherlands In con:
snection with war supplies. -
X The enforcement Of the regulation
was a surprise to the workmen con.
Ecerned. several thousand OF, whose com.
rades:haye been employed in German
munition factories since ithe 'beg ginning
of the war, The labor representatives
who conferred with the .goyernment!of.
feials were told that the action OF the
authorities was necessary because SO
many men were leaving whose service
would be Invaluable to the country in
case OF need, and that the prohibition
| Of emigration is now applicable with.
out regard to which country they
might. wish to. co.. Z. q si;Js. ~
The Metal Workers Union has en-.
tered an energetic protest against the
stoppageG of its members emigration,
and has brought forward statistics to
show that many of them are out .of
work in, this country. At the sam time
the Union demands, in case the order
should remain in force. an increase OF
TO, per cent. in the mems wages, and
the Government is considering the
problem thus brought forward as It al.
reefs the workers OF the government
factories.s n I; B !. ~ :
For many years some OF! the Dutch
newspapers have been calling atten.
ton 70 the necessity, OF ablishing ef.
heient arsenals and 'munition factories
under Dutch state control TO provide
sufficient war material for the Dutch.
army under all conditions, instead Of
leaving the military forces Of the conn.
Try as hitherto dependent on foreign
contractors. Possibly az, a result Of
ms agitation, the state since January.
1919 has possessed an arms and ,amm,,.
milton factory on the Hembrug at Am.
sterdam and an arsenal at Delft These
state institutions have been recently
extended to include the construction
OF certain parts OF flying machines and
sea mines. but the entire output ia
6ased on the requirements OF the small
Dutch army on a peace footing.
much has been done since the be.
ginning OF the European war! to place
the Dutch army in a position to cone
with modern conditions of lighting.
Under the circumstances the govern.
ment deems 1t unwise to publish even
approximate figures as to what has
been done. but III. may be taken asa
TACT that the Netherlands are prepare1
for most eventualities. :, Z r. r
me army possesses a good rife. ra.
ther light as compared with Others: n,
uses IN Europe, and the country has
enough iof. them to arm all 'its trained
.infantrSmen. Rifle. ammunition. too ia
on hand in u satisfactory I ana ntitjes
| Ieckoned on the & basis of immense
numbers Of cartridges fred off In mod.
ern engagements. Several private fac.
tories are engaged sin manufacturing
under the supervision OF, the munitions
committee of the government
Z. AS TO the Dutch fartillery, the army
experts have followed closely the oper.
atoms going on all around! They have
made tn cir calculations1ast to the MN.
per OF shells to have ready for each
piece or ordnance and in ali iprobabil.
ltys nave provided for even = create
Quantities of shells than were con sid.
cred indispensable by the French, and
German gunnery experts before the
opening Of tilities. Provision wa
then made by the French for eich niece
of)heldi ordnance sent on active servicsi
to Sbe supplied with $40 shells Ths
I ~ onithe other hand calculated
sistsoso was an ample supply. Both
nave proved incredibly far below the
aetualarequirementss and the Dutch
suhners are understood to have taken
coentzance of this fact. = A ~ -
=: As 70 the guns themselves. the
Dutch have come to : the conclusion,
Una, their artillery must be- strenetb.
ened. and itSts believed that siichi
mas already been accomplished In this
direction. both as, regards light and
heavy field pieces and machine GINS
,Lhe ordinary field guns in use In the
Dutch army! mot differ yery3 preativ.
;pons *. : :, = Il ~ YEA ga
In Holland the guns Of the field mr..
tlliery have many times to beycarried
by water. and guns are aften. eYercissa
m nat, ms transportation. In every irri,:
gation canal are numerous shallow.
inat4ottomed sscows used for carrying
cattle and manure These are put to
use 3y the artillerymen. Two of them
are placed side by side and mad fast.
Tibet gun and its carriage are then,
slipped aboard along; planks used as
runners; each ;ofs the scows holding two