The Detroit times., 1915-08-05
Munitions Situation Is
Much More Serious
Than Reported
STATESMEN FEEL
INCAPACITY

tThe followins story was written
dent. who has had exceptional nd
ventages In studying the situation
concerning which ne writes. His
name for obvious reasons. Is with
heidi
COPENHAGEN. July 22.-(By
Mail to New York)-England will
not be able to use Kitchener's army
for an offensive drive against the
Germans this summer. and probably
not In the autumn. II the coming
winter is severe enough to interfere
with effective military operations
there may be no MAJOR English at.
tempt TO drive the Germans back to
their own frontier until next spring
-one year late. In the meantime.
peace may come, and the war may
end without the full strength of the
British empire having a chance to
test itself against the Germans.
This information reaches the
United Press from sources In close
touch with inner conditions. both In
England and at the front. The Unit
ed Press also learns that the British
munitions situation IL much more
serious than Is generally known, and
that peace Ia nearer than is publicly
acknowledged. British statesmen
realize the empires prestige has sui.
fered severely because Of the small
part England's army has been able
to play In the continental lighting.
This is the principal reason why
England will not talk about terms
of peace at the present time. Once
Great Britain's offensive power is
abilitated, England will not be
averse to considering overtures for
ending the war.
Recovery Of military self-respect
could be gained by England II Sir
Ian Hamilton's army would bring
the Gallipoli campaign to a triumph
ant conclusion. The forcing OF the
Dardanelles would be chiefly Brit
ish victory and Constantinople's fall
would restore England's prestige.
The Gallipoli operations. therefore.
are more important than the cam
psign In France and Belgium insofar
a. their bearing on peace IL con-
cerned. Sir Ian Hamilton's task is
becoming Aoticeably lighter after
each assault against the Turkish po-
sitions and quarters not given to
baseless optimism believe the FORTH
cations guarding the Dardanelles
narrows may be subdued from the
land side by next autumn and posi-.
bly, before.
The necessity for hammering away
at the Turks is one reason why the
English army In Flanders Is 80 short
OF ammunition. The United Press
is able to state that the lack OF am.
munition Is not the sole source OF
worry TO Sir John French. Not only
has the British war officc failed to
supply sufficient shells for the troops
at the front. but also II has neglect.
ed to furnish an adequate number OF
machine guns.
Even now, nearly a year after the
outbreak OF the war, Woolwich ar
senal. London's great war munitions
factory. Ia not running at It's maxi
mum capacity. Some of the men
employed there are stock exchange
brokers who work in an amateurish
way during Saturday half holidays
and other casual occasions. Lloyd
George recently estimated that Ger
many and Austria Hungary are max.
Ing 100000 shells per day. The
United Press learns that the British
war once experts estimate 250,000
shells per month is the maximum
capacity Of all the factories of Lam
cashire, even under conditions Of
war time pressure. Lancashire is
Enslands leading manufacturing
county.
Beside making ammunition for the
army. shells must also be produced
FOR the British navy In huge guam
titles. Germany does not have to
divert the output of her arsenals in
this manner to anything like the
same extent as does England. The
British fleet has fired an enormous
quantity Of shells during the Oar
danelles operations alone which
have To be replaced; and since the
war began England's newly built
suped-dreadnoughts have made
great demands for large calibre
shells. the most diffcult Of all to
manufacture. One Of the reasons
why the British army is 30 short Of
shells is the vital necessity for Eng
land to keep her fleet lavishly sup
piled with ammunition as the first
principle Of her seaf-preservation.
The war II costing England U.s.
c00.000 day. Each month of the
war adds 100000 In interest
charges that must be raised annual
ly hereafter by increased taxation.
II the national debt continues 10 pile
up. and II. after months OF waiting.
the accumulated shells fail to drive
the Germans more than few miles
back toward their own territory, will
the effort have been worth the cost?
British statesmen are beginning