Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1915-07-01

ton for the past few days has pointed
to remarkable effort on the part Of
the British government and its agents
TO speed up the manufacturers who are
turning out ammunition. arms and war
supplies for the allies in this country.
In order that the shortage In military
essentials which has crippled the Brit
ish armies may. DO rcmcdicd in time
to start an effective offensive in the
west before winter sets in. The origi-
nal expectation OF the British govern
ments agents was 10 begin shipping
ammunition in large quantities about
the end OF July or early in August. but
1t looks now as II this date had been
anticipated by at least month.
or course, war supplies, other than
arms and ammunition, have becn going
out for months past. but up to three
weeks ago not an American shell had
reached the firingline in France. ac-
cordinE to information obtained in an
authoritative quarter, and those IA
miliar with the inside details of the
furnishing of military supplies to the
allies did not hesitate this afternoon
to assert that none OF the ammunition
which the Bethlehem Steel Company
began shipping out week ago yester-
day had yet reached France. State
ments such as those cablcd from Ger
man sources In this mornings papers
that SO per cent OF the shells fired by
the French artillery in the recent Of
lean manufacture. were branded as
ridiculous by those familiar with the
situation.
The only American ammunition firm
which has SO far shipped any shells =,
all has been the Bethlehem Steel Com
pany. which has been delivering 49,
900 loaded three-inch field artillery
shrapnei shells a day since the 2lst OF
this month. The Bethlehem Steel Com
pany has been able to execute its con-
tracts quicker than any Of its com
petitors. because, unlike them, 1t was
provided with the plant and equipment
for manufacturing ammunition. Other
companies have had TO create plants
and obtain the necessary skilled work
ers to supervise the mechanical pro-
cesses
II looks now. however, as II some of
the other contractors would also be
able to anticipate their original de-
livery dates. Delivery OF shrapnel and
high xplosive she'll parts made by
American manufacturers for the Ca
madam Car and Foundry Company,
which has large contract. is now
under way. and the shipments to the
assembling points in Canada are said
TO be increasing from week to week.
The powder companies, too. are begin
ming delivery of raw explosives. The
steamships Lord Downshire. STRAIT
havon, Strathdene. VisiEoth and West
ergate are lying in Gravesend bay.
with red warning flags flying, taking
on board explosives which are destined
for Bordeaux, Hayre and st. Nazaire,
whence they are to be distributed to
the British and French arsenals In
France, where projectiles are made up
and charged The lighters which carry
the explosives down the harbor to the
waiting ships have become one OF the
sights OF the port. II is said that aside
from the large output Of the Du Pont
works. the powder plant OF Lewis
Nixon is turning out $1,000 pounds of
guncotton a day.
Up in Connecticut, where great
deal OF the manufacturing OF war sup
have had marked economic and in
dustrinl effects. Prosperity is wide
spread. and the demand for labor is
greater than the supply. Last week
there was reported to be shortage
of 10000 to 1900 skilled mechanics
throughout the state. Some shipments
of parts OF weapons and of auxiliary
war supplies have been made. but de-
livery on the greater contracts for pro-
jectiles and armament will not begin
probably for some weeks yet.
The Locomobile Company, on the
other hand. has been sending down
squadrons Of huge motor lorres to
this city for shipment for the past
week or more. On one day recently
twenty live Of these ponderous vehi-
cIeS, whose engines are lmm 2Surably
more powerful than those of the mo-
tor trucks used for commercial pur-
poses, were counted on the road to
New York. They are turned out by the
manufacturers with only slight
wooden frame on the chassis, the per-
manent body being installed on the
other side Their run to New York
saves railroad freight charges, and is
in the nature OF a practical road trial.
In the meantime. shipping is arriving
in this port and In several others on
the Atlantic seaboard in vast quaint
ties. Practically every kind OF vessel
that can float has been collected by tho
allied governments and sent here under
charter to take aboard the supplies or
provisions which are required for mill
tary purposes. One effect of the short
age created In the available supply OF
tonnage for mercantile purposes has
been the use of schooners for carrying
coal to Liverpool. The available signs
all point to wholesale transportation OF
enormous quantities of ammunition and
supplies to France in the very near
future; and 1t is openly rumored down
town that the British Government Is
bringing every possible pressure to
bear on American manufacturers to
secure sufficient shells in the next few
weeks to enable Field Marshal Sir JOHN
French to undertake an effective Of
fensive with the new armies which he
has concentrated behind his battle line
In northern France. but which have
been powerIess for want Of ammuni-
ton.
The rush Of new orders still con-