New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-08-13

because tho brass cannot be obtained TO
make the primers. This 10 due 10 tho lack
Of zinc. when the war began zinc could
be bought for something like si40 q ton;
now II costs $3.50 ton, or more. Imagine
the condition Of n factory that made a con-
tract for munitions some months ago and
now wants TO buy brassI
Il has been estimated that the zinc re-
lured to All muntion orders amounts TO
$4,000 tons, but the yearly capacity Of
eight smelters in this country Is only $780,
600 tons New smelters are building, but
naturally these take several months to COM
plete.
Take another example of war material
only required in relatively small quantities
but nevertheless Of great value magnesium.
When the war began magnesium was not
manufactured in this country at ALL IL was
imported from Europe and cost seventy-fve
cents to ore dollar pound. After the war
began it was quoted at fancy prices, like 81
or IS a pound and even at that price the
quantity which could be obtained was very
small
These are only examples out Of many which
might be cited, but they serve the purpose
we'll when we turn our attention to the
pared. They had thought out all the prob
lens Of the war before it began, as a chess
player considers all possibilities before he
makes move. They know that the Allies
in the west have only sufficient munitions
10 defend themselves, and that the Russians
have not even enough for that purpose. OBJ
viously then the proper strategy Is TO keep
the western enemy on the defensive and
follow an active offensive on the eastern
enemy, whose lack Of munitions is notorious.
At the beginning of the war the Germans
took Belgium, the greatest zinc smelling
country in the world, and they have never
let the Russians cross the frontier at MySlo-
WITT. near the zinc mines and smelters Of
Hohenlohe There the great zinc and coal
mines feed the smolters of HohenlohehUtte'
an enormous plant, the smelling capacity Of
which was being largely increased when |
was there in 1909 and 1910 Do not the
Germans also hold the richest mining coun-
try in the north Of France?
Consider also the supplies Of explosives
OF course, with our magnificent resources
we can supply unlimited quantities Of these
but time is required for their Development
Here again the Germans have thought
ahead. Not only were their own factories
orranized and developed but they have ac-
ally knew of one factory on this continent
which for years before and up 10 the be
ginning Of the war found a customer IN
Germany for all the high explosives 1t could
supply.
Under the circumstances is the severe
criticism of the British just? How long Will
II be before they are ready? Probably II
will still be some time before we can look
for anv great Improvement in the Allies
condition. While il is true that really serl-
GUS shipments Of munitions have begun
from this country, it is difficult to see how
they can reach truly adequate quantities for
some months yet The British probably have
"a large and fairly well trained army now;
but an army without munitions Is worse
than useless.
If the British are to be blamed for their
part in the land war it is because they were
not prepared and, to put it mildly, criticism
on this score hardly comes with good grace
from our country.
FRANCIS A. J. FITZGERALD.
Niagara Falls, y. Y, Aug. s, 1915.
With regard to the last point touched
upon by Mr.. FitzGerald, it is curious to re-
mark that violent and ill-informed criti-
cism on this score has been most prevalent
in certain quarters in England, where the
real lesson has not yet been learned. That
lesson obviously is that there is no real
substitute il an emergency for intelligent
preparedness.