Oxford Democrat., 1915-11-23
japan RUSHING
AID TO THE ALLIES
Sacrifices Secrecy IN Eager
ness to Help England
RAILWAY MEN 60 TO FRANCE
Ammunition Plants Working at Top
Speed, and Most Of Thsir Product 10
Shipped to Russia-FinanelaI Help 10
Also Being Considered by Tokyo
Bankers.

The work Of organizing for the In
creased manufacture Of war supplies,
especially for Russia, is proceeding IN
japan. At first the military author1-
ties were quite averse to permitting
the manufacture Of munitions by p1-
yats factories, but they are DOW ready
to utilize every possible means, public
and private, for giving practical as
sistance to the allies as much as pos
sible and as speedily as possible, says
a Tokyo correspondent Of the Chicago
Daily News.
Therefore It Is no surprise to read
In the Jill Shimpo that contract has
been made between a firm In Vladi-
yostok and an Osaka merchant for Ger
tain war materials Of the value OF
1900, 900 yen about sS,5oo,O00), to be
supplied by the end Of next May.
Feared Revealing Of seersts.
The following Is quoted from the
Japan Times:
'The army authorities were known
to be purposing to monopolhe the man
uufacture Of arms and ammunition.
For that purpose they were strongly
opposed to the existence Of private fac-
tories for manufacturing war materi-
ais. This opposition was chiefly based
upon the necessity Of keeping military
secrets to themselves.
snow, however, great change mas
come over their attitude In this re-
spect They are now found to be en-
couraging private enterprise to meet
the Russian demand. They have al
ready shown themselves willing to
help private undertakings with their
experience In the manufacture Of war
materials. Military experts have been
ordered to assist private concerns.
ut Is really remarkable that such a
change has come over the attitude OF
the military authorities, who are gem
orally identified with conservatism and
exclusiveness Of the first order. This
Is considered to be one Of the most
striking effects Of the present war,
and before it is ended It Is felt that
Japan must be prepared to receive
much more Of the influence causing
uuexpected transformations In various
forms.
1.-THE war In Europe has already
caused not a few unexpected tenden-
cies, among which the new attitude OF
the military authorities Is certainly the
most conspicuous. The influence OF
the war may extend to other quarters,
and Japan in her endeavor to assist
Russia and her allies may ultimately
reap the benefit Of realizing remark
able progress In her manufacturing
capacities when the war Is ended.
However, this is looking only at the
bright side, and 1t VIII be we'll for the
people to be prepared for whatever
emergencies may be brought up BY the
greatest Of the wars ever fought BY
the nations"
Railway Workers For Franco.
Another way Of helping the allies Is
pointed out by the Japan Times In
these lines:
"It is reported that the railway board
has recently received overtures from
the French government for the supply
of japanese railway engineers and
| drivers because Of the scarcity Of rail.
way and tramcar drivers In France,
where almost all men between twenty
and fifty years Of age have been sent
| to the front The terms proposed are
said to be $50 yen (S9O month salary
and extra allowance Of go zen a month,
the period Of contract being five years
| The travelling expenses are to be borne
by the French government The au'
thorities are not yet determined as to
whether the overtures be accepted OF
not.
'4The number Of engineers and drv.
ers required Is not given, but as there
are about 1929 engineers and fremen
In the service of the japanese govern,
ment railways at present some Of the
number could be sent to France. Be
sides these there are many reserve On
gineers who would be glad to accept
the offer in view Of the high salary
offered.
1.-The Tokyo civic electric bureau can
also supply some 1000 drivers from
its reserve force. Among the drivers
In the employ Of the civic electric bu.
reau there are a number Of graduates
Of private universities, middle schools
or other institutions who can be recon-
mended for the service proposed. A
monthly salary Of 1S0 yen, with an
extra allowance Of 90 yen month, Is
far better treatment than given tc
junior high officials Of the government
fresh from the universities or field
officers of the army or professors OF
the higher schools"
1t has also been suggested that Japan
hay assist the allies financially. She
has 4OO,OOO,OOO yen (nearly S200,O
OOO) of gold In London and would place
that a: the disposal Of Great Britain on
,o<iofo oforr formo