The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1915-06-26
Government Alarmed
 At Loss of Experts
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 Captain Greedy c. Sheppard, Ord of the Coast Arti1lery,) resigned re- gently; had been an expert employed at the Springfield Arsenal
 The two officers who resigned, but whose resignations have not been ac- cepted, pending the delivery of Attor- ney General Gregory's opinion, are:
 Lieut.. Col. Odus c. Horney, Ord nance Department, one of the perma- nent staff officers of ordnance, now in charge of the powder plant of the United States Government at Picatin- ny Arsenal, near Dover, N J.
 Major William A. Phillips, an In fantry officer detailed to the Ord nance Departments Staff. for a~num- Der of years on duty at the Frankford Arsenal at Philadelphia. but now as signed to duty at the Army Proving Grounds at Sandy Hook.
 Officers of the army refuse to dis cuss any of these cases for pub1ica- ton and high officials declined to comment on them The exodus of these ordnance experts from the ser vice began. last December, and the question whether the department should continue to accept such resigna- tions does not appear to have raised a serious issue until the receipt of the resignations of Lieut. Col. Horney and of Major Phillips. It is understood that both of these officers desire to be- come affiliated with munition compa- nies. As officers of the United States Army they could not become identi- fled with any concern which manu- facture war supplies which go to any belligerent nation in Europe. Private manufacturing companies have a right, under the present status of na- tfonal and international law, to man. ufacture and sell munitions of war to any belligerent-
 The demand made by European bel ligerents upon private concerns in this country for the manufacture of guns powder, and ammunition during the last nine months has caused a re- markabIe development of munition plants. Factories formerly engaged in the manufacture of other products have received sub-oontracts for forg- 1ngs and other forms of war material. The facilities of automobile plants even have been placed in some instan- ces at the disposal of contractors for war supplies. The orders given by agents of be11igerent Governments have created an extraordinary and ab- normal demand for, labor, skilled arti- sans, and for ordnance experts.
 It was learned tonight that nu- merous private concerns. which en- parked on the manufacture of war munitions, have discovered the need I cesses of manufacture and are in the market for ordnance officers of the army if they can be obtained.
 Scores of skilled worknen are 1eav- ing the employment of the Govern ment arsenals to accept more highly remuneratfve employment with pri- vate ammunition and gunmaking g companies. Many workmen have left the Frankford Arsenal at Philadel- phia, and for the first time in years | that arsenal needs employees, despite | the fact that it is situated in one of the greatest labor mara<ets of the counry. These men gre experts in their lines and have signed 1ong-tern tcontracts at pay considerably in ex- l cess of what the Government was pay ing them. Colonel George Montgom- cry, in command of the arsenal, has recommended to the War Department 9, 25 per cent. increase in the wages of Skilled mechanics at the arsenal, and 1 Assistant Secretary of War Henry 1 Breckinridge has urged that this | recommendation be approved.
 Officers of the army and navy have l frequently rendered their resignations and had them accepted but the issue now put up sQuare1y to Attorney Gen | era1 Gregory is whether the Govern ment is required to accept an army of fcer's resignation when the latter in 1 sists upon his desire to leave the ser