Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1915-09-12
IMPORTANT PART IN WAR
IS PLAYED BY INDUSTRY
Charles Humbert, Leading French
Military EXpcrtssSays Production Of
Firearms Will Decide Victory.
GERMANS WELL AWARE OF 1T
Declares Advantage of Enemy in
Using Heavy Artillery Is Only
Temporary-Profit From United
States Through Freedom of Seas.

| PARIS, September 11--Senator Charle
, Humbcrt. ono OF the leading members
| OF the Senate Committee on Military
Affairs. has written for the Associated
Press tho subtoined article on the :cla
ton of industry to the war Senator
Humbert has been conducting the sue
/: cessful campaign for the high pressure
production by the whole industrial re-
sources of France of the shells and
guns which he and his colleagues con-
slider essential to victory. He is the
new proprietor or lie Journal. with a
circulation of about 100000. Senator
Humbert writes:
The important part played by in
only to the power and the perfection
OF firearms. but even more 10 the im-
mense number of men in line. These
millions of combatants would he moth
massacre without the tools of combat.
which must necessarily he supplied and
renewed, and which. for their manu-
facturc i'll sufficient quantities. require
the mobilIxatio OF numerous factories
provided with the means of turning
out the most modern instruments of
war.
Long before the war il could be seen
what character the hostiiitics would
take on. Personally. ] predicted IT.
The Germans. especially, were very we'll
aware OF 1t, and II is only necessary to
think for moment OF the formidable
preparations they had made to realize
that they could put al the service of
their warlike intentions military ma
chinery ready to its last detail. The
work they have done OF recent years
TO renew their artillery and TO supply
their armies with heavy long range
guns sufficiently wieldy to be able to
follow the movements OF their troops,
was most significant, regret very
deeply that my own country, in spite
of oft-repcated warnings. did not fol-
low their example. And yet il ought
to have been pretty evident that in this
century Of scientific progress. of ma
chineryt TO the limit. supplies would
play in war part as important as they
play in the economic life OF every day.
0PEN-COUNTRY MANEUVERS
ARE COMPLETELY RENOUNCED
Put the actual experience OF war
has gone far beyond any foresight for
it, The destructive power OF the fire.
arms-rifles. machine guns, RAPID fire
guns Of all calibers--has been so re-
vealcd on The field OF battle that the
comOatants have had TO rcnounce com
pletely the system OF maneuvering in
open country. Every troop which at
tcmpts 20 advance in the open against
n well-armed enemy awaiting the at
tack is doomed fatally TO disaster: in
an instant the fire Of machine guns
mows down the ranks like a blade OF
steel moving down grain. and the vol
lcys OF artillery mcthodically annihi-
lates them. letting nothing escape
That is the reason for the necessity
for seeking protection, as much as may
be. against these storms of steel and
explosives; ii is the reason for the
cnorm Gus development OF field fortiISa-
tons, trenches, underground chambers
redouhts, concealed Shelters, and SO on.
The old fOrtitica'ions Of other times.
fixed. standing out, marked in advance
for tho fire OF tho cncmys artillery,
cannot hold out against the projectiles