Evening journal., 1916-09-16
THE WISH
each She duplicate oi

Frankford.
Where in Heavens name do certain
enthusiasts think the Government
could obtain at moments notice
or at a years notice for that matter
the shops. the machines and the
men trained TO manufacture 365
shells for every one we now make
Munitions and guns can't be extempo-
srized out OF the air like rabbits and
harps at a spiritualistic seance.
Neither can they always be purchases
at the declaration Of war. Remember
that five months is none too long a
time to allow for the manufacture Of
a modern field-gun battery, and. while
we are creating the machinery and
training the men TO make these
things. what will be our fortunes?
You marvel how Germany supplied
her needs in this respect. Her readi-
ness to assume the terrific munition
drain peculiar to modern warfare was
not any miracle. but the logical result
of the realization that shells and gunf
cannot be made in a day by unframed
men. Years ago Germany knew how
many shells each little machine shop
could make, and she gave these shops
actual practice in making them. The
dread fear OF the dollar incentive"
did not deter her from teaching what
she knew to be for the good Of the
entire people.
A certain true story we'll illustrates
the meaning Of real preparedness:
It is the afternoon of July 2S,
1914, in a quiet little German valley.
To the right, over there behind that
growth OF trees where you see the
smoke arising. is a huge manufactur-
ing plant. The noon-day sun is shin
ing down on the peasants at work in
the field, and the atmosphere of peace
ful industry is everywhere.
But now it is 200 o'clock p. m. The
telegraph key in the Office Of that
manufacturing plant clicks furiousiy.
War has been declared, and the ma
tion needs arms and men, and needs
them quiclklyl
Now what do you suppose Is hap
pening over there in that factory? Is
there the fussing and fuming and de-
lay that we witnessed last March
down by the Rio Grande7 There is
not. Is the machinery stopped and
the plant shut down? No. The lathes
and milling machines hardly hesitate
in their whirring, but-instead Of
turning out magnetos, rifle parts be-
gin to clatter into the shipping room
At 2.10 o'clock the employees formed
in line and marched by the pay win
dow where each received a little slip
of paper bearing exact instructions as
to what each individual should do.
One-third reported Immediately at the
recruiting station to receive arms and
equipment for the front Another
third. according to instructions. re-
ported for duty as expert repairmen
on automobiles and aeroplane ignition
systems, and one-third returned TO
their lathes and devoted themselves
TO the manufacture OF rifle parts In
short, each man had a preordained
duty that fitted cog for cog with the
needs of the moment.
How long do you suppose 1t would
take you TO change your plant from
its present product to the production
of rifle parts? Wouldn't year be
minimum estimate of the time re-
Quired? Yet over there in that little
German valley. one hours time saw
the last magnetic rushed from the shop
and the appearance of the first rifle
lock; one hours time turned the huge
factory from magnetos to war equip
ment. n-
That illustrates what we mean BY
real preparedness. or course the
fixtures and jgs we're ready. and
doubtless had been ready for months
or years. OF course the drawings
the plans. the gauges, and the tools
we're there ,ready-prepared. Oi
| course those men who were delegated
to remain at their lathes knew how t,
make rifle parts. for they had had ex
perience In making them. The Gov
ernment saw to that. The fear o
dollar incentive did not prevent
from teaching them how TO serv'
their country in its hour of travail
| Instead of eliminating this "dolla
incentive" IL appears that our futur'
Government contracts could be scat
tered broadcast among private corpo
rations so that every little shol
throughout the land and every ma
chinist may be able TO recognize
shell. when he meets It. Thus n,
precious time will be lost in tediou
introductions when the need shal
arise.
But unfortunately our Congressmel
are not versed in things mechanical
Therefore, to them. the change fror
the production OF magnetos to riff
parts within a single hours tim
seems like nothing more than a prett
and spectacular bit OF hurry-up worl
II would be a great service to tn
nation, il some one would tell then
that a change of this nature require
months OF preliminary thought and la
Dor: that figs and fixtures and die
are not the product OF moment; tha
designs. blue-prfnts and gauges d.
not grow on trees, and that inter
) changeability OF parts and intelligen
p inspection are the result of trainin
J and not Of inspiration.
Merely taking census OF our man
= ufacturing plants to determine thei
possibilities as sources Of war sup
ply would in itself be useless. IL W
. are to have a real preparedness, on
manufacturing plants must be furn
= ished in advance with all those dc
signs, those jigs and those gauges 70
] the manufacture of war materials TO
which they are best fitted; they mus
= have those blue-points and those fix
r lures in readiness. and Furthermore
J they must be regularly inspected =