New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-08-09


in France began their great lombard
ment on June 81 and for days hurled
into the German lines such an ava
lanche of steel and lead as the world
had never known before. even the peo-
pie of England wondered that it had
been possible to assemble so vast
store of munitions. The story of how
these supplies were created is one OF
the most important chapters in the
history of British achievement during
the war.
At the outbreak OF hostilities there
were only three important govern
ment munitions factories in the Brit
ish Isles. To-day some four thousand
eovernment-controlle firms, employ
ing more than 100000 workers, are
turning out virtually all the equip
ment of 100000 British soldiers in
the field.
This great industry has been organ
lied in a little more than a year by
the Ministry of Munitions. established
in May, 1915, under David Lloyd
George. Every available resource OF
the country has been drawn on for the
PRODUCTION of munitions. The largest
of the new plants covers an area nine
miles long and from three to four
miles wide.
Five Thousand Supervise Work.
A staff of 5000 has been required to
supervise the work. At the head, and
responsible only to the Minister OF
Munitions, is DR.. Christopher Addison,
internationally known for medical re-
search work. For years he has been
holding a seat in the House of Com
mons and had been Parliamentary sec
retary to the Board of Educatioh be-
fore entering on his present duties.
Every detail of munitions production
is known to Dr. Addison, and during
an interview with a representative OF
The Associated Press he told as mucn
Of the creation of this industry as
could be made public.
At the outset he denied the state
ment made in America that II 1t were
not for munitions furnished by the
United States Great Britain would have
to quit the war. -,
THAT is preposterous. of course,
said DR.. Addison. "The United States
has furnished and is furnishing many
raw materials, but OF actual shells
America has provided us with very
small percentage.
Confectioners Make Shells.
Shell bodies or the components Of
shells are being made in confectionery
works, by a music roll manufacturer,
by an infants food maker, by a candle
maker, by a -four miller, by tobacco
merchant, by an advertising agent, IN
several breweries, by some job. masters
by a glazier, by syphon manufacturers,
and so on. Shells, and good shells,
have been turned out by machines and
methods which would be horrifying to
apostles of orthodoxy.
Three weeks ago there were being
turned out weekly by firms who year
ago had not been engaged in munition
work sixteen times as many heavy
shells as were being produced year
ago by all the national plants and prl-
waite armament firms put together.
Manufacturers have sacrificed their
business and goodwill TO take up the
manufacture of munitions. They have
done it ungrudgingly. Many will md
themselves at the end of the year with
a great part Of their goodwill Jeop-
ardzed or lost.
But after bringing in private firms
II became evident that the output
would still be insufficient, so the MIN
istry of Munitions provided large
number Of Single purpose factories.
Skilled engineers divided the work up
into repetition operations. such rs
could be done with a few weeks tram
ing by women or unskilled labor.
There are now ffty-three factories OF
this kind, all of which have either been
built or reconstructed by the govern
ment.
More Explosive Works.
Nineteen special explosive works
have also been provided, practically
doubling the whole previous output OF
the country. Fourteen filling factories
have also been provided since last Au-
gust. Altogether, thore are now ninety
national factories which have been
equipped with machinery and IN most
cases built during the last twelve
months.
Eve can now produce in Hess than a
month as many light shells as could
have been turned out in the whole year