Honolulu star-bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1912-2010, 1916-09-19
WITH SHOT AND SHELL.

What tremendous expenditures OF shells the Allies
are making in the various drives may dimly b
realized from a statement before the House of Com
mons few days ago BY the new minister of mum
tons, Mr.. Montagr. He gave an astounding ARA,
OF figures. which were summarized as follows:
SheIls-The outpu, which 1S14-15 1t took IL whole
months to produce now be attained from home
sources in the following periods:
1Spounder ammunition ....... weeks
Field howtzer ammunition weeks.
Medumsize1 shell III days
Heavy shell .................. days
II we lump all natures of gun and howitzer ammu-
milton together, We now manufacturing and issu-
ing to France every week about much as the whole
prewar stock Of land service ammunition in the
try.
ArtfIery-We are now turning out in a month near
ly twice s many big guns in existence for
land service when the ministry started The monthly
output Of heavy guns increased than skiold be
tween June 1915 and June 1915 and the present rate
OF output will eventually be nearly doubled.
Machine Guns.--Tbe weekly output has increased.
since the ministry vas founded. fourteenfold and is
still increasing We shall very shortly have satisfied
all the requirements OF the British army, and will
then be able to turn manufacture exclusively to
supply our Allies.
Rffes-Nearly -hree times as many new rifles we're
accepted in the first year Of the minstrys activities
in 191415, is matter for congratulaton that the
equipment Of our army now overseas both In machine
guns and In rifles, has been accomplished from home
sources alone.
Small Arms Ammunition-The home production is
now three times much a week year ago We
have been able to meet all demands made by the war
Office, and yet build up a stock which should
anxiety for the future.
High Explosives.-The production is Sc times
much as it at the beginning of 1915 The week
y consumption is between 1000 and $4,000 times the
amount required for land service ammunition manu-
featured in September, 1914.
Weapons for Trench Warfare-The output Of bombs
increased 33fold between May. 1915 and May 1916.
In addition to equpping its own armies, the Brit
ish government is rendering substantial aid to most
il not all of it's allies third of the entire shepro
ducton of Britain is being sent to France. Twenty
per- cent of the machnetoOl production of the coun
try is destined for other than British Russia,
Italy, France and now Rumania are aided by the
British production. and the Serbian army is pOpu-
larly supposed to have been almost entirely re-
equipped by the same ally. .~r..., ~%>s.-'. =
An idea Of the expenditure Of explosives in a
drive such as that started last week on the Somme,
was given by Minister Montagu when he said that
the preliminary bombardments before sall infantry
attack now consume more light and medium ammu.
milton than the total amount manufactured at home
during the first IL months of war. . r.
Minister M6ntagu made another interesting state
nent--that ultimately Britain will be able to do
without American shell entirely. This is taken as
an ntimation that the time is not far distant.