The sun., 1916-09-17

MI been Il topic OF public in
terest for months, and lat
terly industrial preparedness - the
real foundation OF national defence
has come in for its share Il the pub
lies attention. 1t is therefore some
thing Of n shock to the average cit!-
zen TO be told by an efficiency ergi-
neer that the country is sadly lacking
In managerial ability and hat where
manufacturers have turned 10 the
making Of munitions with some noti-
bic failures the root OF unsuccess lies
in the prevalence OF "~incompctency in
high places" This does rot 4 we'll
Cor the future. because whether il he
the struggle OF war or the commercial
competition Of peace, the palm VII. 20
only TO the thoroughly III.
at is NJ more just 10 %generalizc In
this matter than IL woJld lie to pick
out individual deficiencies IN any d.
rection and then proceed TO condemn
awhole Class" said Howard r.. Coffin.
chairman of the & mmittee on Indus
tra, Preparedness OF the Naval Con-
sl.,ing Board. when the criticism was
called 10 his attention. The work Of
the committee during the last five
months in ~canvassing the industrial
resources OF this country has made 1t
clear how capable We are as n nation
to provide all If the mechanical thews
Of modern warfare. Nevertheless, we
must recognize that actual readiness
imposes n big and an unfamiliar task
upon our producers; and this has been
emphasized by the difficulties that GER
tain If our manufacturers have had
n contend with fl supplying NUM-
't!ons to European bclligcrents. Fall
urcs there have been. as the public
well knows, but 1t Is doubtful II the
man in tho street Is even supcriicially
aware Of the underlying reasons. The
explanation Is many sided and 1t
should be a source Of satisfaction to
"a that incompetence has played only
q small part in the business disap-
pointments.
I'm working for tho Allies, our
manufacturers have had 10 fac en-
t!rely new problcIms-new l. their
normal activities, and in this their en-
pericnce has been identical with that
Of their fellows in Canada. England,
France, Russia, Italy. SC, and their
failures probably less conspicuous
Ian the failures " their foreign COM
pctltOrs. on the face OF II, the maxi
Ng x munitions did not appear to
present insurmountab.e Obstacles, par
t~cularly because of the facilities offered
by American machine tools. Just he
tanned lurking troubles that the manu-
f%ac,iror could not forosec.
An example can be quoted from
oro 4 our leading trade journals; II
Ni.nes the experience 81 many of our
enterprises that have turned their
plants into mun!t!on shops: a bust
[ ness man whose contract for shells
looked Ike 100 per cent. profit when 1t
Was aiken . says that 80 many un-
expo ted h~indranCcs TO rapid and ELL
'"nt production have turned up that
Il" may not make a dollar
'TEe Captious may argue that this
h.H 81 prcscicncc is proof OF 'incom-
Iet"ncy in high places So possibly il
~ but the blame is to be laid upon
Foreign shoulders in most instances.
and our WI people have been victims
o' conditions hat they could not con
Hol and had no reason to believe would
I develop. Let me make this plain, and
A'o do so ! shall instance the experience
W ole OF u large arms companies. q
concern that has been in the business
'or many years and 80 wal asked t.
undertake the manufacture Of hun.
cTeds ~ thousands OF rifles. The guns
however. were not like those ordina.
my turned out by them, but involved
no technical difficulties other thar
changes ~ patterns. calibre and thu
"Sc' The contract was signed. and III,