The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1916-08-06
THIS WAR OF THE MACHINE
SHOPS

A London letter says that IN the
next six months the munitions fac
tories Of the United Kingdom will
double the capacity at which they |
ian now turn out guns. It 10 hard
10 realize just what this will mean,
In shaping the course Of the war. Let |
Il b remembered that at the outset |
overnatched her enemies.
10 an extent that was positively pre-
postsrous. in artillery and in capae-
ity to make IL; in ammunition for It
and in capacity to make that ammu-
milton. II seemed like . lead that
could never be overcome. Germany
did not believe It could be.
What the entente powers have
done 10 this:
They have built plants and in them
have constructed artillery, that to-
day in weight and numbers gives
them an actual superiority over their
enemies, on both eastern and western
fronts. They have provided ammu-
milton for 1t with such generosity
that there ID, no longer doubt Of the
allies ability to use shells Of all
kinds more freely than the Teutons
dare employ them.
Thus they have overcome the
enemy's lead. and passed him. Now
add to this the assurance that in the
next half-year they will double
pace that has been rapid enough to
enable them IN the, last TWO years to
overhaul an! enemy that. seennsd TO
have an advantage quite beyond pos
sibility Of reduction.
It is not hard to see what this must
mean. The allies will be increasing
their production Of the engines Of
war, at a time when the central
powers must long since have reached
their maximum; a maximum that
even now leaves them in second
place in producing capacity.
II this performance could be
stated in figures, it would be more
impressive; but neither side, for OBJ
vious reasons, would permit the FIR
ures to be made public.
The war becomes every day more
and more a contest between the ma
chine shop capacities Of the opposing
sides. There is no longer doubt on
which side that advantage lies. The
plan of campaign Of the allies, in the
west especially, is plainly being de-
veloped with regard to this immense
advantage.
They intend to bring up more and
more Of their artillery and the am.
munition that makes it useful; ar
ever increasing stream Of engines OF
destruction. and pound the Germans
out of trenches as they have beer
doing in recent weeks. Always ar.
tillery advantage will be employed
to accomplish this; and when once
! the Germans are driven out, they
must assume the counter offensive
and make desperate efforts to retakt
positions. This means that, while
the allies hope to make their ad
vances through the employment o.
a minimum of man power and .
maximum Of machine power, the!
will compel the enemy to counter
attack with a maximum Of MAJ
power and q minimum Of machin,
power.
The effect Of this, clearly, will b.
to compel the Germans to exhaus
their reserves Of men, already de
pleted and ultimately incapable o
standing any such drafts as tn
larger number of the allies can meet
Wave after wave Of Teuton soldier,
must dash against positions that tn
allies will have taken; men will b
used on one side, to meet steel an
smokeless powder primarily EN-
ployed by the other.
That is the campaign plan. It ha
: had some demonstration already;
. will have more in the near future
The war is entering into this phas
of industrial competition, for that
: what it really means. The side wit
I the heaviest battalions becomes ais
, the side with the greatest mobiliz,
: ton Of machine shops; and the m,
5 chine shops will determine results
4 the kind Of warfare that is now bein
l eondrrtaA