Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1917-05-23

time when armament firms are short
OF the necessary plant. II is unfortun-
lately a fact that the army during the
first year of the war suffered from
shortage of all kinds Of munitions
which fact led to the setting up OF O
ministry Of munitions in June 1913. the
ministry of munitions, although II mas
been in existence only fifteen months
has on It's central staff over 5000 per-
sons and controls an expenditure OF
over So, ZOO, 900 day. There are no"
95 national factories working Tor lano
service, nearly all OF which have been
planned, built and are operated by the
ministry OF munitions; and 43l9 firms
working upon war material are CON
trolled by this ministry.
i BY June of this year the number OF
persons employed under this ministry
was over 2,250,000, of which about 400,
600 are women. Forty-fiv Thousand
skilled men have been released from
| the army and are now mployed In mu
4 milton factories, and many hundreds OF
people have been trained in schools as
tool settlers lead burners, plumbers
gauge makers etc.
| Women are nc unemployed upon some
500 different munitlon processes, two
thirds Of which had never previously
been performed by women.
The following statement was made
in the house Of commons by the min
lister of munitions in August this year:
"The output which IN 1sA-1915 II
IA he
can now be attained from home sources
in the following periods:
For 1s-pounder ammunition in three
weeks.
For field howitzer ammunition In
two weeks.
For medium sized shell in eleven
days
"For heavy shell in four days"
At present there are being turned
out in a month nearly twice as many
big guns as were in existence for land
service fifteen months ago; and the
present rate OF output will eventually
be nearly doubled; and this when APP
proximately half the engineering ca
pacIty Of the country Is working Tor
the navy.
The total number Of machine guns IN
existence fifteen months ago can now
be produced in from three to 1our
weeks at the present rate of output.
The output Of rifles for the last year
has been three times that of the first
year Of the war. The equipping OF the
army now overseas as regards ma
chine guns and rifles has been wholly
done from home sources
| 4, proi net ion OF small
ammunition is now three times as much
per week as a year ago. and large
surplus stock has ben built up.
The production Of high explosives is
sixty-six times as large as it was at
the beginning Of 1915. by far the great
err part of 1t being produced in govern
ment factories.
| A substantial quantity OF finished
munitions-such as shells field how'll
zers, heavy guns, grenades, machlne-
guns and small arms ammunition-is
now being manufactured in the nation
al factories and by private firms for
the allies Great Britain Is sending 70
France one third of the whole British
production Of shell steel Metals to the
value of $30,000,000 monthly, and very
large quantities of constituents or ex-
plosiyes. are also being sent to the
allies.
Great Britain is supplying the allies
with millions Of tons of coal and coke
per month, with machinery and 20
per cent of the present machine-tool
production of the country.
| Whilst Great Britain has accomplish
ed much in the way of munitions in the
past two years, she is under no delu-
sion. but knows that a great deal re-
mains to be done. Home resources must
be fully developed. so strenuous efforts
are being made in that direction. Great
Britain will not be satisfied that she
has put forth her full strength until
the army's equipment Of heavy artil
lerv is very considerably increased. and
until further output Of munitions OF all
sorts will enable her to supply the allles
with what they need. She expects TO
be in q position to do this before many
months have passed.
Attitude Of the Country.
Whatever may have been the atti-
tude Of the people during the first few
months Of the war, there is no mistak-
| ing the attitude now. Business men,
operatives. peasants, the rich the poor
all know that they are face to face
with a powerful and ruthless enemy,
who believes that might is the supreme
| law, and who, so long as he possesses
that might, will commit any crime
against God and man. That knowledge
has crystallized into a grim determine
| ton to carry on, at whatever cost In
life and treasure, until the power OF
the enemy Is broken. A war such as
the present one canont be waged ex-
cept by the will Of the people: and they
have shown that will, recognizing to
| the full what their lot would be II the
enemy become all-poWerful in Europe.
Changes have taken place in Great
Britain during the last two years that
would have been considered impossible
| in July two years ago. Organized la
bour, which for the last forty years
has been struggling to secure adequate
recognition and recompense, immedt-
ately upon the outbreak Of war. called
truce in It's disputes, and this truce
has in the main been honourably kept.
| 1t put aside all its regulations In re-
spect Of hours of labour. overtime, the
exclusion of women and others from
certain classes Of occupation. The gov
eminent has Justly promised organized
llabour the restoration of all It's rights
and privileges when peace is concluded.
and, in addition, the national will ever
acknowledge the debt. The women Of
Graf Britain Of all classes have come
I 4