New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-01-05
BRITISH SHELLS
FOR u. s. NAVY
Sheffield Firm Under
bids Americans on 10
and IA Inch Types
From The Tribune Bureau


Washington, Jan. 4. - WIN tne
American "war babies" still Kicking Wig
orously, and with hundreds OF snip
loads of ammunition going to the Al
lies every month, England is preparing
20 manufacture a consignment OF sheu'
for the United States navy.
! Secretary Daniels made the an
nouncement to-day that Hadfields' Lin
tied, of Sheffield, England, was the 10"
hidder IN contracts for 16-inch and IA
inch armor-piercing naval projectiles.
Not only were their bids sl46 lower q
she'll on the 14-inch shells ana $50
lower on the larger ones than the low
ost American bids, but they offered TO
deliver in eleven months and sixteen
months. respectively, while the best the
American firms coud do was twenty
tvo ard twenty-four months.
Hadfelds became serious eompe'i-
.or for naval contracts in 1912, wher
thew underbid the American nrmS o"
1A-;rcb shells by a wide margin
Frightened by this rivalry, the Amerl-
can manufacturers climbed down IN
1914 to sS15 a she'll, which was ABOUT
som lower than their previous oios'
After the war broke out Hadhelds was
vnobIo 70 compete, and the American
prices went up 500.
Had6elds Bid Shock
To.day's bid from Hadhelds came as
o+ shock 70 the Navy Department
and. it is imagined, will prove sur
nr;sa to the American .7anufacturers.
=. hod not been supposed that England
NO. in a position to invade foreign
fields with this class Of merchandise
The contract is not large one anu
wiIl not divert an enormous amount OF
pr;t;.b labor from government WORK
D.. - Is a step calculated to alarm the
enemy and perhaps to frighten Amerl-
o.r manufacturers into making better
terns on future war contracts, -
Secretary Daniels commented On tGS iS
wide disparity between the EhEIish u
and the American prohers' ne 'hoosIs
II singular that American hrms, VIII
tbeir tremendous facilities, were un-
sbIe TO compete either as to price or
time Of delivery with the EnglisH
manufacturer.
Bids on 16-lnch Shells
For the 16-inch projectiles proposals
were as follows:
Ro,blehem Steel Company, 5000 IN
20 months at S775 each. oo %
Crucible Steel Company, l,IOO IN so
months at $76S.5O. ,ooo . o.
months at $500. o-s,ar..
Cor,nsuv. 800 in 80 months at $IoV'
Hadfields, Ltd, 5000 in 10 months a.
1913.
Bids on 1l-Inch Shells
For the 14-inch projectiles proposals
were as follows: oo 40
Crucible Steel Company, 1000 IN AZ
months at S543.50 each. oo %
Nidyale Steel Company, o,oOO IN 0O
months at $500.
Washington Steel and Ordnance Com
many 600 in % months at $500.
Hadhelds, Ltd, $500 in II months At
1855
The Bethlehem Steel Company the
only bidder on the l4-inch Class b
she'll, proposed to deliver 300 in 22
months at 1910.
This is the first time proposals Tor
t6-inch shells have been opened.
Exclusive manufacture by the gov
ernment Of arms and munitions FOR
the army was disapproved in the re,
mort Of a special board Of officers and
civilians sent to the Senate to-day by
/ SECRETARY Baker. Development OF pri'
vate sources OF supply for use in case
/ OF war in connection with Federal
manufacture was said to be better
policv. according 10 the board whose
Continued on page 3, column
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