New-York tribune., 1917-11-15
Labor and Ships" "
British Missions
Parting Appeal
Sir Stephenson Kent Says
Victory Depends on Solv-
ing Two Great Problems

Sir Stephenson kent, nedu ol '"N
special mission from the British Min
istry of Munitions, emphasized the labor
and shipbuilding problems as the two
most important for the United States
in an interview yesterday afternoon. 1t
was the final message of the mission,
the members Of which left the city
Yesterday and will return to England
shortly.
The commissioners said that there
was no doubt that this country would
he able 10 settle it's problems and CO.
ordinate its energies to the task OF
bringing victory to the Allies.
"On the correct solution of the LABOR
rroblem more hangs than perhaps any
of US can see," said Sir Stephenson
Kent. Victory or defeat may depend
unon it. The willingness OF capita
and labor to get together in England
earlv in 1915, sinking personal diner-
ences in an agreement with the gov
.rnment. was perhaps the turning point
in our country. Without the "hoie-
hearted cooperation of labor we can
mot look forward to a successful issue.
"In all the centres we have VISITED
hore and from all the leaders OF or
oanized labor we have met, we nave
found nothing but the most loyal Will
inpness to serve your country and your
,.o,.orrment In New York we nave
found as happy, or even happier reia-
tionship between capital and laoOr '"a"
in any other centre.
Ship Programme Has First f'aee
"Remember that the civil population
nd nublic opinion at home is going
- irsure the victory Of the armies at
tho front Without that support we
-. w;n the victory that we all de-
sire" H. rood for
ships to transport men. muhiIionS
food. "The shiDbullding progra,i,'u,.
tokes first place" he said' regarI1eo'
of the success or failure oi -, of
warfare. One Of the princlpai ways VI
winning this war is through 'he s..p
building programme OF TINS .Iu"ms
The earlier your ships are. the W. t
ter the greater the possiolilCy VI '"'
reace we all want. q.
Sir Stephenson pointed out tnsI the
methods employed in England VII noI
! OF necessity be sound here. he was
/ hopeful that the visit OF the missioh
would obvate trial of some OF tne
experiments which had failed IN MS
country. ~,
G. Ii. Baille. chief technical dllu-
ton officer of the Labor supply De-
rartment, said he was struck oy the
efficiency of the plants he had visited
| in the United States, and he neileVeu
this country was better equlpped 10
get munitions out with efncle'cy anu
speed than any other.
Mr.. Baillie raid: "0ur experience IN
regard to the employment of women
was a surprise TO every one. They have
shown remarkable skill in munitions
work after very short training, and
have been willing to undertake work
far removed from their ordinary voca-
tions. They have entered our eXplo-
sive factories as gallantly as our men
have gone over the top We nave
had some explosions in our factories
and one was very serious, but we have
found no falling off in woman's readi-
ness to work.
British Man-Pover All Employed
an England we have begun drawing
on women in large numbers because
we are at the end of our man power.
/ Here you haven't come TO the end OF
your man power, so you have not
/ reached the point where the employ
ment of women to the same extent is
necessary"
The mission came to this country
at the invitation of the government
expressed through Lord Northcliffe. 1t
| is composed of specialists who went
into conferences to give this country
the benefit of England's experience.
With Sir Stephenson Kent and Mr..
Bailie there are II. w. Garrod, Deputy
Assistant Secretary of the Labor Regu-
| lation Department, and Captain Cyril
Asquth. son of the former British Pre-
mier. who is Director of the Artificers'
/ ALLEGATION of the Labor Supply Depart
ment The mission has been in this
/ country little more than two months
and has visited many industrial CEN
tres, in addition to spending a month
in Washington in conferences with the