New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-11-18
Country Cleaned of Machin
cry for Making Heavy
Pieces of Artillery
Army Handicapped
By Lack of Pistols
Output of All Government
Arsenals Curtailed Seri-
ously by Conditions
TStaf Correspondence

WASHINGTON, Nov. I7.-Prospec-
tive deliveries of ordnance, both Of the
heavier cannon and the caissons and
supplies for these pieces. continue TO
cause embarrassment TO the officials
Of the War Department, under whose
charge has been put the arming Of the
new forces.
From official sources the informa-
.icr is received that it has not been
the supply Of rifles, but of field pieces,
that has been causing most anxiety
with the pistol question holding q
place Of secondary importance.
To the labor handicap has now been
added another and even more serious
deterrent in the lack of important
tools and machinery. The two and
half years Of war before the entrance
of the United States resulted in Eng
land and France sweeping the rest Of
the world for heavy-duty lathes, drills,
slotters and planes used in the making
of large guns and of armor plate.
There are comparatively few firms
manufacturing these types Of machin-
cry, and the stock rooms Of these have
been bare for more than q year. More
over, the entire output OF these fac
tories has been booked UP in many
cases until late in 1918.
Orders Are Transferred
The subcommittee of the Council OF
National Defence handling priority Of
contracts has relieved the situation TO
slight degree by arranging for the
transferrence of a portion Of these
orders to the United States govern
ment.
Private manufacturers who have con-
tracts with the government for mill
ions Of dollars worth Of ordnance are
faced by the necessity Of revoking
such orders because of their inability
to equip their plants and replace worn
out tools.
Recently an American firm sought
from the War Trade Board permission
to export heavy duty lathe" measur-
ing so feet by 10 inches. The expert
on the board, who has jurisdiction
over machinery applications, told the
applicant frankly that no such permit
could be gtanted for the remainder OF
this year. Moreover, the expert SAID,
if the government could obtain lnfor-
nation as TO the source from wnlch
the firm hoped TO secure this machin-
erv it undoubtedly would be comman-
deered forthwith.
Turned Over Machine
II is learned that the firm making
the application thereupon notified the
board that il would be glad to turn the
machine in question over to the gov
eminent.
"The output Of the government ar
senals at Watervliet and Watertown Is
being seriously curtailed because OF
our failure TO secure lathes slotters
and large drill presses" said the eX-
pert. IF the equipment were in sight
we would proceed Immediately to triple
the size of certain departments at these
arsenals. The skilled labor hitherto
problem. has been secured, but We can
not find the machinery for this labor TO
use If one Of the nations allied with
US should ask for permission 70 export
single machine Of certain type we
would weigh the application most care
fully before deciding"
In connection with the question Of
supplying government arsenals and
other plants with skilled labor 1t is
learned that the government now has
in active and successful operation EN-
ployment bureaus scattered throughout
the country. These bureaus keep In
touch with the classes of workmen who
are urgently needed and advise them
of the openings available.