The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1917-06-29
MARVELS SEEN
IN MAKING OF
WAR SUPPLIES
British Munitions Chief
Tells Commons of Amaz-
ing Discoveries.
WILL KEEP DOWN COST
Government Negotiating With
U. s. for Further Unity
Of Interests.
WILL KEEP DOWN COST


Christopher Addison had an encourage
ing and fascinating story to tell in the
House OF Commons to-day Of amasing
developments In that department after
initial disappointments and difficulties
and OF the expedients and determina-
ton by which they have been overcome.
His revelation Of the remarkable output
OF munitions and srmaments and how
the necessities OF war SO stimulated ma
tional ingenuity and enterprise that to-
raj resources were realised which will
be Of unrivalled service to the nation
after the war gave Parliament and the
public the kesnest satisfaction.
Or. Addison emphasized the enormous
increase in home production of what
previous to the war had been obtained
from abroad. and said that after the
war. as an instance. Great Britain's ca
pacity for steel production would be in
creased by so per cent.
German Hope Vain.
ouc VI tnc InOst WelCOHlc diiusiohS War
to the fact that Great Britain would 10
longer be dependent upon Germany for
potash supplies. Referring to Ger
many's hope OF being able after the
war to hold Great Britain ransom on
this account Or. Addison said:
II see no objection to their knowing
that in these respects they will be dis
appointed. A process has been dis
covered by which great quantities Of
potash are obtairable. We shall be able
to provide every ounce OF potash re-
quired by the glass trade as we'll as
very largely to meet the needs OF asri-
culture"
Or. Addison said negotiations now In
progress for further consolidation OF In
terests in America and England would
II successful be OF enormous value not
only in enabling the American Govern
ment to place It's great resources more
readily and effectively at the disposal OF
the Allies but in promoting economy In
purchase.
The Munitions Ministry. Dr. Addison
continued, had an interest In nearly
SOC. 900 tons OF shipments monthly.
The submarine campaign. bad as II was,
did not provide much comfort for the
enemy. when he knew. for example. that
OF the shell components shipped from
North America the total loss since the
commencement of unrestricted subma-
rne warfare had been only So per cent.
Of the amount shipped.
Production 10 Increased.
Mr.. Addison said that before the war
the production Of spelter In this country
was only one-third of tho national re-
quirements. but he hoped the capacity
would be doubled before the end OF the
year. Part OF the plan involved the
working Of Australian zinc concentrate.
which formerly was under German con-
troll
Arrangements were in hand. tho Min
lister continued, which increased the
home production Of aluminium by % per
cent. while a committee of experts was
considering the development Of copper
and other mineral resources Of the
United Kingdom.
Mr.. Addison said that some conception
OF the magnitude Of the production OF
explosives might he formulated from the
fact that in March. 1917, the capacity
for the production OF high explosives was
more than four times that Of March.
1916, and twenty-eisht times that OF
March. 1913.
The Ministry had recently reached
such a state of production with respect
vert certain national factories to assist
Ing other sections Of the munitions pro-
gramme. He mentioned the discovery Of
a component OF . new type which pos
sessed great advantages for certain pur.
poses. A large supply Of this had been
produced In Q short time and was prov.
Ing Of the greatest vslue IN facilitating
the advance at the front and In saving
life.
The requirements regarding the ac-
cumulation OF great reserve of field
gun ammunition would be met in good
time. he said. and. despite the enormous
expenditure In the first nine weeks of
the offensive the stock Of filled shells
had fallen off only per cent. Field
Marshal Hais had enthusiastically re-
ported on the accuracy and fine deto-
mating quality OF the ammunition.
whether It was used for wire cutting.
barrage or other purposes.
The output OF machine guns and rifles
was, the Minister continued. fully equal
to the demands. while for railway pur-
poses tracks pulled up in England. Aus
tralia and Canada had been utilized.
Canada had arranged to pull up 500
miles of Track and ship It complete when
wanted. More than 1000 miles of
track had already been supplied In COM
plete condition and nearly 1000 locomo-
tives, apart from the hundreds supplied
by the railways
New Tanks ON the Way.
The supplies OF the new Design tanks
were coming forward excellently and
continued the Minister. "the end of the
story 10 not yet. for the enthusiasm Of
Col. Stern. the inventor of the tanks
and his colleagues knows no limits"
With respect to steel. the Minister
said that the output In this country be-
fore the war had for some time been
stationary at a little over seven million
tons yearly. The output was now 1O.-
900 900 tons. and he would be disap-
pointed IL tho country did not reach a
| IL, 200, 900 ton output by the end Of next
year Within fourteen months the
capacity for the manufacture Of basic
steel had Increased by 80 per cent.
Referring to salvage operations at the
front. the Minister said II was now posi-
BILE to reform hundreds Of thousands of
| Is FOUNDER cartridge cases weekly at q
cost Of eight cents each, compared with
sl.76 for new cases. Regarding trench
| warfare he said: while we started be-
hind In the race. we are probably now a
superior to the Germans In this section
Of warfare as we are In that Of artil.
lsry"