Evening journal. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1888-1932, 1917-02-07
How Shall War Material be Supplied in
an Emergency of War?
The Problem Can Only Ensng According
to the Timely Report
(From the

far to insure the safety of the United
States, provided only advantage be
taken Of them. First, the people have
been aroused from their dreams Of
unbroken peace by the appalling Eur
opean war so suddenly begun and
waged with such unexampled energy
So that national alertness upon this
question of national defence now OK
lists. which thirty months ago had no
being. Second. the demands OF the
foreign combatants for arms and am
munition have developed IN this coun-
try a capacity to make them a thou
sandfold greater than was dreamed OF
in July, 1914.
These considerations make impos-
sible exclusive Government manufac-
ture, not only berause OF the enorm-
GUS capital locked up and wasted
through the non-use and deteriora-
ton of a large portion OF the plants
in which it Is invested in peace years,
but more strongly still because such
a plan spells delay, and long delay,
which in turn may spell disaster.
II takes from eighteen months TO
three years to recreate that capacity
when once destroyed, to Increase the
Government plants and assemble the
organizations 10 operate them eff
GENTLY or to turn private Industrial
plants into munitions factories.
The hoard, I'm considering the ques-
ton of the desirability OF depending
largely upon private plants for war
material I'm case of hostilities, ine9i-
tably had it's attention drawn to the
ways and means by which that OBJ
ject could be best effected; and here
rich fund OF experience has been
acquired by the numerous plants un-
dertakiqg war orders for the Euro
pean combatants. It may be we'll to
point out that practically every va
riety Of carriage, OF gun, Of projectile.
Of powder and of partially prepared
material has been made and shipped,
so that the American manufacturers
experience is varied as we'll as large,
and marked by costly mistakes as
we'll as successful achievement.
IL is pointed out that powder max
ers have made wonderful expansions
the DUPONT Company alone having in
creased its capacity thirty-fold, and
this statement is made; THE sole
powder plant owned by the War De-
partment, near Dover. the Picatinny,
has capacity Of 1900 pounds
day. One OF our seacoast fortifca-
tons could fire its daily product in a
minute"
The manufacturers OF big guns are
ready 10 begin work for the Govern
ment, but supplying of rifles is a most
rob he
The plants that are now turning
out foreign rifles after two years OF
hard work, have not yet reached their
expected capacities to turn these
private plants from the manufacture
OF European rifles to the manufacture
Of the Springfield rifle would, II un-
dertaken today. require not less than
eighteen months TO get first results.
and at least two years 10 get capa-
city output.
! The private manufacturers stand
ready to cooperate and put their
plants at the disposal OF the Govern
ment. The Herman board has this to
say about them:
No feature Of the boards experience
is more Impressive than the attitude
Of private manufacturers to this
whole question of preparedness. 1t is
clear that the enormous difficulties
they experienced In arriving at sue
cessful production, combined with the
extraordinary size OF the foreign de-
mand, has sunk deep and made a
lasting impression that the carrying
on OF modern warfare is task of
stupendous magnitude and Of extreme
difficulty from every angle They are
more than willing TO cooperate; they
are anxious to do so, fully realizing
that in successful cooperation with
the Government lies the best II not
the only certain chance OF success.
*~* We found the feeling preva-
lent that the outbreak of any hos
tilities would be the signal for the
Government to take practical posses
sion of such private plants as were
prepared to manufacture arms and
"cut all OF the profits out of war" In
deed the board could see no way in
which they could hope to derive any
benefit from war in which this coun-
try is involved On the contrary, they
all realize that their industries, in such
event, would have TO cease and their
plants would be turned over TO the
Government upon whatever terms the
Government chose TO fix.