The Washington times., 1917-04-03
VAST WAR PLANTS
READY FOR US. USE
Factories Developed Here BY
Allies Can Supply the Army
With All It Needs.

NEW YORK, April 3.-The position
attained by American manufacturers
of explosives and other war materials
IN supplying the entente allies and
their ability to come promptly to the
aid OF the United States in the prose
cution of war with Germany are
shown in a compilation issued by the
National City Bank contrasting the
foreign trade Of this country in the
war period, August 1, 1914, to Febru-
ary 1 last, with the pre-war period,
February 1, 1912, to August 1, 1914.
The review made by the bank was
prepared primarily for the purpose Of
showing the movement of foreign
commerce. That section OF the re-
port, however, relating to war ship
ments reveals the potentialities with
in the United States for a complete
supply of requisites for carrying on
aggressive military operations. With
many contracts from foreign govern
ments for shells and other war sup
plies expired or lessening in volume,
American manufacturers are in an
excellent position to meet the re-
Quirements Of their own Government.
Striking Exports.
Some Of the striking munition ex-
ports enumerated by the bank since
the war began, compared with the
two and one-half year period before
hostilities. are:
Explosives, Se92, ,o00,O 900, against
t14,00O,o00: manufactures of brass,
chiefly material for shells, $407 ,000,-
900, against $21 ,000, 0,00e; manufactures
of iron and steel, chiefly for war
purposes, $1,434, 900 900, against $685.
000,000:' automobiles for war use,
chiefly, $255, 1000, 900, against $79,o00,-
coo; zinc; $1O7. .oOO. 900, against $1,000
900, and chemicals, SET, 700 900,
AGAINST se7.ooO.ooo: breadstuffs, ST.
S7s.o0O.006. against -. 10000: meats
se3s, 100000 against $36s, 900, 900;
horses and mules, S235, ,000, 900,
against $12,000,0 900; sugar, $153,00O.-
900, against S6.000y 900; cotton manu-
features, $3.50, ,000, ,000,> against $780,
100000, and wooden manufactures,
$e1, 100000, against $11 100000.
Less raw cotton was shipped In the
war period, the figures being $1,131,-
100000, while in the two-and-a half
years preceding the conflict this ex-
port had a value Of 81 ,332, ,000, ,0o0
The banks analysis showed that ex-
ports from this country to Europe be-
tween August /, 1914, and February 1,
last, increased more than 100 per cent,
when compared with the period from
February 1, 1912, to August 1, 1914,
one OF normal trade conditions.
TStaI Trade.
The total trade Of the United States
in the first two and one-half years of
the war was S15,623, ,oOo, 900, against
$40, 40 200, 900 in the corresponding
period preceding the war. Exports
under the stimulus of war trading
reached q total of S10,562. .000, 900,
against $5,ss2, 600 900, and imports
$5,o61 ,o00, 900, against $4,6os, ,000. .ooo
The banks statement also says:
Trade with Europe shows greater
changes than with other grand divi-
sions, while the exports of manufac-
lures and imports OF manufacturing
materials are the striking features
when considered by articles. Ex-
ports TO Europe in the war period are
&7,64s 600, against So, ,656, ,000, 900 des-
pite the fact that the exports to the
central powers in the war period are
but S16,OO0, 900, against SS65 900. 900.
in the pre-war period. Imports from
Europe are but 81 SOC, 900 900, against
22O7, 900 900 in the pre-war period.
Those from the central powers are
but SOC, 900. 900 against S542, ,000, 900, in
the pre-war period.
Exports to North America are
S1.TT1 900, against S1,423 ,000.o 900;
South America, $417. 7.o00,O 900. against
1895, ,OOO, 900; Asia exclusive OF ma
terial for Russia via Vladiyostok), },
1854 900, 900, $500, COO 900. Imports
from North America are 81 ,3e2, 900 900,
against 81 ,OOs, 600 900; South America,
S306, 900 900, against 1851 900 900. and
Asia, $969. 900 900, against $6S0, ,000, 900.
'In exports by articles the greatest
growth occurs in the group OF manu-
factures, amounting to $6.0S3,000, 600,
against $2,S31 900 900 in the pre-war
period; food products, S2,563, ,O0O, 900.
against f1,133, 900, 900. Manufacturing
material exported shows q decline,
being 81 ,523y 100000, against $780,
900 900 in the pre-war period"
Chief Increase.
The banks ANALYSIS shows that the
chief increase in imports was in manu-
featuring material, being S2.o15,ooo.-
900 in the war period, against $1,5s2.-
OoO, 900 and foodstuffs were S1,357, ,ooO,-
900, against S1.12s. 900. 900. while
manufactures showed decline,
amounting in the war period to but
81, ,646y 900 900, compared with $1rS59s
100000 in the period before the war.
The miscellaneous group in exports
was f246, ,0eo, 900, against S2o.0O0,OOO,
due to the fact that more than 1000
900 horses and mules, included In
that group were exported to Europe.
Changes in movements to and from
the principal countries were: To the
United Kingdom, exports of the war
period, $3,571 900, against S1,439.-
900. 900: France, &1,645 900, 900, against
S363, 900. 900: Italy. $500. 900. 900, against
S1s4. 900, 900: Russia, S714,OO0,000
against S67 100000.
The efficacy OF the British blockade
was demonstrated by the fact that in
the war period exports from this coun-
try to Germany amounted to only $16,-