The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1918-07-18
STEEL SHORTAGE
GROWING CRITICAL
Increased War Requirements
100000 Tons More Than
Probable Production.
COMMANDEERING LIKELY
Automobile Makers Told 1t Is
Impossible to Give Them
60 Per Cent.
Special Despdtch TO The SuS.

WASHINGTON, July IA general
communicating and redistribution Of all
available stocks Of steel In the United
States to meet urgent war needs may
become necessary as the result of an
approaching acute steel ehortage 1t was
said officially to-day. The question of
discussion at the War Cabinet meeting
| in the White House to-day.
The War Industries Board. which has
| the matter of steel distribution In
| charge. has made no general move In
| this direction and none Is contemplated
for the present. 1t became known to-
day, however, that approaching neces-
sity for some such action has been serl-
Ousiy discussed.
100000 Tons More Needed.
1t is estimated by the War Industries
Board that steel production for the next
! six months will be 100000 tons short
OF the estimated war requirements, This
shortage must be met. The board Is at
| work on figures to show actual needs.
| 1t Is admitted that the estimates for
war requirements may be in sNrne in
| stances larger than immediate require
merits
! This situation may lead to a redistri-
button plan not only with respect to the
less essential and the non-war indus
tries but among the highest OF the es-
! sential industries. such as ship building.
| Drastic curtailment Of steel for com
mercial and purely non-war purposes
has been in effect for several weeks
but It appe9ns that this will not be
NO matter what happens there will
be no neglect of the soldiers on the
, ether siGe," said an official of the War
| Industries Board to-day. They must
have the munitions and military sup
| plies that they need and any neglect Of
| them in this respect is too ghastiy 10
I contemplate"
This statement was made Immediately
after representatives OF the automobile
4, manufacturers had entered plea with
the War Industries Board for 60 per
cent OF their normal steel requirements
Have Four Months supply.
! Impossible" was the answer given
! to them THE steel requirements for
war purposes according to the Govern
ment estimates for the next six months
! are 100000 tons. while the capacity
! Of the mills Is estimated to be not more
than 16.50O.000 tors. Consequently n
she rtage OF 100000 tons is possible
and all means Inust Dt lahch " BuN'
! against this condition"
The automobile men met with the en-
tire membership Of the War Industries
Board. Through them II was learned
that there Is now an unbalanced etock
| OF steel in the automobile manufactur-
| ing plants sufficient for about -FOUR
, months The additional steel asked Tor
Is wanted chiefly to balance these stocks.
An inventory OF all steel now held by
the automobile makers was asked Tor by
the War Industries Board.
Further requests for inventories In
other lines of industry are looked for
before the end OF the week. One pur-
pose Is to ascertain to whom large guam
titles Of steel have been resold recently
after being allotted for war purposes.
An energetic investigation into this
phase was launched early this week but
no developments have been made known.
Increasing requests for projec es
cannon and other war supplies which
have come from Gen. Pershng lately as
we'll as larger needs on the part OF the
other allies is making deeper inroads on
the available supply in this country.
Reclamation Plan Effective.
The contracts which Chairman Hurley
of the Shipping Board has made with
| ShlpDullOerS at SnanBndl Will Call lOI
$4,000 additional tons Of steel before the
end OF the year.
Every man called In the military
draft is an additional demand on our
steel supply" said a War Industries
Board official He must have rife
and other equipment and additional
cannon and shells must be provided for
his proper protection
Considerable quantities OF steel are
being realized through the efforts OF the
reclamation committee of the American
Iron and Steel Institute. A nation wide
survey has been conducted under their
direction and plans perfected for re-
claiming this metal.
Another means of conservation is In
the Standardization OF machine parts
and tools which Is being carried on,
under the aid of the hardware men Of the
nation. Manufacturers and artisans are
being asked to purchase standardized
tools.
In addition to this. steel production
is increasing and energetic efforts are
being made looking to further eXpans or
so that future war requirements may bt
met.
All of the Government war organiza
tons are to make n closer inventory o.
requirements that may materially cut
the 100000 600 tons figured on, bu
against this is the fact that all wal
demands are constantly increasing.