The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1918-09-23
NEW LIMITS ON Use
OF STEEL PLANNED
War Industries Board to Put
Greater Restrictions Upon
Domestic Consumption.
MUNITIONS CHIEF OBJECT
Relief May Come IL Pershing
Captures Lorraine iron
Mines From Germans.
Special Despatch to TaE srs.

WASHINGTON, Sept. 22.-New limita-
tions on the use OF steel for domestic
purposes in the United States during
the rest of the war. which In their
application will have the effect OF vir-
tually complete monopoly on the out
put OF blast furnaces, are being pre-
pared by the War Industries Board and
restrictions are the initial move of the
War Industries Board to provide the
vast quantities of munitions and mill
tary supplies that will be needed each
year by an army of 100000 Americans
in France.
Under the programme of distribution
that is being mapped out steel In this
country will\be allotted only to indus
tries that are either turning out milf
tary supplies or commodities essential
to the civilian population during the
war period. Practically all of these in
dustries are included now In the pref
'erence list of the board, which carries
with 1t complete control of the output
of these concerns.
Munitions to BE Paramount.
The essentially OF the commodity
for which the plants are using steel
and the degree to which its manufac-
ture II II is Of non-mlitary charac-
ter. II first there Is an adequate pro-
ducton OF munitions and army ma
terials, will be the determining factor
in enforcing the new restrictions. In
every essential way the steel stock Of
the country will be used for the rest
of the war in ways that will contribute
directly to winning a military victory,
either in munitions or in commodities
that contribute to victory.
Since early last spring the steel out
put of this country has been concen-
trated almost entirely on war produce
ton, but with the sending of a vastly
increased army to France next year
these demands will exceed every other
war requirement of the country. So i'm
portant is this phase of the situation
regarded by officials here that methods
of stimulating production of steel, as
well as pig iron and preferred treat
ment of the steel industry in matters of
transportation. labor and materials, are
receiving most careful study.
Hope to Get Lorraine Mines.
One of the most promising rays OF
hope for adequately meeting steel needs
of the Government next year. and at the
same time not seriously curtailing the
essential requirements OF railroads and
plants in need of machinery replace
ments is in the recovery by the army
under Gen. Pershing of the great iron
mines in northern Lorraine. especially
IN the vicinity of Metz These mines
have supplied the Germans with a vast
part Of the pig iron for war purposes in
the last four years. and their loss to the
Germans would be Gripping blow from
which there could be no recovery.
Officials of the War Industries Board
are taking no chances. however, on the
capture of the lorraine section by tho
American forces. Under this arrange
ment military achievements of the
Americans in that region will provide an
additional source Of supply of iron which
will allow notifications later in the steel
allotment programme in this country.