COPPER AND WAR

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2417, 24 March 1915, Page 7

COPPER AND WAR

GERMANY'S PRESSING NEED

FEAR OP AMMUNITION FAMINE

The following article, which is reprinted from the London "Timos," is the ivork of one of the first living authuritios on the statistics and use of copper:—

Probably one of the most pressing questions in Germany, at the present hcur, is her need of copper, and the weans by which she shall provide for that need. If consumption exceeds production, copper must be imported, however large tlio accumulated stores; and if the blockade of the seas instituted by France and England is effective—that is, if no copper can reach Germany, either directly or through neutral ports—then Germany's fate is sealed. And for this reason: Without copper there can bo made no ammunition; and, tho expenditure of ammunition being immense, the consumption of copper is immense. The front upon which the troops of the five great, nations are fighting extends to some 400 miles in the west and more than 560 miles in the east, Serbian battlefields excluded. As in Poland the concentration of troops does not seem to be as great, as it is in France and Belgium, we cannot reckon the fir-ing-line at more than, let us say* 750 miles (1,320,000 yards). Li Germany the men under arms certainly exceed four millions; in AustriaHungary, at the same rate, they exceed two and a half millions. These six millions and a half men represent roughly five men per yard. If we reckon half of this number as employed in the reax, there remain at the front 2} men per yard. Of these, again, a portion belong to the artillery and cavalry, the officers, the sappers and miners, the medical corps, etc. Making all due allowances for these, /we may safely reckon on one man and a half per yard. Reckoning conservatively, let us, admit only one man per yard. This represents, for 750 miles, 1,320,000 yards, roundly 1,320,000 rifles.

What is now the average number of shots per rifle per day? With reference to the many daily "engagements" at several points, where thousands of shots are fired_ in a few hours over a short front, it is probably not an exaggeration to put it at 20 per man; 26 million shots for every 24 hours. A rifle cartridge weighs about 6.77 drachms—lß4J grains. The total weight of brass necessary for this daily rifle fire is therefore:— 26,000,000 x 6.77dr.—687,5781b., or roundly 305 tons. If we calculate Maxim gun fire at 10 per cent, of the rifle fire, wo have: —Rifles, 305 tons; Maxim guns, roughly, 30 tons; making a total of 335 tons.

Doubtless upon a laard soil some small portion of the expended cartridges is recovered. But in the mud nothing. Estimating on an average, it can hardly reach 5 per cent. "We therefore get about 17 tons recovered. The weiglit of brass lost is accordingly 335 tons, less 17 tonsj equal to 318 British tons. Amount of Copper in Shells. To these figures inu6t be added those tor artillery nro. This it is difficult to estimate. It is said that on some of the "hottest" days of the battle of the Marne the Allies (ired 180,000 shells. On the other .hand, certain authorities claim that France caunob manufacture more than from 70,000 to 80,000 shells a day. To be briof, and to be well within the truth, supposo we admit for the Knglish, Jjrench, and Belgian artillery an expenditure of 90,000 shells a day. The Germans must respond with at least an equal number, especially if we consider the greater length of the'fighting lino on her Eastern frontiers and the numerous important battles which "have there taken place. This gives a total of 180,000 shells a day. Let us say 150,000. The brass used for these shell-cases and shells may. be estimated as follows:— Ist. —150,000 fuses of an average weight of 7oz. fully. lost, roundly ' 65,6251b. 2nd.—150,000 cartridges of an average weight of 610z., of which about 80 per cent. ' are recovered 150,000x61x0.2 roundly 114,3751b. 16 3rd. —About 200,000 rings (to fit the riflling) for shells entirely lost 56,2501b. •Total 236,2501b. The weight of brass lost will be 105 tons and 10501b., making with the above-mentioned 318 tons a total of 433 tons 10501b., say'43o tons. Tho copper in the brass used by Germany and Aus-tria-Hungary forms 72 per cent, of this metal. Tho total need of copper for tho above-mentioned weight of brass is therefore 430x0.72—309 tons 2cwt. These 309 English ton 6 each day make in round numbers 112,000 tons a year. To face such a need of copper Germany has, of course, her accumulated stores. But these are not inexhaustible unless uninterruptedly renewed. She lias, too, the importation of metal, through neutral countries. In time of peace, Germany produces, on an average, 26,000 tons of copper. This output can be increased, but not indefinitely. At the utmost we do not think it could be increased by 40 per cent. Let us admit, however, that Germany can produce 36,000 tons. It is said that Austria produces 4000 tons of copper yearly. This is highly problematical. Indeed, ths production of Austria might, in all likelihood, be estimated at nothing. However, admitting 4000 tons, we get a total output, for both Empires of 40,000 tons a year. Their annual need of copper for the actual war will tlien be 112,000— 40,000 equals 72,000 tons —that is, about 7200 railway wagons, 360 trains of 20 wagons each. Cermany Feeling the Plnoh. Now, in spite of the fact that Germany has for years been preparing for this war, and has probably laid up huge stores of copper, that already she is feeling tho pinch is apparent. She is making efforts to obtain this metal from any quarter and at any cost. She is said to have denuded .Belgian domiciles of their kitchen utensils, to have wrenched off and removed the brass doors of tho railway station of Antwerp. Copper is smuggled across her frontiers in cotton bales, in orange boxes. Moreover, according to the "Frankfurter Zeitung," oven the electrio light installations in Germany are being dismantled for tho sake of their copper. This extreme measure is at present resorted to only in the smaller towns, which have to substitute acetylene gas as an illuminant.' Furthermore, tlie price of- copper in Germany has increased 200 per cent, since the commencement of the war! And this situation will become every day more strained, for the war will not continue upon tho same scale as heretofore, and will he more and more expensive in men and ammunition. Hie artillery is being constantly increased, and the main body 'of English forces has still to come to tlie front. And to the increase of firing Germany must respond in equal measure. The conclusion is obvious. Tf, while the consumption of copper increases, England and France keep the police of ■the sea with the utmost vigilance, so that no copper at all can reach Germany and Austria, the fate of both Empires seems certain. No sentiment of false humanity should interfere, with the chief duty of the police ships; for the mors rigid tho police ths uhorter Iha war,