THE ARMY'S SUPPLY OF MUNITIONS

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2467, 21 May 1915, Page 5

THE ARMY'S SUPPLY OF MUNITIONS

MINISTERIAL STATEMENTS "REVELATIONS OF EXISTING MUDDLE" (Rcc. May 20, 0.35 p.m.) London, May 19. In the course of his statement in tho House of Lords, the Secretary of State, Lord Kitohener, referring to the gas poisoning tactics of tho Germans, said that the enemy had employed tlicso tactics in defiance of the recognised rules of war, and their pledged word. The British and French wore utterly unprepared for this diabolical method of attack, which undoubtedly -liijd been long and carefully prepared, and was being persisted in. The use of these gases was causing agonising deaths whenever tho wind was favourable, or other opportunity occurred. "We know, at tho same time, that an offensive against the enemy's trenches demands enormous expenditure, of ammunition, both of tho usual type a 9 well as tho high-explosive pattern, which we are now making. As the country is aware, onergetio stops have been token to produce sufficient ammunition." Speaking in the House of Commons, Mr. Asquith, tho Prime Minister, interrogated as to whether provision had been made for a three years' war, replied: "The Government oannot neglect tjie possibility of a long struggle, and is doing all in its power to husband the country's resources to meot the strain. A discussion _on tho 6ubjeot of the supply of munitions would be highly inopportune, and prejudicial to the strategio situation at the present moment. . Ample opportunity will be given to debate the question later on." The "Times," in a leader referring to Iterd Kitchener's statement, observes that it implies an. unsatisfactory position to-day. "The'* revelations of an existing muddle in regard to the manufacture of munitions, and tho failure to send sufficient shells to France has created a painful impression. • The feeling in all parties is that the Government requires to bo reconstructed, strengthening the central factors. These ohanges, unquestionably, are an absolute necessity, in order to relieve the War Office of tho control of supplies-, a task which needs separate direction."— "Times" and Sydney "Sun" services. MEN' FOR ' GOVERNMENT . CONTRACTS. (Reo. May 20, 11.10 p.m.) London, May' 20. Arrangements have been made for tho closing of five minor sliip-building yards on the Clyde, and to utilise the men employed there for Government work. The King has visjted; the Tyne shipyards and engineering l works: • ALL RACING STOPPED IN ENGLAND EXCEPT THE NEWMARKET MEETING. , The Government has requested the English Jockey dub to suspend oil borse racing, except - the Newmarket meeting, aftor this .week!' GERMANS' COTTON SUPPLY STOPPED EFFECTIVE ACTION BY BRITAIN. London, May 19. Mr. Lloyd George, in reply to a question in the 'House of Commons, said that certain action which had been taken by the Government subsequent to March 11 had been elective in every respect in preventing cotton reaching Germany. Concluding a recent lecture in London on the progress of the war, Mr. Hjlaire Belloc raised tho question as to the reasons why Germany had been allowed during the war to accumulate a reserve of one miHion bales of cotton. Everyone, he said (as reported by the "Morning Post"), knew .that cotton was an essential for tho manufacture of explosives. Germany since tho. war had imported half as much cotton again as in normal times, through her own ports or through neutral countries, with the exception of Italy. He hesitated to criticise the Government at any moment of this war, but the gravest thing of all remained to be said, and it was time it should be said. Was the reason why this cotton had been allowed to go through, that it was believed that tfio prevention of its passing would involve trouble with a neutral country, whose friendship we naturally desired to maintain, which also was the market in which' wo might purchase munitions? Supposing that cotton had been purchased by us, what would it have amounted to? It would have cost us something less than the bill for ono week of the war, and oven at the price that Germany had to pay it would have oost us less than the cost of the war for a fortnight. Bismarck and Moltke might just as well in their day have let munitions and food go into beleaguered Paris. If there was any other reason for allowing this cotton to go through to the enemy it ought frankly to be published. Personally, he could not conceive why that policy should bo continued.