"BRITAIN AT LAST IS MOBILISED FOR WAR"

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2649, 21 December 1915, Page 7

"BRITAIN AT LAST IS MOBILISED FOR WAR"

' NEUTRAL VISITOR'S IMPRESSION

ENGLAND lIAS TURNED HER FULL ENERGY TO

HER MIGHTY TASE

By Megrapli—Preßß Association—OopyrtzM

London, December: 19,

A neutral writer, whoso iontributions to the London Press are attracting attention, declares that England's share is not understood on the Continent, oven by her Allies. "Tlie Continental peoples," he said, "do not appreciate the work of the Navy; and as tlie German Navy is yet undefeated, they fail to comprehend the tremendous importance of the results of Britain s sea P0W "They are also struck by the short British front in Flanders. Germany, Switzerland, and Sweden likewise believe that tho individualism of Englishmen renders them incapable of co-ordinated effort. «|jj 0 y little know what England is doinpj. I have just crosscd Great Bri- , tain from one end to tho other, and visited innumerable towns and cities. "Britain at last is mobilised for war." ' . "Tho achievement far surpasses tho wildest German idea ot what is colossal. I have seen factory after factory working steadily for 24 hours a day and seven days a week, employing thousands of men and women making shells, shells shells I have seen -factory after factory making aeroplanes. I have seen euns being forged out of the stoutest steel, requiring sixteen hours m a blast furnace to beat it. I have seen motor-lorries and staff automobiles, row upon row of motor-ambulances, waiting to be sent to the front. "I have seen shell-cases pressed out of the living ingot m less than five minutes; and seen shells forged at a speed thrice as groat. The'smaller shells, chiefly 18-pounders, are turned in tho lathe by young girls of 16 or 18 years,, manv of them so frail and slight that it is difficult for them, to lift- the heavy metal Yet tho shells are piled in pyramids about them in every available soace' I have seen voung girls turning out fuses of aluminium and brass, workinc steadily without looking up from their lathes; men working at tho great forges, where gun parts are shaped, straining every nerve and muscle to accomplish their difficult task, and hattfflmg the great lumps of red-hot metal wl^ 11j^^"'geen 6 machine-giins by hundreds, rifles by thousands, all of tho , most carefid khaki cloth reeled'off by the looms; tliounf vards of spociallv-prepared white woollen cloth for wrapping of propel- . hnt cordite charges; hunifreds of pairs of knitted khaki puttees, patterned by a S "'"Mist''might be extended indefinitely. The whole of the North Country is turned ofimft Great Britain is under Government control. There is not as m Germany, a transformation of industry, such as a lead pencil factory being .mobilised to make shrapnel. In England, the old plants are at work on their usual products while "uns, shells, and aeroplanes, and all necessities of war, are being made' in many cases in now factories which have sprung up with musliroom-like fuTnll nvnr the country. No more striking example of national energy, diluted consolidated, and. centralised .under direct Government control, can be found The master mind behind this gigantic enterprise has created a compu - Inrv industrial svstem stronger and more powerful than any hithorto devised, fiprmaiiv Employer and employee have merged into the State servant. Greatßriffi^Wawake and lias'chosen the path to victory."