The Dominion. MONDAY, JANUARY 21, 1918. THE MUNITIONS PROBLEM

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2676, 24 January 1916, Page 4

The Dominion. MONDAY, JANUARY 21, 1918. THE MUNITIONS PROBLEM

The seeming conflict in tho views of Mr. Lloyd George, Minister of Munitions, and Mr. Asquith, on the subject of the supply of munitions, will no doubt occasion both surprise and uneasiness. It is not the first tinw that it has been difficult to reconcile the utterances of the two statesmen in question on this vitally important matter, but on the previous occasion the position was reversed. Then Mr. Asquith gave the assurance that all was progressing well, while Mr, Lloyd George was shouting from the housetops the failure to produce sufficient munitions,, and the need for enormously increased effort. Now Mr, Asquith tells us that despite the increased efforts put forth progress in the production of munitions is far behind national requirements; whereas so recently as the 14th instant Mr. Lloyd George, in a confident reference to the subject, intimated that the time was soon coming when on both fronts we should face our enemies under conditions of complete equality as. regards munitions, and that we should have a preponderance in the number of troops. The truth of the matter probably is that whereas Mb. Llqyd George _ was chiefly concerned with tho two main frpnts of battle and immediate requirements, Mr. Asquith has in mind the whole ] campaign and the tremendous possibilities raised by developments in the Balkans and in Mesopotamia. There | can bo little doubt that the Balkan campaign and the possibilities in Mesopotamia and Egypt have added greatly to the demand for an increased output of munitions. It has b?en deemed necessary on the Western front to provide not only sufficient supplies of munitions for ordinary current requirements, hut to accumulate large reserves to meet contingencies. No doubt the same' policy, as far as possible, has been pursued on the Eastern front. How much more necessary is it therefore to accumulate large supplies at "the Allied base in tho Balkans, and at the base from which our forces in increasing numbers are operating in Mesopotamia.. AVith long distances separating these bases from the source of supply, it is obviously necessary that a large reserve should be available on tho spot to minimise tho risk of a shortago due to the depredations of enemy submarines or a scarcity of transports, or from some unforeseen cause. This would make the domand on the output in Britain heavier than ever.

But wo suspect that underlying Mr. Asquith's announcement is a bigger issue than any of these Great Britain and her Allies have been, and are still, dependent to a laigo extent for the suj)ply of munitions from America. With the American supply maintained, Mr. Lloyd George s hopeful anticipations might easily bo realised; but if America sought to bring pressure to bear on Britain by cutting off these supplies, what then? We have pomted out on previous occasions that the United States Government is unlikely to take this step, not only because it would be a deliberately unfriendly act opposed to tho President s own interpretation of International Law and opposed to precedent; but also because it would mean a tremendous financial loss to American trade and industry. It is only a wise and prudent precaution, howcvci, on the part of the British Government, in view of its determination to increase tho stringenev of tho blockade of German ports to leave it as little as possible in 'the power of neutral countries, who may feel aggrieved at the course taken, to cripple our efforts in tho struggle by cutting off any form of supplies. It will have been noted that Swecden, as an act of retaliation, has prohibited the export of wood pulp to Britain, thus interfering with 'the or-, disarm supplies of fiapej manufac-

tured from this material. Sweden herself will probably suffer more than Great Britain if this decision is given effect-to, but the incident affords an illustration of the class of action which might bo taken by an offended neutral m an endeavour to dissuade Great Britain from pursuing a course designed to assist heT in the successful conduct of the war. So it may be, as wc have mentioned, that Mr. Asquith is desirous of making Britain and her Allies as far as possible independent of all outside sources _of supply in the matter of munitions. There is, of course, the further reason that the less Britain is compelled to purchase from America just now the more favourable her position will be in the matter of the rate of exchange, and the less the drain will be on her financial resources. The suggestion put forward by tho British Prime Minister as the best means of increasing the output of munitions to the required scale is a further dilution of the skilled labour already employed in munition factories. This means that the agreement of the Labour unions to the waiving of the ordinary rules and conditions so far as the employment of unskilled and non-union labour, in munition factories is concerned, will be taken still further advantage of. Thousands of women who have never done tho work before have already been engaged under this agreement, and have proved splendid workers in this new sphere of labour. They for the most part have learned the work, quickly, they have proved remarkably efficient in certain departments, and their employment _ has increased the output" of munitions enormously. Mr. Asquith apparently wishes to employ more and still more of this class of workers. Tho Labour union, ists usually employed at munitionmaking are not displaced, their ranks arc simply swelled by the new-comers. All are wanted for the work. Tho Labour unions have approached tho matter in a broad and patriotic spirit, and no doubt they will continue to do so, Mr, Asquith's statement of the position should serve as a reminder to all that wo cannot afford for a moment to relax our efforts in any direction in this great strugglo. Rather should it bo our constant aim to go on increasing them, as it is in our power to do, and thus hasten the day of victory.