PROVISION OF WAR MATERIAL

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 3124, 30 June 1917, Page 7

PROVISION OF WAR MATERIAL

SREAT INCREASE IN BRITAIN'S

OUTPUT

POOLING SUPPLIES FROM

AMERICA

STATES' RESOURCES TO BE PLACED AT ALLIES'DISPOSAL (Bee, June 29, U. 30 p.m.) : London, June 28. In the House of Couimuiis, Dr. Addibon (Minister for Munitions), reviewing the. work of the Ministry of Munitions, eaid Britain's capacity lor tho production of explosives in Jliirch, 1917, was twentyeight times her capacity iu March, 1915. U lth regard to gun ammunition Britain had reached such a. 6tat« of production as to bo able to divert some factories to assisting other branches. Great reserves of h'eld-gun ammunition had been provided. The arrangements were working eo 6moothly that, despite tho enormous expenditure at tho front, the stock of field shells decreased only

7 per cent, in tho first nine weeks of the offensive. Tho output of machine-guns and rifles was fully equal to the demand. Dealing with the supply of railway material for the Army, Dr. Addison 6aid that railway lines were pulled up in Britain and India, and Australia and Canada also contributed. Canada had arranged to pull up and ship eight hundred miles of track. Over two thousand miles of track had already been supplied. Improved "tanks" were coming forward 'freely, and Dr. Addison hinted at further development regarding these machines. An inter-Allied bureau had been, established in London in order to pool the Allies' munitions requirements from America, eo as to avoid competitive buying. Negotiations are proceeding to enable the United States to place its resources more readily and effectively at the Allies' disposal. Britain's output of steel before the war was seven million tons a year; now it was ten million, and it was hoped that it would bs twelve million by the end of 1918. Her production of tungsten had enabled her 'to supply much to her Allies. Dr. Addison stated that there were 30,000 skilled munition volunteers, while 40,000 soldiers had b»en released from the colours, and 30,000 Army reservists were employed- in the manufacture of munitions. The reduction in 'the cost of shell components as compared with last year represented a saving of The Ministry of 'Munitions was taking steps to provide traders with information regarding the almost infinite mineral resources of the Empire.— Eeuter.