THURSDAY, JULY 19, 1917. WEALTH FROM THE AIR

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 3140, 19 July 1917, Page 4

THURSDAY, JULY 19, 1917. WEALTH FROM THE AIR

Not so very long ago the idea, of drawing a vast body of wealth from the air would have been dismissed ■ as a flight of fancy. To-day, thanks to scientific investigation, and the practical application of scientific discoveries, this marvel is an accomplished fact. In many countries great plants' are now operating to .the end of imprisoning the nitrogen of the air and making it availablo as a commercial commodity for purposes of peace and war. Tho essential importance of nitrates is illustrated in the fact that it is only by producing an enormous quantity—something like 1,500,00 P tons per annum —that Germany is enabled to continue the war. Nitric acid plays an essential part in tho preparation of explosives and propellants for all sorts of ordnance. If Germany were unable to obtain supplies her armies would be, paralysed, and in addition, the deprivation of nitrates would so reduce the yield of her agricultural lands that she would speedily be reduced to a condition of starvation. All the countries at war are dependent as Germany is lylon an ample supply of nitrates in developing their military power. As regards the future, it is still more important that' nitrate manure is one of the most valuable fertilising agents yet discovered, and that all over the world it is in great and increasing demand. These facts indicate the importance of the claim made by Me. J. Orchiston (Chief Telegraph Engineer) that nitrates can be more economically extracted from tho air in New Zealand than in any other part of tho world. 'Mr. Oechiston has formed this opinion after long and extended inquiries, in the courso of which ho considered not only the conditions under which nitrates might be produced in this country, but tho conditions under which they are produced in other parts 'of the world. Ho has taken account also, of the great natural deposits of nitrates—the only known deposits of their kind —which exist in Chile. As a result of his investigations; ho is able to support his opinion that New Zealand is in a position to engage most profitably in the production of nitrates with a body of evidence which, to tho layman, seems. conclusive. Two things essential to the economical production of nitrates are an ample supply of cheap power and low transport charges. _ As a result of his systematic inquiries, and after having carefully traced the outline of the world's coasts, Me. Oechiston is of opinion that these condiI tions are nowhere better met than ' at the Bowen Falls in Milford Sound. The power of the falls is waiting to bo harnessed, and works established there would be alongside deep water, so that ships could bo loaded with the utmost facility, and transport charges would be reduced to a minimum. From tho 'point of view of tho production of nitrates tho locality, in Mr. Orchiston's opinion, satisfies all possible demands. It is a point of some importance that the method by which Mr. Orchiston proposes that nitrates should be produced in NowZealand is not that which has found most favour in Germany and some other countries of tho Old World. In somo notes on the subject he has addressed to the National Efficiency Board and Ministers of tho Crown, Mr, Orchiston states that if tho cyanamide process (in which calcium carbide is used as a basic material) were adopted in utilising the power' of tho Bowen Falls, tho amount of nitrogen secured would bo four-fold the estimated yield under the method he recommends. The cyanamide process, howcvc-i-j though it is four times more efficient, involves moro than four times as much labour as the alternative method, in addition to the need for coal in the form of coke for tho manufacture of calcium carbide. Cheap power and first-class shipping facilities are tho factors whioh make tho production

of nitrates at the Bowen Falls practicable. It is interesting in this connection that in Norway, where water-power is plentiful and cheaply developed, the methods recommended by Mr. Okcmston for adoption in New Zealand have been successfully put into practice.

The report of the National Efficiency Board upon Mr. Orchiston's proposal will bo awaited with interest, and it is to be hoped that the Government will lose, no time in making it public. Unless the author of the proposal is unduly sanguine in his conclusions, the Dominion is in a position to dovelop with great profit a portion of tho dormant wealth represented in its unexploited water power. The- matter is ono of immense importance to the Dominion. Mr. Orchiston is of opinion that Now Zealand can not only produce nitrates much more cheaply than they can bo imported from Chile, but can produce a purer article and ono possessing higher valuo as an aid to increased production in agriculture. It may ultimately bo possible to dovelop the industry on a very great scale. The normal development of our primary industries and the improvement of poor'lands will ensuro a continued and growing demand for nitrate manures within the borders of the Dominion, and if production should reaoh such proportions as to warrant tho development of an export trade a practically, unlimited market is available in Australia—a continent with little water-power, and an enormous area of poor and waste lands. It is the obvious duty of the Government to see that Mr. Orchiston's report and recommen.dations receive tho earliest possible attention. The matter is not one to be relegated to some indefinite future. Such an opportunity as is here suggested of developing our natural resources is not ono to be neglected. A'n Act passed some years ago reserves to tho State the solo right of exploiting the water-power resources of tho Dominion. This, of course, should, not bo allowed to stand in the way of an industrial enterprise which would confer tremendous advantages upon the Dominion. If the conditions exist which permit tho successful establishment of tho industry—and. it seems fairlv clear that they do exist —then tho Government should either embark in the its own account' or delegate the necessary powers to others.

PROGRESS OF THE WAR

A message from London yesterday which stated that the Russians ■had capturfld Dolina, conveyed an entirely falso impression of tho existing state of affairs in Galicia, south of the Dniester. The facts aro disclosed in Russian and Gorman official reports appearing to-day, which show that the Russians have evacuated Kalusz, the railway town about 16 miles east of Dolina which they entered last week) and retired to the south' bank of the Lomniea. The latter river, though .it is a tributary of the Dniester, bends east and north in the country south of Kalusz. Tho position, therefore, is that tho Russians have retired from Kalusz and placed the Lomniea botween them and the enemy. Tho important river crossing which the Russians say they have secured is presumably the orossing of tho Dniester at Halicz. Looking at tho map it would appear that the Halicz crossing, the chief prizo which has thus far fallen to the Russians in their present offensive, is now held by a somewhat narrow margin, and is well within range of enemy guns advantageously posted. It is possible, however, that tho position has been modified by developments on tho north bank' of tho Dniester, west-i ward of Halicz, which have not been clearly disclosed in the official reports.

At all events, while still holding the Halicz crossing, the Russians have retired across the Lomnica in the country to the south-west. Tho movement, though it was hastened by enemy attacks in the area northeast of Kalusz, appears to have been largely voluntary. The Petrograd official report dealing with-the matter states that the retirement to the south bank of the Lomnica was mado for tactical reasons, and the German version is that the Russians evacuated Kalusz after they had been dislodged from woodlands to the north. Tho circumstances suggest that the Russians anticipate tho development of a formidable enemy counter-stroke south of the Dniester, and are disinclined to meet it vith a considerable river close behind their front, but this estimate of tho situation may call for some reservations. Reasons for check in tho Russian advance in Southern Galicia already appeared in tie fact that the Dniester and its tributaries are in flood. Tho flooded river valleys oppose serious obstacles to progress, and the expectation of a period of stationary fighting may in itself have induced the Russians to sacrifice a limited extent of territory for tho sake of strengthening their front. Similar conditions arising at about this time last year brought the Russians to a halt for several weeks in tho Dniester valloy, but while this lull continued in the south they captured Brody and mado other important gains further north.

There is'no reason to regard tho check in tho valley of the Dniester as an indication that tho Russian offensive generally is. weakening. Quito possibly it may be the prelude to an active , development of . the offensive on other sections of j the front. Whatever uncertainty \ tho position holds docs not ariso from the fact that the Russians have been checked on one of many possible lines of advance, and one on which conditions of -weather and ground were almost certain to_ bring tbem to a halt for a time in any case. The only, doubtful point is in regard to the extent to fi>hich Russia's available resources have been cut down by the disorders of tho Revolution. This will only bo tested by timo and events, but while the Russian armies are not as =trong as they would have been after a, winter of uninterrupted preparation end reinforcement, the enemy also is r.ot by any means as well provided with reserves as ho was last year. * * * *

While it stood alone a resolution by the executives of tho Councils of Workmen, Soldiers, and Peasants, transmitted to-day, pointed to_ a greatly improvod political situation in Russia. Jts effect is seriously modified, however, by tho news conveyed in a lato message that regiments of civilians, armed with rifles and machine-guns, arc parading in Pctrograd and denouncing the Government, and that there has been much shooting. It is obvious that if disorders of this kind are ;not speedily and ruthlessly suppressed the a-rmies at tho front will bo

fatally handicapped. The outlook, meantime, is dubious, though an ■open conflict between tho loyal forces and tho Anarchists who aro prepared to betray their country can hardly entail .worse consequences than the continued toleration of disloyal agitation and conspiracy. * * * #

A dashing exploit by British naval forces which is leportcd today resulted in the capture of four German merchantmen, while two others were seriously damaged. It was recently reported that in order to ease tho strain on their railways tho Germans were transporting ooal from Westphalia to Rotterdam, and thence conveying it by ship to Emden and Cuxhaven. The route lies along tho Dutch coast, and in waters well within tho shelter of the German minefields. Holland was warned that Britain would not tolerate tho conveyance of enemy supplies by this route, and the events now roported presumably/ mean that the warning has been followed by action. Whether tho capture of the German ships involved an invasion of Dutch territorial waters is not clear. Possibly it did, since in the locality in which the captures wero effected (off Petton, about 60 miles north of tho Maas) the enemy craft presumably had the option of remaining inside the three-mile limit, but doubt on tho point seems to obtain in Holland. In any case, the incident will be apt to put an end to the traffio in which Germany impudently sought to engage under the noses of the British patrols.

Some important changes in the British Cabinet arc reported to-day. Sir. Edward Carson enters the War Cabinet as a Minister without portfolio, and is succeeded as First Lord of the Admiralty by Sir Eric Geddes. Tho latter was appointed as an additional member of tho Board of Admiralty when changes were made in its personnel a couple of months ago. In that office he fulfilled very important duties in connection with tho shipbuilding requirements of the Admiralty, and with the co-ordination of the shipbuilding requirements of tho Admiralty, War Office,, and Ministry of Shipping. _ His elevation to tho position ot First Lord probably accentuates the tendency to draw a clear line of division between the staff and administrative aspects of Admiralty control. A surprise is sprung in the appointment of Mr. Churchill as Minister of Munitions, and no doubt the appointment will provoke a good deal of hostile comment. Mr. E. S. Montagu, who succeeds Mr. Chamberlain at the India Office, _ followed Mr. Lloyd George as Minister of Munitions in the Asquith Government, but has been out of othce since December last. He was a Parliamentary Under-Secretary for India from 1910 to 1914.