THE WAR

Horowhenua Chronicle, 17 August 1916, Page 3

THE WAR

i>Ll'.L iii It I ;!j COCVHICUT.j OUR MUX IT lOX SUPPLY". London, August 'o. In the House of Commons Mr Montagu, in hi.s review of the work of the .Munitions Department, said that the output ol shells at tho beginning oi the war wa-> so negligible that the percentage of increa.-os gave fantastic results. For instance eighteen-pounder heavy shells have increased 2050 times, and for the last week in June, 1910, was 'GJ times the average weekly output for Ittl l-l ), with corresponding increases ill other classes of artillery munitions. Altogether we are now manufacturing weekly tlie equivalent of the entire prewar stock of ammunition. We could j now turn out in three or four weeks machine-guns equivalent to tin- total

stock existing when the Ministry

Munitions was established. Our method of purchasing and the limitation of the prices of metals had saved (M 1,1100.000. fie would not divulge a secret by .-aving that the artillery had acquitted itself entirely satisfactorily in the remit fighting. The difficulties of replacing damaged and worn-out guns had been sat'sPaetorily surmounted. The conditions of modern warfare emphasized the value of long-range gnns. Guns of over-increasing range were demand"d. Our impieparedness for war had the advantage of giving us entirely modern weapons. Reports from the tronf showed a steady improvement in tlie quality of the ammunition, but ;iir iilist an enemy like Germany progress must be continuous. The 'Ministry had been aiming at independence Firm foreign supply. When the Min-

tr.v was establ:shed American'factories

supplied 70 per cent of tlie light shells, We weru.now independent. We had found the American heavy .shells inval-

ble during the development of Brit-

is 11 raitorif.s. but bo expected that the j Home ;nit! Canadian outputs would; ultimately make \m independent. The cn<t «.f factories was decreasing. Tlio cost in sonic cases Had been completely revered in s:x or twelve months by differences between tHo cost of home and foreign munitions. Mr Montagu paid n tribute to the women and asked) where now was the man who would deny women the civil rights which tliey had earned. The .Ministry's program would not be completed until tiie number of guns h id increased many times and the ammunition was sufficient to maintain an indefinite offensive on the whole front. The T?t. Hon. T>. I.loydi George. 111 commenting 011 the improvement of munitions, revealed the Pact- that, premature slifflls were so bad in flic Rattle of Lock that the firing of high explosive shells had to be abandoned. Xow th emmvber of premature shells was negligible. Our equipment of 18-poundens was practically complete and we should shortly be satisfied in our requirement's of machine guns. We would then he able to devote our attention to the requirements of our Allies. The weekly output of munitions covered, the txpencliture thereof, so if the workmen ' and employers continued to play their part as nobly as heretofore there would be no fear of our offensive breaking down owing to a shortage of ammunition.

| UN ,"l 11'IC C ARPATHr.VX.S AGAIN. London, August iti. The Russian official report states: — The crossing of the Zlotalipn eontiuues despite a bombardment hindering f ho construction of bridges. Ow ing to our pressure the enemy -11 tlie woodetl; region* of the Carpathians between the branches of the Pruth liavo evacuated .Jabiouitza, wliit'h wo .ccupicd. Wo also re-occupied Vorckhta and Ardjeluz on the l'ruth, taking prisoner .'3:2 officers and 1000 men. Our offensive continues. An Austrian communique stages: — Our hattnlion* (southwards of Tartarnui withdrew fro in Dartaren Pass before superior I'u.ssian forcos. tVe repulsed six massed wttacks near Horozanka.