CLOTHING THE ARMY.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXXVII, Issue 1483, 9 December 1915, Page 2

CLOTHING THE ARMY.

Somij idea of the needs of an army such as Britain now has at the front and at home may be gathered from some statements and figures published in the London Times. In peace times the issue of boots for one year amounts to 245,000 pairs, but at present there are, delivered or on order, 6,500,000 pairs for first outfit and upkeep for six months only, and it may be imagined that the bootmakers are busily employed. Similarly, the British Army authorities usually issue 114,000 pairs of woollen drawers a year, but they have now 7,000,000 pairs on order for half a year. Instead of 43,000 greatcoats there is now a need of 1.500.000 in hand ; 250,000 service dress jackets has increased to 5,250,000, not to speak of 5.000. pairs of trousers, 4.500.000 pairs of puttees, 11.000. shirts, 11,000,000 pairs of socks, besides caps, pants, Highland shoes, cardigans, held dressings, towels, and so on in the same relative proportions. Since the beginning of the war, apart from the issues made locally by territorial associations, i,000,000 pairs of boots, over 2,000,000 pairs of socks, 1,000,000 shirts, and 500,000 caps have been delivered to the army. The result of this huge demand for necessities for the troops has been that the price of wool and other materials has gone up very considerably. As might be expected, there has been a great deal of speculation in all military supplies. Some very

profitable deals have apparently been made, judging by one case cited. One middleman bought 5000 jerseys at 3s nd, offered them to the War Office at 4s 3d, and was refused. He then sold them to a territorial association at 6s nd, thus making a profit on this one transaction ot