TRAGIC MEMORY OF SHELL CRISIS.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 1559, 3 June 1916, Page 4

TRAGIC MEMORY OF SHELL CRISIS.

Now that the Russian shell crisis has been overcome there is no harm in disclosing how perilous was .our allies’ position in ine dark days of the great retreat. General Polivanoff, Russian Minister of War, made some startling revelations in an interview, stating that the crisis which had made itself felt at the end of 1914 reached an acute stage a year ago. In May and June, 1915, the position was tragic. The Russian army was absolutely forced to retreat solely from lack of shells. The position was the more poignant because, from the point of view both of the bravery of the men and the methods of fighting, everything was in favour of the Russians winning. “The lack of munitions paralysed ns,” continued the Minister, “and obliged us to yield to the enemy, but we did not cede victory, and, slowly retreating, we only gained time to prepare ourselves for fresh decisive efforts. To-day I tell you categorically that the munitions crisis no longer exists. It is a thing of the past, a sinister memory, but only a memory. In September, 1915, the first results of our labours became evident. Our batteries began to make their actions felt by the enemy, who had been accustomed to take no notice of them. Immense efforts and rigorus and inflexible measures were required. Almost everything had to be created, for we were used to receiving much from abroad, particularly from Germany. V\ e got there. It has been an absolute revolution, an absolute transformation of our industrial activity and almost all our customs. With (he national production and enormous markets abroad dispensed with, we can, as regards munitions, look to the future with confidence. Many things were lacking, but now the graver gaps are filled.