CLOTHING AN ARMY.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXVIV, Issue 10, 15 December 1915, Page 4

CLOTHING AN ARMY.

What a tremendous call the war has made upon some peaceful industries is made evident by some figures published in the London Times regarding the needs of an Army such as Britain now posseses at the front ‘"aiid at Home. In peace times the normal issue of boots to Britain’s soldiers for one year amounts to ‘245,000 pairs, but at present there are, delivered or on order, 6,500,000 pairs for first out-* lit 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, great-epatSj 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 5,000,000 pairs of trousers, 4,500,000 pairs of puttees, 11,000,000 pairs of socks, and other garments in the same proportions. Since the beginning of the war, apart- from the issues made locally by territorial as sociations, 1,000,000 pairs ot hoots, over 2,000,000 pairs of socks, 1,000,000 shirts, and 500,000 caps have been delivered to the army.' The manufacture of this vast quantity of clothing, must, of course, occupy an arinv. of men and women quite apart fron/|,pie great number employed in the making of explosives and of war

weapons,