GERMAN WAR WORK.

Taihape Daily Times, Issue 220, 20 September 1917, Page 2

GERMAN WAR WORK.

German newspapers received in London early in July contain a good deal of information bearing on the Labour situation. As soon as the Russian offensive was seen to be inevitable tnc press began to prepare the public for another winter of war. At the same time the Government began to agitate for fresh efforts in the production of munitions. This movement is similar to that which was initiated by Hindenburg last summer, as the result of the battle of the Somme, but it has begun earlier this year. For the present the coal problem is the most prominent subject of discussion. In an adderss at Frankfurt, with which lie began his campaign General Grocner who as head of the War Bureau of the Prussian Ministry of War, is now a sort of Minister for Munitions, announced that the Government is again considering the application of the 'Auxiliary Service Law to women who were excluded from the scheme last year, though invited to volunteer. He said the whole transport system of Germany was now being investigated, and he was horrified at the way in which commodities were carried about the country. He declared he had no fear of a collapse of the coal supply, provided that they had proper distribution. But there must be economy in industries which were not producing armaments. However, the Frankfurt Gazette declares that the difficulties in the coal supply which made their appearance last winter are due loss to unsatisfactory transport conditions and defective distribution than production. “No way has yet been found which promsies a real improvement, and all the measures thus for taken by the authorities cannot deceive us about that,” the paper declares.. The Metal Workers’ Unjon, the largest union in Germany, has demanded payment for time lost owing to the fact that “the working of short tnne is becoming over more common m the war industry, on account of shortage of coal, electric current and materials. ”