MILITARY ARMAMENTS.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LVI, Issue 182, 31 January 1914, Page 5

MILITARY ARMAMENTS.

A FItFACH SCARE. KIIUI'P'S LATEST DEAL. 3y Cable- Press Association—Copyright Berlin, January 29. Krupps are credited with having bought! PontiloiPs factory at St. Petersburg. The Russian Government adopted the French artillery and had guns construated at Pontiloff's. If Krupps have acquired the factory, Germany will ■ become possessed of the secrets of the manufacture of French arms. The report caußed great excitement in France. EXCITEMENT IN PARIS. FURTHER EXPLANATIONS. , Paris, January 29. ' A sensation was caused when it wag reported that Krupps were negotiating I for the purchase of Ponitiloff's works I at St. Petersburg, which possesses the French artillery models since the Russian Government adopted them. The report is denied in Berlin and St. Petersburg, but French opinion is not ■.reassured. It is possible that the report is traceable to Vickors and Co. receiving a concession to establish extensive works at Taeritsyn. The Figaro asserts that an AngloGc.rman syndicate, consisting of Krupps, the Deutsche Baltic and Vickers ,and Co., offered Pontilofls an immediate of two million sterling. PontiJoffs required fresh capital in connection , with a contract for Russian artillery, and negotiated with a Russian banking house in close, relation* with Berlin hence the Anglo-German syndicate was formed.