REJECTED AS UNFIT.

Oamaru Mail, Volume XL, Issue 12541, 12 May 1915, Page 7

REJECTED AS UNFIT.

One billion dollars (or £200,000.000) is, ;i conservative estimate of the value of the trade in arms, ammunition, and war supplies between the Allies of Europe and the manufacturers in the United States during the first year ol the. war. it has not bee it possible for American manufacUli'eiV to furnish war supplies to GerUiilny. because of the interruption of trade Velations with that country.

During the past six months the Allies I have bought from the United States j £80,000,000 worth of war supplies. Many ■ of the manufacturers in the United .'states hold contracts with the British, French, and Russiaji Governments which have at least nine months, and in some institutes two years longer tu run, So enormous has the trade in war supplies grywn that tile 1 Government officials hi uharge ol export statistics for the Department of Commerce admit- the incorrectness of the if figures, Those in charge ol' the Domc-stie and Export Commerce Bureau at Washington confess that the I figures issued by the department convey , no idea of the tremeudutis traffic in war I euppli&s-. | Practically- all'war material destined for th-a Use of "the Allies is now chipped by : the American manufacturer or producer | to Canada, where it is transhipped in British, bottoms to England. Even war supplies for France and lius-sia are delivered in Canada, shipped to England, and distributed from there. Of' the four hundred and odd million dollars already spent or contracted for, the following industries have secured the bulk !-- : £. Al'ttis-, ammunition, and explosives ■ ... ... 20,000.000 Iron and steel 15,000,000 Textiles, hosiery, sweaters, etc 6.400.000 Automobiles " 4,400,000 Chemicals, medicines.-and hospital supplies .". 1,250.000 Leather. including shoes, harness, etc 3,600,000 Miscellaneous, including beef, some flour, sugar, and provisions ~, .;. '..,. ~..:.... 36,000,000 Total to February 1 ... 02,450,000 The Department of Commerce has not yet compiled the figures for the month of January, and those for February will not be issued until April, A detailed statement, as compiled by the Department of Commerce shows these purchases made in 1914 by.the various Governments :

France.—August: Firearms £378; October: Cartridges £76,600, firearms £78,560; November : Cartridges £67,280. firearms £16,000; December: Firearms £22.000, guneotton £BO.OOO. trinitr-toluol £40.000. United Kingdom/—August : Firearms £2,928, cartridges £4,000: September: Firearms £8,200. . art ridges £40.000: October: Firearms £I7XOO. cartridges £140.000 : November : Fir-earn* £17.000. cartridges £129.000: December: Firear.ms £I,OOO.

Canada.—August : Firearms £11.400. cartridges £7.550. gunpowder £1,600: ■September: Firearms'" £IO.OOO, cartridges £5,600; October: Firearms £lo,oofl, cartridges £4.200; November: • FireaMMir £16,000. caitridgcs £3500, gunpowtfeT £1,200.

Japan.—Beginning with August, war munitions £2BOO. Russian Asia. December: Firearms £125,000.

France did not become, a purchaser of cartridges and firearms until October, 1914. while Groat Britain and Uana<la • began to buy two months earlier—in August and September. 'ihe Adics. through agents and Indirect correspondence have -bought up or contracted for practically the entire output of tire factories of the United Stales manufacturing arms, ammunition, and explod ves. In few instances are these supplies sold direct to the foreign Governments now at wiir. They are generally bought through a broker or agent, and the greatest secrecy i.- maintained. Kven the manufacturers who have received orders tor supplies of this sort for the arimes abroad are extremely reticent for fear there may be interruption to it All such material is eontrabaiwl. .Manufacturers of arm-. ammunition, and explosives will not admit that they have received orders of any kind. Tbeii Lactone.- are guarded to such an extent 'that entrance is. impossible.. In all arin.aud ammunition factories even the work 111211 are compelled to have passes on which their photographs are athxt-d in order to get by the guards, who not only watch the entrances "to the factories, but practically surround them.

There are seventy-live lactones in tin United Statis, manufacturing firearms and ammunition exclusively. I'hese employ in normal times about 20.000 persons, tint now. when every factory is working double and triple time, the number oi employees has iuerea.-.'d to about 50.000.

The manufacturers of firearms and iimiiiunitioii do not make explosives. Thii is a separate industiv and consists ot about 103 establishments scattered through 21 different .States. The capital employed in tliis industry is about 1)5,000,-000.-and I lie normal production is £2£o.000,000 pounds oi explosives, but tliic outjiut lias been doubled because of the war orders. Additions and new factum's have been established, and in many of the guncottun and high explosive plants three shifts of men are'being woiked in otder to- fill orders.