IHE MUTHE MUNITION OUTLOOK

Auckland Star, Volume XLVII, Issue 168, 15 July 1916, Page 5

IHE MUTHE MUNITION OUTLOOK

LLOYD GEORGES FORECAST, SUPPL* Wttl, BE TBEBIXD. SOOH JO BE OVEBWHELMING, FRENCH KEEPING PACE. « (Australian- and X.Z, C»Ue 'Association.*.: LONDON, July 14. ■ Mr. Lloyd George, Minister for Waiaddressing a munitions conference, afc which France, Russia, and Ifaly wero represented, emphasised the change in; the complexion, of events since ;the conference of 1015,. when the Champaend offensive had just faUed in its objective and the Russians had been pressed back hundreds of miles. Now the overwhelming victories won by the Russians had struck terror in the hearts of the enemy.' The immortal. defence of Verdun, an* the combined offensive east and west had' wrenched the initiative from, the enemy's hands. The allied prospects had improved he* cause the equipment of the annies 1 haS improved enormously. last" year tha Russians faced a. hailstorm of iron."withi flesh and blood, and the British 'wer6 condemned to inactivity because ■munitions - were .unequal to a sustained attack. Then the Nary absorbed more than half the metal workers of thei country,, occupying the energies Jot a million men. Britain, bad to create an, army and "arsenals out of nothing. "We are now," proceeded Mr. UoydS George, "turning out hendneds of rguns and howitzers monthly.: Twice as inuchj ammunition in a single week and threrf times the number of heavy ; shells as were fired in the grand ■ offensive. last September, though that supply wae tha result of many weary tion. The new factories and workshop* have not yet attained to a third of their ful capacity, but the outpatisincreasing with great rapidity. The main difficulties have been labour supply, but re-< adjustments have solved- that difficulty, and , supplies will soon be overwhelming. 5. The success of French munition making, added~-Mr .Lloyd George,- was proved by the present offensive" following on thai appalling expenditure of munitions aft Verdun. The rlesson of the present was was that more ammunition- meanevinorq victories and fewer casualties.