THE ARMISTICE.

Press, Volume LIV, Issue 16404, 26 December 1918, Page 7

THE ARMISTICE.

THE SURRENDERED GERMAN FLEET. (Auetrnlia.il and N.Z. Cable Association.' (Received December 2oth, 5.5 p.m.) WASHINGTON.. December 23. Mr Lansing, learning of tlio rumour that the United States desired the German fleet to be sunk, rather tlian divided among the Allies, denies that the American delegation has any such idea. AIRPLANE CAPSIZES. BRITISH PILOT KILLED. (Received December sth. 5.5 p.m.) WASHINGTON, Docembor 23. An airplane, with a British pilot and an American general as passenger, returning from Treves to Paris, capsized near Paris. The pilot is dead and the general seriously injured. MUNITION MINISTRY'S WORK. GREAT EFFORTS DURING THE WAR. THE TASK IN HAND. (By Cable.—Preae Association.— Copyright.. (Australian arid N.Z. Cable Association.} (Router's Telegremt.) (Received December 25th, 5 jMn.) LONDON, December 22.

Mr Churchill, Minister of Munitions, addressing a conference of tho TradeUnion Advisory Committee pnd employers, said that whon firing ceased on tho West front Bix weeks agb the Ministry of Munitions was at the tpp of its form, and had reached the culminating point of output. It had a vast series of terrifying novelties in readinoss for tpo 1919 catnpaign. But suddenly the task' was swallowed up in victory. The Ministry was gradually relaxing control, stimulating alternative production, and avoiding throwing masses; out of employment. The task was three-' fold: Firstly, the liquidation of contracts,; secondly, assisAig firms to .■don-, vert war work .into peace industry; thirdly, the disposal oT material and stores in the war theatres, which were; worth £1,000,000,000. The munitions effort culminated in the discharge on fif-: teen successive days on the West.front, of 12,000 shells, daily upon the reeling, quivering German front. -The average shell production for October was 47,000 tons weekly. The Ministry was vroducing the headquarters personnel, and relinquishing the commandeered hotels. It was estimated that a,t the end of ' nest week 230,000 workers would have left the Munitions Department. Already' ! 20,000 out of the inspection staff of W l tween 40,000 and 50,000 women had, I been released.

Within a few days of the armistice, the •majority of the restrictions on material had been swept away to> onhble the diversion to peace purposes to ~ be carried out. During the tfar the' 1 Munitions Department had used prncticalty all the availablo fiteel. Therefore the dislocation of the engineering, shops nre inevitable for somemonthsi but there was no reason to apprehend a - ' shock or set-back for the steel industry.' British steel works were already fully* occupied. The fixing of home prices',, coupled with the gradual removal of subsidies, had steadied the iron and' steel trades. Large Government stocks of non-ferrous metals had been placed on the market at fixed prices, calculated to encourage trade,

Tho Ministry was doing its utmost to develop alternative industrial production during the transitional period.. An effort was being made to obtain orV dors from the Government Departments ; also from the Dominions. He urged every man to find a peace job. If all would pull together with tho 6amo loyalty as during tho period 6f great anxiety, the great industries would soon resume their natural activity. /