SHELLS FOR THE ARMY

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2484, 10 June 1915, Page 5

SHELLS FOR THE ARMY

MUNITIONS BILL IN HOUSE OF COMMONS GOVERNMENT AND THE MANUFACTURERS LACK OF ENCOURAGEMENT ALLEGED . London, June 8. The Minister of Munitions Bill was read a tliird timo in tho House of Commons. Sir John Simon, Home Secretary, said there was no intention, by means of a side wind, to secure compulsory registration. If special powers •were liueded the consent of tho House would bo sought. Mr. Asquith said there was no sinister intent behind tie Bill, which was solely directed to tho supplying of the troops with ammunition. Alleged Laok of Encouragement. Sir Richard Cooper (Unionist) mentioned that the Government and _ a War Office official had consulted with tho Birmingham munition makers in April last and had encouraged firms to organise in anticipation of orders, but the firms were afterwards informed that their services were not waaited. sir Richard Cooper asked whether the Yickers firm was building a factory at Birmingham under arrangement' with , Ibo War Office. Mr. Forster (Financial Seoretary to the War Office), in reply, said arrangements were being made with Birmingham firms, one of which had already received >an order. He admitted that the Vickers's were erecting two factories at Birmingham with the .War Office's approval. Sir Richard Cooper: "Bow manyfirms in the Unit-ed Kingdom have offered to make munitions with whom no orders lave been placed!" Mr. Forster: "Three hundred. All have been invited to tender, and fifty have been engaged as sub-contractors." He added that the production of trinitrotoluol was amplo for Britain's use nnd also enabled her to assist her Allies. Free Dlsousslon in Camera. ' Mr. George Lambert hoped that the widest possible powers would be given' to the new Minister. Apparently the Ordnance Department and the AVar Office had fsuled in their duty. He hoped that the Ministers would have complete control of/ the Ordnance Department! Sir Arthur Markham said that Mr. Lambert's statement embodied a very grave charge, and showed that it would have been wiser had members been enabled to speak freely. He incidentally asked the Premier to give Parliament an opportunity to discuss the.conduct of tho war within closed doors, and recalled that their Allies' Parliaments were sitting in camera. • Mr. Asquith declined, ~ RESOLUTION BY THE IRISH PARTY. London, June 8. The Irish Parliamentary Party, at a meeting in the House of Commons, passed a resolution condemning consciiption, which would be calculated to break np the unity of the people. SPELTER COMMANDEERED. ACTION BY THE MUNITIONS COMMITTEE. Loi}don, June S. It Is understood tho Munitions Committee will commandeer all spelter except that used for cartridges, and prohibit its use for galvanising sheets and wire except for Government purposes. FROM CRAMAPHONES TO WAR MATERIAL. WHAT A BRITISH FACTORY IS DOING. London, June S. A gramaphone factory in Middlesex that was employing sixty persons is now employing four thousand men, women, boys, and girls in producing cart-Tidges-cases and chargers, lead, cases for gun-cotton, cordite, reels, fuses, and igniters. "OUR CLEAR DUTY TO GOD." "NO COMPROMISE WITH DEVILS." London, June 8. Lord Headley, in a speech at Windsor, said: "Our clear duty to God is to hate all devils, and not mako a compromise with the Evil One. Anyone talking of sympathy for the Germans, or of 'loving otir enemies,' was playing into the hands of the most relentless Mid ruthless incarnation of evil. Conjcientious scruples when at death-grips a-itli murderers, ravishers, and poisoners are as out of place as mercy would be if you found a cobra under your pillow." WORKERS AND THE WAR BONUS. , CARD AND BLOWING ROOM AMAL--1 GAMATION. London, June 8. The Card and Blowing Room Amalgamation has decided to proceed with the claim for a 10 per cent, war bonus. It will bo difficult to avoid a stoppage ' of work, affecting 300,000 persons. MINERS' FEDERATION. London, June 8. The Miners' Federation vote to refer the question of tho war bonus to the Premier for settlement resulted: For, •138,000; against, 279,000. RUSSIAN MANUFACTURERS ORCANISINC. CREATING NEW FACTORIES. Petrograd, June 8. Tho manufacturers are endeavouring to co-ordinate the resources of the Empire. All establishments hitherto manufacturing luxuries are being adapted to the production of war munitions. Thev are running day and night on three shifts. The internal production nf munitions increased sevenfold during the first half-year of the war. SHOULDERS TO THE WHEEL. BRITISH WORKERS REALISE. THE SITUATION. (Rec. June 10 ; 0.50 a.m.) London, June 9. 'A committee has been formed to organise torn- thousand men from the Smithfield Market who have volunteered their services during their spare time to work in the munition factories. The Engineers' Society of the Glasgow District has notified its branches that members must recognise the munitions agreements in the broadest spirit possible, and do their utmost to accelerate the output of war material. The Clyde cotton mills engaged in war contracts aro not involved in the threatened lock-out. ; BRITISH CASUALTIES The High Commissioner reports:— London, June 9, 1.10 a.m. Army.—Men killed, 490: wounded, 1538: asphyxiated by gas, 57; killed by ' gas, 1; missing, 12." Officers killed, 11; wounded, 9; killed by gas, 1; injured by gas, 2; missing, 2; prisoners, 4. Dardanelles. —Navy officers, 1 killed, 51 wAUtuind.