RUSSIAN ARTILLERY WORKS

Otago Daily Times, Issue 15986, 31 January 1914, Page 10

RUSSIAN ARTILLERY WORKS

REPORTED PURCHASE BY KRUPPS.

ANXIETY IN FRANCE.

Prw« Ajioci»ticn—By T«l»er»ph—Copyrigkl

PARIS, January 29.

, A sensation was caused here when it was reported that Krupps' firm was negotiating for the purchase of the Pontiloff works at St. Petersburg, which possess 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 lis possible that the report is traceable to the British firm of Vickers receiving a concession to establish extensive works at Facritsyn.

The Figaro asserts.that an Anglo-Ger-raan. syndicate, consisting of Krupps, the Deutsche Bank, and Vickers, offered Pontiloffs an immediate advance of £2,000,000. Pontiloffs, who required fresh capital in connection with their contract for Russian 'artillery, negotiated with a Russian banking house in close relations with Berlin, hence an Anglo-Gorman syndicate was fdrmed.

V (Times-Sydney Sun Special Cables.) BERLIN, January 29. *'' Krapps are credited with buying Pontiloff's factory, in St. Petersburg. The Russian Government, which have adopted French artillery, had its guns constructed at Pontiiofi's. 11, therefore, Krupps have acquired the factory, Germany will become possessed of the secrets of French arms manufacture. The report has caused great excitement in France.