MUNITIONS SUPPLY

Southland Times, Issue 17786, 15 July 1916, Page 5

MUNITIONS SUPPLY

SUPPLY TREMENDOUSLY INCREASED THE CHANGE SINCE EAST YEAR STATEMENT BY LLOYD GEORGE (By Telegraph—Press Assn.—Copyright) (Australian & N.Z. Cable Association.) LONDON, July 13. Received July 14, 7.30 p.m. Mr Lloyd Oeor.go, addressing a munitions conference at which Prance, Russia, and Italy were represented, insisted on the changed complexion of events since the conference of 1915, when the Champagne offensive had Just failed in its object, and the Russians bad been pressed back hundreds of miles. Now the Russians’ overwhelming victories bod struck tenor into the hearts of our foes, and the Immortal defence of Verdun, and the brave resistance of the Italians combined with the offensive on the east and west bad wrenched the initiative from the enemy’s bands. Oar prospects have Improved because the equipment of our armies has improved enormously. Xu 19X5 the Russians faced a hailstorm of iron with flesh and blood, and the British were condsmntd to inactivity because their supply of munitions was unequal to a sustained attack. The Navy absorbed more than half the metal workers of the country, occupying the energies of a million men. We had to create army arsenals ont of nothing. We were now turning out hundreds of guns and howitzers monthly and twice as much ammunition in a single week, and three-fold the number of heavy shells as was fired in the grand off endvo in September though that supply was the result of many weary weeks’ accumulation. The new factories and workshops bad not yet attained their full capacity, but the output was increasing with great rapidity,' and the main difficulties }n regard to labour supply and readjustment bad been solved. Supplies would soon be overwhelming. The success of Trench munition, making was proved by the present oftensive following the appalling expenditure at Verdun. The lesson of the present war was that more ammunition means more victories and fewer casualties.