SAVING SCRAP METAL.

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume LX, Issue 17124, 27 October 1917, Page 6

SAVING SCRAP METAL.

FROM EUROPE'S BATTLEFIELDS

Considerable speculation has been going the rounds as to the amount of scrap iron and steel that is accumulating on the battlefields of Europe aud how it is to be disposed of. Americ in companies which regularly deal in such old material have for some time been looking forward to the harvest to be reaped from these battlefields after the war. These hopes have been rather rudely shocked lately by observers recently returned from tho front, who state that this matter is now' being handled by the respective governments According to the systems now established, in modern warfare it is stated that a salvage corps is daily going over all the ground near the battle front exposed to fire and is gathering all tne debris discarded by the contending armies. None of the scrap is neglected with steel worth 2 to 3 cents per pound and copper and other metals in proportion. AH the metals are taken to shops in the rear and there worked over 'to oe cast into other various metal munitions that a modern army uses. - All the lead that is fired is practically lost as a bullet travelling at a velocity of 2000 feet or more per second buries itself so deep into any object it hits as to be lost entirely. Other metals howover, such as tangled steel from wrecked motor-cars, large pieces of shells, bits of copper, pieces of aluminium, etc, are carefully collected and later turned into' usable condition.