NOTEBOOK “ζ” (“ZETA”)

“AMERICAN ARMS SUPPLIERS”

Article in Neue Zürcher Zeitung , 1915, No. 485, 1st morning edition. April 23, 1915.

American Arms Suppliers .

“For some considerable time now the American press has carried reports on arms deliveries to the Entente powers. We take the following from a California newspaper:

“‘Warmaterial destined for the Allies is now shipped by American producers to Canada, from where British ships carry it to England. Goods for France and Russia follow the same route, via England. Through agents or directly, the Allies have contracts with nearly all American armaments factories. Of course, the factories keep this a secret, for fear of having to stop their supplies, because all this material is contraband of war.

| “‘Fifty-seven U.S. factories are engaged exclusively in armaments production. They normally employ about 20,000 workers, but now, working two and three shifts, the number is about 50,000. They do not make explo- sives. These are produced at about 103 factories, whose output has doubled since the outbreak of the war. Many gun-cotton factories are working three shifts. The mass demand has, of course, resulted in higher prices. Thus, in February the French Government ordered 24,000,000 lbs of gun-cotton at 65 cents per pound, whereas in ordi- nary times the cost is 24-25 cents. | |
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“‘In addition, there are items of equipment for troops and animals: footwear, utensils, saddles, tanned leather, etc. For America, the European war means a vast, profitable business.’”

Lloyd George in Parliament.