APPENDIX                                         WAR DIARY                    NOVEMBER 1918

 

9^th. CANADIAN ARTILLERY BRIGADE

 

 

STRENGTH DECREASE

 

 

Cause                                                       Officers                                   Other Ranks

 

Killed in action                                            1

Wounded                                                                                                           3

Transferred to CARD                                  1

Hospital over 7 days                                                                                       31

Transferred                                                                                                       2

Posted out                                                     2

_______                                              _____

Total                       4                                                 36

 

 

 

STRENGTH INCREASE

 

Officers                           Other Ranks

Reinforcements                                                2                                  9 (CCRC)

2 (CCBD)

Transferred                                                                                          1

Posted                                                             4 (from T.M)              57 (from T.Ms)

_____                          ___

Total                                                                 6                                 69

 

 

 

Officers                       Other Ranks

 

EFFECTIVE STRENGTH November 1^st       33                                        748

 

Decrease                                                            4                                          36

____                               _______

Total                                                               29                                     712

 

Reinforcements                                                 6                                       69

____                               _____

35                                    781

 

 

EFFECTIVE STRENGTH November 30^th   35                                      781

 

ADDENDA TO WAR DIARY

 

Regarding Operations of 45^th Battery C.F.A while detached from 9^th Brigade C.F.A. and attached to the 1^st C.M.R. Battalion and 5^th H.L.I. Battalion of the 52^nd Division.  From 6.11.18 to 9.11.18

 

 

Place       Date    Hour                                              Summary of Events and Information

 

6-11-18                        In the morning of 6-11-18 the 45^th Battery was in action at Q.23.d.40.30. (sheet 44) and under orders of C.O. 1^st C.M.R. Battalion.

At 09.00 hours a forward section occupied a position at W.5.b.20.80. and registered upon the following points:- FORT MAZY R.14.d.20.30.  Lone house R.20.b.45.70.  Three twins R.20.d.25.80.  Railway track R.21.c.20.40.

On night of 7-11-18 battery came under orders of 5^th H.L.I. Battalion of the 52^nd Division, who had relieved the 1^st C.M.Rs. Battalion in the line. Battery fired 250 rounds upon registered targets in R.14. R.20. and R.21.

 

8-11-18                        At 11.00 hours 8-11-18 H.L.I. occupied FORT MAZY and surrounding area which had been evacuated by the enemy.

 

9-11-18                        At 06.30 Battery moved forward to THULIN  where it rejoined 9^th Brigade C.F.A. at 11.45 hours.

 

ADDENDA FOR WAR DIARY

 

 

Covering Operations of 31^st Battery C.F.A. while detached from 9^th Brigade C.F.A. and attached to 49^th Canadian Battalion, from November 8^th to November 11^th 1918.

 

 

THULIN        8-11-18            The Battery was in action at THULIN N.27.a.15.50. on evening of 8-11-18.

 

VILLE

POMMEROEUL

• At 07.00 hours Major Ryerson the Battery Commander was ordered forward to reconnoitre a position in BOUSSU and this was done with great difficulty owing to the civilian crowds, and the coffee, kissing and handshaking barrage which was encountered. The people insisted on marking up every house as a billet, and nothing pleased them more than to have 31^st Battery C.F.A. chalked up on their doors.

In the meantime battery was ordered to support the 49^th Canadian Battalion which was to cross the CONDE-MONS canal at N.8.b.30.30. and work up to GHLIN and JEMAPPES along the North side of the canal to protect the left flank of the Canadian Corps which was in the air.

The 49^th Battalion pushed a company across the Conde Mons canal at N.8.b.30.30. with difficulty as bridge had been destroyed be enemy.

At 12.00 hours the right section under Lieut Inch came into action at SARDON N.14.b.10.20. and supported this company.  When the company had crossed canal Lt. Inch brought sections across the HAINE River and came into action on south bank of canal at N.8.b.60.00.

At 15.00 hours the main battery came into action at N.8.b.60.00.  Bridge across the CONDE MONS   CANAL at N.8.b.30.30. was not at this time repaired but engineers were working on it.   Major Ryerson went forward to VILLE POMMEROEUL and reported to the C.O. 49^th Battalion receiving orders to cross the canal as soon as bridge was in suitable repair for artillery passage.

 

 

At 13.00 hours Lieut Jones as F.O.O. was reconnoitring the area East of VILLE POMMEROEUL H.33. and H.34. in search of the enemy and was received by the belgium people as the first British soldier they had seen since the retreat from MONS in 1914.

At 15.00 hours Lieut Jones was taken prisoner by a patrol of the H.L.I. of the 52^nd Div. but after making satisfactory explanation was released.

At 17.30 hours bridge over Canal at N.8.b.30.30. was considered fit for passage and Battery proceeded to VILLE POMMEROEUL where they through out outposts and came into action for the night.

 

GHLIN 10-11-18.                  At 06.00 hours the battery with some 3^rd Can Div M.Grs. as escorts formed the main guard and advanced to HAUTRAGE following the vanguard which consisted of one company of 49^th Battalion and a troop of the 5^th lancers.

The battery advanced through HAUTRAGE, TERTRE, BAUDOUR and approached GHLIN, and were welcomed by the civilians who bedecked the guns and horses with hundreds of flowers.

At 1030 hours when half a mile West of GHLIN the Battery was ambushed from the Woods on the North of the BAUDOUR-GHLIN ROAD by 2 machine guns, a battery of 4.77 c.m. guns and a section of 15 c.m. Hows, all firing from close range.  As these guns could not be seen Major Ryerson decided to retire immediately and by fast manoeuvring succeeded in extricating the battery from a very dangerous situation.  The enemy guns quickly obtained a bracket on the battery and went into Battery fire, but the B.C. manoeuvred from column of route into line and galloped the battery South through the fields keeping just ahead of the enemy shells.  He then gave section control deploy, rendezvous at JEMAPPES, to the section commanders, Lts. Inch, Harris and Knight and they immediately wheeled their sections in different directions.  This manoeuvre confused the enemy artillery and the shooting became erratic although direction had to be changed several times by the section commanders, before they passed out of observation.  In these few minutes the enemy artillery fired 60 rounds 77 c.m. and 30 rounds 15 c.m.

At 10.40 hours when the Right Section were proceeding through the Southern outskirts of GHLIN a group of boys and girls gathered at a corner to welcome them, just as section came up a 15 c.m. shell pitched among them killing eight.

 

The Battery was assisted in escaping the M.G. fire by a troop of 5^th Lancers who immediately charged the M.Gs but were driven back

 

The B.C. brought the battery into action as quickly as possible North of the CONDE-MONS canal at P.7.b.20.80 and successfully engaged these machine guns with a sweeping and searching fire compelling them to withdraw at 13.00 hours.

 

CUESMES  11-11-18             At 07.30 hours the battery was ordered to take up a position at CUESMES in P.23.  This was done at 08.30 hours and at 09.30 hours battery was ordered to report to C.O. 49^th Battalion in the Grand Place in MONS.  The battery entered MONS at 10.30 hours but was unable to get to Grand Place owing to the crowds of civilians.  The B.C. then brought the battery into action in the Rue de Bertiamont Q.13.d.10.40. at 10.45 hours.

 

 

All map locations from Sheet No 45 1/40,000 BELGIUM and Part of FRANCE

CONFIDENTIAL

WAR DIARY of 9^th CANADIAN ARTILLERY BRIGADE

 

NOVEMBER 1st – To NOVEMBER 30^th. 1918

 

ETOLIE

DE CERENAY

1-11-18               8^th C.I.B. still in line with 1^st C.M.R. on right and 2^nd C.M.R. on left.  Enemy alert and somewhat nervous due to our attack South of Malenciennes.  Forward sections engaged MGs and TMs and did night Harassing fire.  In view of the shelling it was decided to move Brigade Headquarters to house at FONTAINE BOUILLON at P.30.a.60.60. and the move was made at 1600 hours.  C.R.A. inspected the wagon lines all except 45^th Battery being very satisfactory.  Captain J.H. McLaren of 31^st. Battery took command of 45^th Battery.

FOUNTAINE

BOUILLON

2-11-18              The day passed very quietly with very little enemy fire.

Orders were received in the evening that the 8^th Imperial Division would sideslip South and take over the northern part of our front between R.15.a.2.8. and Q.5.d.7.5 and that out S.O.S. line would be shifted accordingly.

Valenciennes was reported to be entirely in our hands at 1000 hours.

 

3-11-18                8^th Imperial Division took over the 2^nd C.M.R. front on the left as described above.  0600 hours and the Brigade S.O.S. line now ran from R.31.c.50.00. along canal to R.20.d.20.80. thence R.14.b.80.60. at 1200 hours was extended south to an E. and W. line through W.6.d.00.50 at 1600 hours our patrols were reported working forward and across the canal in W.12 & X.1. and S.O.S. was lifted from these squares.

C.O. and Lieutenant McAdams of 7^th C.I.B. visited Valenciennes reconnoitring routed forward as it was believed bridges north of the city would not be built by the time the Brigade would have to cross the canal.

4-11-18                Major L.V.M. Cosgrave proceeded on 14 days leave to Paris and Major D.A. McKinnon of the 36^th Battery took command of the Brigade, Capt. A.L. Anderson taking the Battery.

Our Infantry (4^th C.M.R. Battalion) worked North East in the early morning to road X.8.d. & a. and to railway in X.1.A. & b. & X.2. central but were held up by Machine Guns on Railway in X.3.c & X.9.a and the 45^th forward fired on them but did not dispose of all of them as machine gun fire still came from this vicinity.  At noon the C.R.A. phoned and orders Batteries to move forward to the vicinity of ESCAUTPONT.  By 1800 hours Bde. H.Q. had moved to Q.29.b.50.65.  31^st Battery to Q.29.c.20.80.  33^rd. Battery to Q.29.c.20.00.  45^th Battery to Q.23.d.60.30. and 4 Hows. of 36^th to Q.29.b.45.85. with a detached section of this Battery still at Q.24.a.05.20.  1^st C.M.R. had crossed canal at PONT DES ARAIS but were held up by stray M.G. Posts at R.25.d.70.10 in Ry. Embankment which 45^th engaged but did not put out of action.

At 2200 hours our line ran from X.15.b.7.7 to X.2. Central along Railway to R.31.b.0.0. thence as before and S.O.S. line was laid accordingly from right boundary between X.2. & X.8. to left divisional boundary at R.14.b.9.6. Enemy artillery inactive on Bde front.

Lieutenant CHRISTOPHERSON reported to Brigade and was posted to 33^rd Battery.

 

ESCAYTPONT         5-11-18              At 0530 hours the 33^rd Battery fired a barrage of 68 minutes duration rolling from X.11.b & X12.a.  At 0800 hours the Brigade O.P. was established in W.6.b. and Lieut. Knight had reported as L.O. with the 4^th C.M.Rs at their H.Qrs. at W.19.b. and shortly after had wire through to Brigade.  At 1100 hours he reported 4^th C.M.R. patrols on Ry. to north of VICQ and opposition not heavy.  36^th Battery established O.P. at Q.30.d.9.9. and Lieutenant A.B. Manning fired 80 rounds during the day on M.G. post at R.25.d.7.1. effectually putting it out of action it was captured by 1^st C.M.R. in the evening.  Orders received in the afternoon that Brigade would take up position in vicinity of ONNAING on the 6^th and C.O. & Battery Commanders reconnoitered roads and bridges.  At 2200 hours our line ran QUAROUBLE inclusive to Railway in X.5.a. along Ry. to canal at R.25.d.7.1. thence no change to north boundary & the Brigade S.O.S. line extended from R.35.c.5.2. along this line to the Mons Conde Canal.

 

QUAROUBLE    6-11-18                 Operation order 209 & 209-1 received at 0500 hours ordering three Batteries of Brigade to take up positions within 6000 yards of road in M.22-23-29-36 sheet 45.  C.O. & O.Cs 31^st, 33^rd & 36^th Batteries started forward at 0800 and Headquarters and Batteries followed 0830 & 0900.  The 45^th Battery remained in the ESCAYTPONT areas attached to the 1^st C.M.R. Battalion which was ordered to take the enemy bridgehead south of CONDE in R.14. and the Railway in R.26. & 21.  The three batteries moved via BRUAY, ST SAULVE, QUAROUBLE and were in position at 1630 at following locations: – Headquarters in QUAROUBLE Sheet 44 X.17.a.1.5. 31^st X.11.d.2.8. 33^rd X.16.b.3.8. and by 1730 headquarters were in communication with the 8^th C.I.B. 3^rd C.D.A. and with Batteries.  Wagon lines were in ONNAING.  The batteries dumped at the guns 250 rounds per 18 Pdr. & 200 Rounds per 4.5” How.  The 1^st Section 3^rd C.D.A.C. came under orders of this Headquarters and moved to ONNAING and dumped ammunition for Batteries there. At 0700 hours 4^th C.M.R. had reached QUIEVRAIN, east of Grand Konelle river which it had been thought the enemy would strongly defend.

QUIEVRAIN

• Orders for the barrage were received by phone at 0500 hours. Zero hour 0850. The Brigade fired in enfilade opening on the line, sheet 45 M.35.b.20.70 – M.30.c.60.10. and advancing in 100 yard lifts northwards to the final line M.22.b.60.80. – M.17.d.00.20.  Harris of the 31^st Battery laid a wire and reported to 4^th C.M.R. at S.8.b.8.8. in the early morning.  Lieut Manning of the 36^th Battery went as F.O.O. with the same Battalion.  Both these Officers got back useful information during the day regarding the advance of the Infantry but in the morning owing to distance, communications were difficult to maintain.  At 1000 hours orders were received for C.O. & B.Cs to go forward to reconnoitre and that Batteries would move on their return.  Positions were selected as follows in Quievrain Sheet 45 H.Qrs S.5.c.3.6. 31^st S.5.O.9.7. 33^rd S.5.b.8.2. 36^th S.5.c.8.9.  Batteries moved between 1200 & 1400 along MONS Road but owing to crowded traffic and mine craters on road, batteries were not in position until 1630 hours.  The 33^rd Battery had sent forward a section under Lieut Mason & Christopherson at 1000 hours.  It took up a position in S.6.b but had to withdraw to S.5.b when the mist cleared in the afternoon.  Observation was difficult and they were unable to do much shooting.  Our Infantry had gone forward with the barrage and exploited beyond it and in the evening held a line north of HENSIES & MONTROEUL-SUR-HAINE and east of the latter place & St. CROIX.  The Brigade S.O.S. was laid from N.21.d.0.0. to N.19.b.8.0. to N.14.d.5.3.

Lieutenant DePencier reported to Brigade and was posted to 36^th Battery.

O.O. No 211 was received at 2300 hours ordering brigade to fire a barrage at 0700 beginning on N.26.d.1.9. – N.26.a.2.7. & finishing on N.22.d.3.5. – N.22.a.0.5.

 

THULIN

8-11-18               O.O. 211 was cancelled at 0200 as our patrols had gone through THULIN and well beyond it without meeting any opposition.  The 7 C.I.B. had relieved the 8^th C.I.B. during the night and the 33^rd Battery went forward with the P.P.C.L.I.   The forward section took up a position in N.27.c from which they were able to do good shooting on two nests of enemy M.Gs in N.24.c. killing some men and forcing the remainder to evacuate the position.  The main battery took a position in N.26.d.  The C.O. & B.Cs reconnoitered positions in morning and between 1100 & 1300 the Brigade moved and 1500 were in action with Hqrs at N.27.a.4.5. the 33^rd moved later to N.26.b.9.5. all in the village of THULIN.  This village had never been shelled and except for two or three mine craters in the road was undamaged and the inhabitants still had many of their cattle & horses and were very nervous of gun fire.  It was reported by Lieut Stearns L.O. with P.P.C.L.I. at 2100 that their patrols were through BOUSSU and our S.O.S. line was laid on N. & S. line through O.9.c.0.0. from MONS road to CONDE canal.

 

• Enemy fell back during the night and at 08.00 our patrols were on outskirts of JEMAPPE and meeting with no opposition.  At 09.00 C.O. and B.Cs went forward to reconnoitre positions in P.7. & 13.  The 49^th Battalion had pushed across the canal in N.8. & N.9. during the night and C.E. were repairing bridge in N.8.a. and a section of the 31^st Battery was ordered to go with them.  At 11.30 the complete 31^st Battery received orders to proceed with the 49^th  At 12.00 hours Brigade were ordered to move forward to P.15 & P.9.  All were on the road by 13.00 B.Cs going ahead.  By 17.00 hours brigade was in position as follows: – Hqrs P.9.c.7.3., 33^rd P.14.b.9.6., 45^th P.14.d.9.6., 36^th P.15.a.4.4. just south of JEMAPPES.  Our line ran from Q.13.d. to the canal in P.9.b. along the canal to the west.  At 22.00 a shoot by three guns each of 33^rd & 36^th Btys was put on M.G. Posts on road in P.12.c. and lasted for 15 minutes.  No reports of the result of the following attack was received.  This village is not damaged at all and the difference in the treatment of places in France and in Belgium is very noticeable, factories are working here and many horses and cattle are still on the farms.

Major E.V. Thompson reported back from hospital and Lieut Harrison & Lieut O’Grady from Leave.

45^th Bty reported back to Brigade to-day.

Lieut A.B. Manning established O.P. by D Coy R.C.R. hqrs at 22.00 hrs in P.9. and later moved up to J.34.d.5.5.

 

 

 

GHILIN

10-11-18          The infantry have succeeded in pushing forward somewhat during the night and at 09.00 held points in GHLIN J.28.a. & d. 8.2 & 3.4 which the 49^th battalion was holding.  The R.C.R. were in the centre in P.18 & Q.13.  Enemy M.Gs and field Guns were very active on forward areas and a good deal of firing was done by the Brigade on M.G. nests.  Beginning at 09.45 three guns from 33^rd and 3 Hows from 36^th fired for 10 minutes on P.12.d. & b. and at 12.10 for 10 minutes on P.12.d & P.6.d.  At 13.25 the 45^th & 36^th fired for 15 minutes on Q.14.a. and at 15.30 the brigade fired for 20 minutes, on canal from Q.13.a.4.6. to Q.13.b.4.4.  Lieut Manning reported M.G. on slag heap in J.24.d. holding up our advance and he got a line in and observed shooting on it. At 19.10 & 19.45 the 33^rd & 45^th put bursts of fire on railway in K.31.b. & d. & at 20.30 orders came back for no more firing into K.19. or 25. at 22.00 hours our line was reported on road in K.19., K.26.a. & c. K.32.a. & c and Q.2 central and apparently the infantry had not had very heavy opposition.  Lieut Neville relieved Lieut Manning at O.P. J.34.d.5.5. in the afternoon.

At 15.40 a shell burst on the 36^th Battery position wounding Lieut F.J. Longworth very badly and he died a short while later at the dressing station.  Three men were also wounded but not dangerously.

Lieut Christopherson went to D.A.C. in exchange for Lieut De Pencier.

CUESMES

11-11-18          At 09.00 Brigade moved forward to positions reconnoitered on the 10^th Nov and went into action in the vicinity of the village of CUESMES at the following locations H.Qrs P.17.c.80.35., 33^rd P.17.d.30.50. 45^th P.17.c.70.00. 36^th P.17.c.70.30.  The 31^st Bty rejoined the brigade and at 12.00 hours took up a position of observation at Q.13.d.10.90.

Rumours of an armistice were heard in the early morning and at 09.00 orders were received that hostilities would cease at 11.00 hours to-day.  At 11.30 Brig. General Clark reviewed detachments of the 7^th C.I.B. battalions, some Engineers and a section from 10^th Brigade C.F.A. & 8^th Army Brigade C.F.A.  At 15.30 Lieut. General Currie reviewed detachments from all 3^rd Div. troops at the same place in MONS.   Amidst great enthusiasm of the civilians.  At 15.00 orders were received for Bde to reconnoitre positions in K.26. & K.32. to cover the left half of the divisional front which extended from K.20.c.2.2. along road through L.19. K.18, K.12., to K.11.a.8.8. and officers were sent forward at once.  Orders to move however were received at 23.00.  Brigade was ordered to cover the resistance line canal du centre from K.22.d.0.0. to K.19.d.7.8. and S.O.S. line was placed in advance of this.  The 9^th C.I.B. had in the early morning relieved the 7^th C.I.B. in the line.  The 58^th Bn taking over from the P.P.C.L.I. on the right and the 116^th from the R.C.R. on left.

 

NIMY

12-11-18        At 08.00 the brigade moved through MONS to NIMY about a mile north of the city & batteries took up positions of observation at the following locations: Hqrs K.32.a.7.8., 31^st Bty K.26.d.3.7., 33^rd Bty K.26.d.2.9., 45^th Bty K.26.d.1.5., 36^th Bty K.26.a.3.2. to cover the divisional front which ran from L.20.c.2.2. along road to K.11.a.8.8. thence south westerly along road to K.19.d.8.8. and the Brigade covered from K.18.d.5.6. to K.11.a.8.8. S.O.S. lines were laid out for this front and Lieutenant Harrison of the 33^rd Bty established an O.P. at K.15.c.5.3. C.R.A. visited Brigade and reported that Corps was to march to Germany in easy stages after five days to rest & clean up and refit.  No signs of any enemy on the front.

 

13-11-18         C.O. & B.Cs attended a conference at 3^rd Division regarding preparations for the march to Germany.  All surplus and unnecessary equipment is to be turned in and smartness and discipline are insisted upon.  Divisional front was modified somewhat and now runs L20.d.2.1., L.20.b.2.2., L.13.a.1.1., K.1.1.a.8.8., K.15. central where it joins up with 8^th division front which now runs to K.8.central.  Brigade zone runs from L.13.a.1.1. to K.11.a.8.8.  SOS lines were altered accordingly.  There is no evidence of any enemy force in the country in front of us.  Capt R. MacDougall joined the brigade as Paymaster.

Lieutenant Jones 31^st Battery manned brigade O.P.

 

14-11-18       Battery busy cleaning and painting.  The “DUMBELLS” the divisional concert party played an excellent performance of Pinafore in the theatre at MONS, proceeded by a Divisional tea.

Lieutenant Case at O.P.

 

• A composite Battery made up of guns and wagons from 33^rd Battery and teams from 31^st & 45^th Batteries under command of Major A.C. Ryerson took part in the review by Lieutenant General Horne in MONS at 10.30 hours.

 

• A party of 90 O.Rs under Lieutenant Mason of 33^rd Battery attended thanksgiving service in MONS theatre at 11.00 hours. 3^rdD.T.M.B. was disbanded and 57 O.R. posted to this Bde.  A/Capt Loy was posted to this Headquarters.   Lieut Pepler to 45^th Lieut P. Sandhurst to 36^th Battery Lieut P.B. Griey to 33^rd Battery.

Lieutenant Inch 31^st Battery at O.P.

 

17-11-18         Corps church parade at 10.30 hours attended by Capt Loy & 10 O.Rs from Bde. H.Qrs. Div. Artillery church parade attended by 100 men per Battery and all Officers, was held at 14.30 hrs. in MONS theatre. Major McKinnon in charge of parade.

Lieut Mason 33^rd Battery at O.P.

 

NIMY

18-11-18          Lieutenant Pepler manned Brigade O.P. for the last time.

14.00 hours C.R.A. and A.D.V.S. visited Brigade Headquarters and spoke to a meeting of the brigade Officers regarding march to the RHINE.

17.00 hours received orders from 3^rd C.D.A. H.Qrs to withdraw our F.O.O. and cease to be in action.

17.30 hours Brigade party of 350 O.Rs in charge of Captain Scott attended ”DUMBELLS” concert in MONS theatre.

 

19-11-18                      Batteries busy painting vehicles, grooming , exercising horses and harness cleaning.  Lieutenant Sharp relieved Lieutenant Pryde as Brigade Signalling Officer owing to latter proceeding on leave.

 

20-11-18          Major L.V.M. Cosgrave D.S.O. returned from PARIS leave and resumed duties as C.O.

15.00 hours to 17.00 hours Brigade H.Q. mess intertained their Belgian lady friends to Tea.  C.R.A. attended and a very pleasant time was had by all.  Conversation was in our best table-manner French, assisted by forty year old Burgundy and Scottish wine of the 1918 vintage.

 

• Major D.A. McKinnon D.S.O. proceeded to Canada.

Lieutenant H. Pryde proceeded to England on Leave.

15.00 hours the C.O. and one Officer and 2 O.Rs per Battery reconnoitered route for assembling for prospective Divisional march past in MONS.

 

• 30 hours Major A.C. Ryerson 31^st Battery proceeded to BRUSSELS to represent 9^th Bde C.F.A. in an official entry to the City.

Lieutenant Harrison 33^rd Battery suffering from arthritis, was evacuated to 9^th Canadian Field Ambulance.

NIMY

23-11-18         Brigade H.Q. and Batteries busy harness cleaning polishing, grooming and exercising horses.

Capt. J.A. Loy M.C. posted to 36^th Battery.

 

24-11-18            0900 hours Church Parade of Battery Officers and 300 O.Rs marched to MONS theatre, but the service was cancelled.  R.C. Parade at 1000 hours and NIMY Parish Church.  1400 hours Anti-typhoid parade held by Capt. Adams.

 

25-11-18            1130 hours, a conference of Brigade and Battery Commanders was held at Bde H.Q. 10^th Bde C.F.A. for the purpose of discussing Athletic and other arrangements for the welfare of the men during this period of the Armistice.

 

26-11-18            0700 hours, 7 Officers and 7 N.C.Os from Brigade proceeded to BRUSSELS by bus to see the city returning at 2200 hours.  1730 hours a conference was held at 3^rd C.D.A. Hqrs to discuss Educational schemes for the men while awaiting demobilization. Major L.V.M. Cosgrave DSO attended.

 

27-11-18            A detail of 35 O.Rs under Command of Lieut Neville 45^th Battery was furnished by the Brigade at 1000 hours and 1400 hours to line streets of MONS for reception of King Albert of BELGIUM.

 

28-11-18            0700 hours 7 Officers and 21 O.Rs from Brigade proceeded to BRUSSELS returning at 2200 hours.  0830 hours 9^th  Brigade proceeded to Drill Ground N.E. of ASIERES where Battery and Brigade manoeuvres were to be carried out during the morning.  1730 hours 10 Officers of the 9^th Bde entertained 10 officers of the 4^th C.F.A. Bde 4^th Canadian Division at a Theatre party, followed by dinner at the Brigade and Battery Mess.

 

29-11-18            0700 hours 7 N.C.Os from Brigade proceeded to BRUSSELS returning 2200 hours.  0830 to 1200 hours, Brigade and Battery manoeuvres were held at drill grounds MASIERES.  1600 hours, a conference of Brigade and Battery Commanders was held at Brigade H.Q. to discuss the Educational scheme.

 

30-11-18            Batteries busy polishing harness and cleaning vehicles in preparation for review by G.O.C. on December 2^nd.

 

 

L.V.M. Cosgrave

Major.

 

WAR DIARY of 20 Siege Battery for November 1918

 

Place       Date    Hour                                                Summary of Events and Information

Officers of the Battery

Lt. (A/Major) J.C. THOMPSON M.C. (SR)

Lt. A/CAPT A.A. HANHART (SR)

Lt. H.L. PAUL (TF) absent on Staff Leaders Course

Lt. H.E. WELLS (SR)

Lt. E.B. LOACH (SR)

Lt. R.G. PERCIVAL (SR) attd XV Div as Liaison Officer

Lt. F.W. DAVIS (SR) absent at Base to draw 8” Mk VII Hows for rearmament

Lt. C.H. BATEMAN (SR)

Lt. W.F. FOX (SR) Asst Staff Capt H.A. I Corps

²/Lt. W.H. CHAPMAN (SR)

²/Lt. B.W. TURNBULL (SR)

²/Lt. E.O. DAVIES (SR)

²/Lt. A.E. COCKFIELD (SR)

 

2 guns in position near BASSE RUE (Sheet 44)

1 gun parked at BERCU (Sheet 44)

3 guns & Bty H.Q. at RUPILLY CHATEAU near CAPPELLE (Sheet 44A)

Nov 3                                75 rds fired on C.B. aeroplane shoot.

Nov 4^th                              3^rd gun put in position near BASSE RUE.

3 GUNS FROM RUPILLY CHATEAU put into action near WEZ- VELVAIN (Sheet 44)

Nov 7^th                              100 rds shoot on buildings near BRUYELLES observed by Lt. C.H. BATEMAN.  Heavy shelling on village & Battery areas.  Enemy moved back guns during night 8^th – 9^th preparing to leave line of SCHELDT.

Nov 9^th                              Enemy left ANTOING retiring rapidly for SCHELDT all guns pulled out ready for advance.

Nov 11^th                            Armistice declared 11 A.M. (French time)

 

 

YPRES AFTER THE ARMISTICE OF 1918

The Iconic Towns of Ypres and Verdun

Ypres was the British Symbol of sacrifice as Verdun was to the French. The Menin Road being the British equivalent of the French Voie Sacree (The Sacred Way) at Verdun. Hill 60 and Passchendaele were enshrined as a symbol of resolute resistance and valour as were forts Vaux and Douaumont at Verdun for the French.

Winston Churchill said “I should like to acquire the whole of the ruins of Ypres – a more sacred way for the British does not exist”. He wanted to purchase the town after the 1918 Armistice as a lasting memorial to the sacrifice at Ypres. The Belgian government and the Ypres population argued it would make a far better memorial if the town was returned to its former glory.

The Ypres Salient was a 20 mile and 35 mile deep bulge in the Western Front and incorporated the town. Over the four years of war the Salient fluctuated from 2 to 8 miles from the centre of Ypres. The British were the main defenders of the town, and although it may have been strategically more beneficial to retreat, the politicians agreed to make a stand to defend and hold Ypres. The Germans never occupied Ypres during the Great War. In 1918 the town was almost completely destroyed, a pile of rubble, where it was stated a man on a horse could see an uninterrupted view from one end to the other. Reconstruction began in 1920, after temporary accommodation had been provided for the returning population. Within five years much of the rebuilding work for private housing and most public buildings and utilities had been finished. St. Martin’s Cathedral was rebuilt from its ruins under the leadership of the city architect Jules Coomans. Pre-1914 the spire had been a square tower, but during the reconstruction Coomans had plans to change the spire to a pointed one. When the new ”gothic” cathedral was finished in 1934 it had been built with a pointed spire. The cloisters and monastery gate to St. Martin’s Cathedral was one of the few structures which was not completely demolished by the end of the war. It was still standing while everything around it in the immediate vicinity was reduced to piles of rubble. It was restored in 1938. Work on the rebuilding of the Cloth Hall started in 1928 and the western wing and belfry tower were completed in 1934. The Menin Gate Memorial to the Missing was designed by British architect Sir Reginald Bloomfield in 1921. It was built and is maintained by the Commonwealth War Graves Commission and was unveiled on the 27^th July 1927 to honour the missing who have no known graves. An arbitrary cut-off date of the 15^th August 1917 was chosen  for the inclusion of names on the walls of the Menin Gate Memorial, and from that date onwards the missing were inscribed on the Tynecott Memorial to the Missing.

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The “Last Post Ceremony”

A number of prominent citizens of Ypres decided that some way should be found to express the gratitude of the Belgian nation to those who died for its freedom and independence. The playing of ”The Last Post” is the traditional salute to the fallen warrior and originally local farmers, labourer’s etc. performed the “Last Post Ceremony”. They would meet up, arriving on bicycles, unstrap their bugles, play “The Last Post” and then go home. In 1928 the “Last Post Association” was founded and began performing the “Last Post Ceremony” at the newly completed Menin Gate. Traditionally, the buglers of the association are members of Ypres Voluntary Fire Brigade and they wear their uniform while performing the “Last Post Ceremony”. It is the aim of the “Last Post Association” to maintain this ceremony in perpetuity. The “Last Post Ceremony” is performed at 8.00 pm every evening, every day of the year. The local police close the road through the Menin Gate, and reopen the road upon completion of the ceremony. The only interruption to this ceremony was during the German occupation in the Second World War. The ceremony is also performed at 11.00 a.m. on Armistice Day, the 11^th November, and is a tribute from the residents of Ypres to honour the fallen for the four years of sacrifice from 1914 – 1918, the war to end wars  :–

THE GREAT WAR.

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GERMANY’S IRON INDUSTRY AND THE WAR.

 

SUMMARY.

 

 

COAL AND IRON.

All modern industries are founded on the possession and use of two substances of paramount importance: COAL and IRON.  Without these raw materials, or without either of them, industries peaceful and warlike, would cease.  Interference with or decrease in the production of Coal or Iron acts rapidly and adversely on all industries, hence the Coal and Iron Industries of Germany are worthy of full and detailed study, for Germany is strong in both.

 

Western Germany is pre-eminent among the enemy countries in Iron and Steel production.  Austria-Hungary, Bulgaria, Turkey, and also Belgium, Serbia and Roumania have only limited amounts of Iron ore deposits; and Western Germany has also the great coal deposits necessary to turn the iron ore first into pig-iron and then into Steel.

 

The COAL FIELDS are 1^st WESTPHALIA

2^nd, the SAAR.

 

The principal IRON ORE District is LORRAINE.

 

4/5ths of her Iron Ore and 4/5ths of her Pig-Iron come from these districts. Their relative locations are shewn on Key MAP (1).

 

IRON MORE VULNERABLE THAN COAL

 

For the purpose of attack by aircraft, the German Iron industry is more vulnerable than Coal, because

(1) The Iron Mines cover a far smaller area and are less numerous than coal mines. (2) The Iron Field is much nearer than the Coal Fields. (3) When coal is mined it is rapidly distributed and scattered over a vast area among innumerable factories and plants; whereas Iron ore (when mined) is condensed into a relatively small number of Blast-furnace Works, where it is made into pig-iron, which forms the basis of steel. (4) Iron Blast-furnace Works are especially sensitive to injury, and are conspicuous landmarks.

 

It therefore, is selected as being not only the most vital and material one of all Germany’s War Industries, but also the one which appears to promise the maximum results if attacked by air.

 

Germany is justly proud of her iron industry: it is the land of Blood and Iron, and if we can strike hard and effectively at her Iron production, it would hit her in a vital spot, and would go far to win the War for the Allies.  This is undoubtedly the considered belief and knowledge of all Engineers, Metallurgists, Manufacturers and Scientists, both Allied and Enemy.

 

CAN GERMANY’S IRON PRODUCTION BE EFFECTIVELY ATTACKED?

There are reasons to believe that it can, and these reasons will be summarised in this paper.

If it be asked, could not Germany also attack the Allied iron production with equal effect, the geographical answer is NO: the bulk of Allied iron ore and pig-iron production – not even including the American – is geographically more distant from the enemy lines than is the bulk of German production from the Allied lines.  Fortunately for us, the majority of German pig-iron works are located in the extreme Western end of Germany.

DISTANCES

VERDUN to middle of Lorraine District       … 35 miles. NANCY     to middle of Lorraine District         …50 miles. “                  “         Saar               “          … 60     “ “                  “         Siegerland Works     ….170     “ “                  “         Westphalian    “        …. 200     “

 

METZ               to NANCY District ……………30 miles MULHAUSEN   “ LE CREUZOT District …… 160   “ “              “ MONT LUCON     “     …….240   “ OSTEND MIDDLESBORO SHEFFIELD Dist:.260   “

 

NANCY is the only one of our large iron districts close to the enemy.  Its relative importance is so small, that fear of enemy reprisals upon it should not be allowed to prevent our attacks on the much more important and vital enemy districts above listed.

 

In 1913 the NANCY FIELD produced under 2,000,000 tons of Iron ore, whereas THE LORRAINE FIELD produced over 46,000,000 tons of Iron ore.

 

This Lorraine Field is of such controlling importance and so near to us, that it will be considered first and in the greatest detail.

 

THE LORRAINE IRON FIELD.

 

Lorraine, Westphalia and the Saar; these districts constitute Germany’s strength for Munitions of War, but of these

LORRAINE sways the entire iron and steel industry of the Enemy, as its mines furnish 80% of her iron ore.  Incidentally its furnaces produce 30% of her pig-iron.  It is the second iron ore district in the World.  Practically all of Germany’s iron mines lie here, amazingly close to our lines, almost within extreme-range naval gun fire.

 

 

The size of this entire Iron Field (including the portion in occupied French Lorraine) is about the size of Greater New York, and it is only half as large as the London Metropolitan Police District.  On a clear day, an observer in a kite balloon could overlook this district from our lines, could see the head frames of its Mines, and the smoke arising from its Iron Works.

 

ENEMY OPINION.

As to the Enemy’s considered opinion of this district, read Appendix E, p. 39 in this Report, translation of Secret Memorial addressed to the Imperial German Chancellor by the Six Association (‘Minette’ in this Memorial means Lorraine Iron ore)

“IF THE OUTPUT OF MINETTE WERE CHECKED THE WAR WOULD BE AS GOOD AS LOST”

Again, the Rhenish Westphalian Gazette, Krupp’s subsidised newspaper in the Spring of 1916 says:-

“MINERALS ARE SUCH AN IMPORTANT ELEMENT IN EVERY BRANCH OF OUR INDUSTRY THAT IN PRESENCE OF THE ENORMOUS EMPLOYMENT OF OUR IRON INDUSTRY IN THIS WAR WE CANNOT THINK WITHOUT TERROR OF WHAT WOULD HAVE HAPPENED TO US HAD NOT THE MINES OF LORRAINE BEEN IN OUR POSSESSION.”

Lorraine is the Jiu-Jitsu spot of the German Empire, and it is under our thumb.  It is just asking for rapidly repeated air raids on as big a scale as we are able to provide.

 

EFFECTIVE BOMBING of these Mines and Iron Works should accomplish one or both of the following:-

• Material Injury to

Power plant, Head-frames or pumping plant of the MINES

Power plant, Blowing Engines, Furnaces.

Hot Blast Stoves or Air pipes of the IRON WORKS.

Engineering reasons for this statement are given in Appendix (A).

Material Injury resulting in flooding of Mines or shut down of Iron Works implies large scale air attacks and heavy bombs and plenty of them.

 

• Moral effect of air raids on the Workmen engaged in these occupations has been found to be immense, even with small scale raids. If our raids are carried out on a large scale, and repeated by day or night or both for a week or 10 days on end, Engineers and Iron men are confident that the Works would stop running.

 

Everything points to doing this thoroughly and well. Occasional desultory raids have some effect; but for decisive results we should strike hard, day after day, and night after night.  The men would either not work at all, or their work would be enormously hindered.  After a big raid, even one or two aeroplanes the following night with a few very big bombs would wake up the district, alarm the workmen and their families, and greatly decrease the output of ore and pig-iron.

 

Mining Engineers, Iron & Steel men, Metallurgists and Manufacturers know these facts. Every month’s delay means that the Lorraine Mines are pouring out some 3,000,000 tons of ore, and this is within 20 minutes’ flight from our lines.

 

Besides shelling barbed wire in Flanders, or attacking submarines scattered over (or under) the Atlantic, strike at the source – IRON.

 

Attention is directed to the recommendations contained in the following letter from Professor F.W. HARBORD, Consulting Metallurgist to the Ministry of Munitions, one of the first authorities on Iron and Steel in Great Britain.  (This letter was received after the forgoing recommendations were written as to effective Bombing methods.)

 

Englewick,

Englefield Green

Surrey

Decr 16/17.

Dear Mr. Titcomb,

 

I must thank you very much for giving me the opportunity to read your most interesting report on the iron ore Mines & Works in Germany.

 

I think if you require or would like larger Maps it might be possible to obtain some from the War Office altho I am not sure of this, as I don’t know what they have.

 

I quite agree that the Iron & Steel Works & Iron Ore Mines are one of the most vulnerable parts for us to attack in Germany and our only reason why this has not been done more frequently is I believe the comparatively small number of Aeroplanes available.

 

In my view it would be a mistake now to commence these attacks until we have say 2000 or at all events a large number of planes available, and then a big attack should be made with a large number of machines on same day on number of Works and repeated for several weeks if possible every day.  To attack with few machines would be showing our hand, and would give then time to prepare for defence.  If possible the attack should be made before the winter is over and the Baltic open, so that it would be some months before they could replenish home supply of ores from this source.

SEE NOTE PAGE 7.

I have no criticism to offer and at the short time at my disposal have not been able to fully digest the mass of information you have collected and summarized and consequently cannot make any suggestions, and can only say you’re your report strikes me as most complete, and if the information given is used with knowledge, should be of greatest value to your military and Air Boards.

Yours sincerely (Signed) F.W. HARBORD.

 

IMPORTED ORES.

 

Before the War Germany had to import much iron ore to supplement that produced from Annexed (“German”) Lorraine and her other iron mines.  She imported nett over 11,000,000 tons of such ore in 1913, mostly from Sweden, Spain and France.  This subject is an important one and is considered in APPENDIX (E).

 

GENERAL.

 

This Report is a general survey of the subject, IRON, with detailed statistics, maps and plans of Western German Iron Blast-furnace Works, and statistics of the Iron Mines. Those of French Lorraine and Luxembourg are included which are in enemy occupation, as they are of great importance.

 

OTHER INDUSTRIES.  (See Last page, Appendix E)

 

Germany’s other War industries could also be studied and analysed in a similar way by men familiar with them.  Such studies and analysis would be of the greatest value in co-ordinating and directing the Allied Air Attacks on Germany, and in ensuring the maximum effect from such air attacks in demoralising the most vital enemy industries, and decreasing their production of Munitions of War.  There are in England, America and France, hundreds of men who have a great personal knowledge of German Iron and other industries.  This knowledge, if systematically collected, classified and analysed, would be of assistance to the Allied Air Boards.

 

SOURCES OF INFORMATION.

 

The data herein contained were secured in London at the Iron and Steel Institute; the Institution of Mining and Metallurgy and the Royal Geographical Society.

 

Statistics are considered dry literature; but the tables and data about Germany’s Iron Industry will not prove dry reading to anyone interested in this War.

 

The Writer is especially indebted to Professor F.W. HARBORD, of the Ministry of Munitions, for his introduction to Mr. G.C. LLOYD, Secretary of the Iron and Steel Institute, who has placed its large technical library and his personal knowledge of the Iron Works at the Writer’s disposal.

 

Harold Abbot Titcomb

Member Am. Inst. of Min. Engrs.

“ Inst of Mining & Metallurgy.

F.R.G.S.

 

NOTE.  In this War, estimates for amount of materials, guns etc, required have often proved far too small.  It would be wise, therefore, to allow a large factor of safety – say at least 5 – in making estimates as to the number of aeroplanes required to successfully attack German War Industries and master them.  It would be impossible to have too many aeroplanes: the greater the number, the quicker and more certain the results.

 

Copy No 5.

 

 

 

APPENDIX A.

 

 

THE LORRAINE LUXEMBOURG DISTRICT

see MAP (2)

 

This District includes two main features: (1) THE IRON ORE DEPOSITS and MINES producing most of Germany’s Iron Ore. (2) THE BLAST FURNACE WORKS near the Mines producing 1/3 of Germany’s Pig-iron.

 

(1) THE IRON ORE DEPOSITS AND IRON MINES.

 

General Description and Geology.

 

Deposits. The Iron ore deposits are beds of ore which outcrop (on the surface) along the ridge of hills from Metz North westerly to Longwy.  This outcrop follows almost exactly the high contours of the ridge, the beds or seams of ore are inclined towards France, and dip gradually underground, becoming deeper and deeper in the direction of Verdun.  The iron formation has been found in bore holes as far West as Verdun, at a depth of 580 metres, but under unworkable conditions.

 

There are several beds or seams of ore, the ‘Grey Seam’ being the main one. The ore is called ‘Minette’, and is an oolitic hydrated haematite with various other carbonates, oxides silicates of iron.  The iron content averages 33% which is poorer ore than that from Lake Superior (53% Fe) or Sweden (60% Fe).  Most of the ‘Minette’ ores, however, have the very valuable quality of a constant phosphorus content and of being self-fluxing.  These qualities, the vast tonnage of the deposits, and their location, have combined to make this region the second iron ore producer of the world.

 

Nancy. To the South of Metz, near Nancy, is found an isolated and small outlying ore district.  It is of minor importance, and, being within our lines, is not here considered.  The Nancy iron ore basin in 1913 produced under 2,000,000 tons of ore.

 

The Main         The Main Lorraine Iron field, as shown on MAP (2) is now entirely in Orefield.     Enemy possession.  It is a tableland, or plateau, bounded by a sharp high ridge on the East and North, and sloping towards France.  This plateau is cut by deep erosion valleys of several streams and rivers flowing mostly N.E. into the Moselle.

 

Mines. Along the Eastern and Northern fringe of the field, where the ore outcrops, the mines are usually open cuts or quarries, together with Adits or inclined shafts penetrating the ore seams.  To the West and South, however, where the ore seams dip deeper underground, vertical shafts have been sunk to reach the bed; and most of the mines in the whole field are shaft mines.  The depth of these shafts increases from East to West owing to the dip of the strata, the shafts varying from 50 to 250 metres in depth, averaging say 500 feet deep.

 

Water. The shaft mines are very wet, it being necessary to keep large pumps constantly going, otherwise the mines would become flooded and working would become impossible.  In some of the mines as much as 30 cu. metres of water per minute (= 8,000 U.S. gallons) is pumped.  5 to 20 cu m per minute is common; and to handle the water large and powerful pumping plants are used, often 1,000 to 2,000 Horse power.

These are important facts; for if the pumping plant of the Mines could be bombed, the mine would be flooded and mining would cease. One objective, therefore, for air attack would be the surface electric power plants and steam plants, which are keeping the shaft mines dry and workable.

 

Head-frames The ore from the shaft mines is raised to the surface by powerful

and                  hoisting or winding engines.  These, together with the tall and

Hoisting          conspicuous head-gear which is built right at the collar of the shaft, are vital to the mine’s operation, and if injured by bombs would shut down the mine.

 

Workmen’s Colonies are a usual adjunct to the mines, providing housing accommodation for the miners. These miners are directly engaged in furnishing the raw material which the German Army and Navy uses against us in the form of Cannon, Shells, rifles, machine guns, submarines, mines, war vessels, rails and rolling stock, and some of this iron is being dropped on London in the form of bombs.  These miners are as directly concerned in the War as are the soldiers and sailors of the Enemy; and the Workmens’ Colonies offer another legitimate and effective objective for our air attacks.

 

The Open Pit or Quarry Mines would not be injured to any extent by bombing. Hence, in these open surface mines it would appear more effective to use a very large number of small sized bombs or grenades which could be sprinkled freely throughout the open workings.  Such attacks, if repeated often enough, would greatly demoralise the open cut miners and decrease their efficiency and decrease the output of iron ore from such mines.

 

The following TABLE (1) proves the vast importance to Germany of the Lorraine Ironfield.  This field is seen to contain over 5,000 million tons of iron ore, or about 90% of all the iron ore now in the possession of Germany.  The whole field has been seized in war from FRANCE AND LUXEMBOURG.

 

 

TABLE (1)                                          IRON ORE.

 

 

(A) CONTROLLED BY GERMANY BEFORE THE WAR
				Ore Reserves				Ore Production
District	No of Mines	Area Sq Miles		% of Iron	Tons	% of Total Reserves	Years Life	1913 Tons	% of Total
ANNEXED LORRAINE LUXEMBOURG SIEGERLAND ALL OTHER GERMANY (By Difference)	44 88 58	166 14 Scattered		30 33 38       24	2,130,000,000 250,000,000 115,000,000       595,000,000	69 8 4       19	100 34 44       122	21,153,328 7,333,372 2,606,991       4,847,594	59 20 7       14
TOTAL AS ABOVE				30	3.090,000,000	100	86	35,941,285	100
(B) SIEZED FROM FRANCE IN THIS WAR
FRENCH LORRAINE	32	185	33% to 40%		3,000,000,000		170	17,712,362
(C) THE WHOLE LORRAINE IRON ORE FIELD AT A GLANCE
ANNEXED LORRAINE, LUXEMBOURG FRENCH LORRAINE	164	365	33%		5,380,000,000		114	46,199,062

 

TABLE (2)                  WHERE LORRAINE IRON ORE WAS SMELTED.

 

Where smelted	Source of the Ore			TOTAL TONS
	(1) French Lorraine 1913	Luxembourg 1912	Annexed Lorraine 1913
In France In Germany. Annxd Lorraine Saar Westphalia In BELGIUM In LUXEMBOURG In OTHER COUNTRIES	11,384,000 815,000 221,000 1,002,000 4,697,000 1,201,000 76,000	367,000 180,000 351,000 526,000 1,297,000 3,813,000	500,000 11,177,000 2,812,000 2,910,000 237,000 3,500,000	12,251,000 12,172,000 3,384,000 4,438,000 6,231,000 8,514,000 76,000
TOTAL	19,396,000	6,534,000	21,136,000	47,066,000
(J. Laspiere. “Le Genie Civil” Apl 7. 1917) Note (1) French Lorraine in above Table includes Nancy Basin.

 

 

The Production and Location of the Iron Mines in Annexed (“German”) Lorraine are given in TABLE (3).

 

To illustrate the importance of these mines, take for example the German Mine at Aumetz, with a production of 900,000 tons of ore per annum.  This ore goes by aerial tramway to the Blast-furnace Works of the Lothringer Huttenverein near Kneuttingen.  (See MAP (2) Red Reference No 9 and Plans and Photos. Page 20).  Here it is smelted into 300,000 tons of pig-iron.  This amount of pig-iron is later converted into 300,000 tons of Steel, which is sufficient to make

 

1,000 miles of double track railway line, 90 lb rails with fish-plates; slipped. Or enough shells to equal the entire German output of shells for 75 days in 1915. (See Appendix E. p.39.)

 

The 9 furnaces of this Company have been running full-blast and uninterruptedly the past year, according to their Annual Report, And the Aumetz is by no means the largest of the German Mines; and in 1913 the French Mines at Auboue produced over 2,000,000 tons of ore.

 

French Owned Mines are listed in TABLE (4). These French Mines are now all seized and occupied by the Enemy.  The Writer cannot determine whether or not they are being worked by the Germans, but this must be well known to the French Authorities.  If these French Mines are supplying ore to the Enemy, they should certainly be bombed and flooded, and their surface plants injured as much as possible.  The French Owners should not object to this.  The ore would not be injured; and after the War is over the mines could be pumped out, their machinery repaired and the workings re-opened at a cost which is trifling when compared to the daily cost of the War and the issues at stake.  Meanwhile the Lorraine Mines and Furnaces are pouring vitality into all Germany.

 

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The Approximate Location of these Mines is shewn on Maps now at the Iron and Steel Institute in London.  Their more exact Location can be seen on the large-scale maps of the Comite des Forges de France, 7, Rue de Madrid, Paris.

 

 

TABLE (3) PRODUCTION of the IRON MINES of ANNEXED LORRAINE.

Concessions	Name of Company Working Concession	Ore Production for 1912
Heidt………………… Les Huits Jours……… Ob der Noke………… Redingen……………. Bouvenberg…………. Gluckauf…………….. Rothe Erde………….. Saint Michel………… Adlergrund…………. Diggenthal…………. Butte………………. Aumetz……………. Amalienzeche……… Reichsland…………. Oettingen I ………… Oettingen III ……… Aachen…………….. Sterkrade Anschl…… Langenberg…………. Wollmeringen………… Kraemer……………. Carl Lueg……………. Havingen……………. Fentsch……………… Burbach……………… Viktor………………. Richling…………… Pennsbrunnen II…… Moltke……………… Karl Ferdinand……. Friede……………. De Wendel………… Moyeuvre…………. Gt. Moyeuvre……… Lothringen…………. Orne………………. Saint Paul…………. Ver. Rombach…….. Rosslingen…………. Pauline et Grueze…… Sainte Maria……….. Jacobus……………. Pierrevillers………. Maringen………….	Burbach…………. Burbach…………….. Burbach…………….. Dillingen…………… Stumm……………… Dillingen…………… Gelsenkirchen………. Gelsenkirchen………. Lorraine Industrielle… Gelsenkirchen………. Aubrives et Villerupt.. Aumetz-la-Paix……… Krupp……………….. Hoesch……………… Deutsch Luxembourg.. Deutsch Luxembourg.. Monceau Saint Fiacre.. Gutehoffsnungshutte…. Krupp………………. Eschweiler…………. Burbach…………….. Gutehoffsnungshutte…. Aumetz-la-Paix……… Bochum……………… Burbach…………….. Burbach…………….. Rochling ……………. Rheinische Stahlwerke… Bocking………………. Stumm……………….. Aumetz-la-Paix……… De Wendel…………… De Wendel…………… De Wendel…………… Stumm…………………. Rombach……………… Rombach……………… Rombach……………… Rombach……………… Rombach……………… Rombach……………… Thyssen………………. Thyssen………………. Sambre et Moselle……..	Tons 87,055 26,992 62,855 203,809 114,652 43,830 1,580,408 1,067,272 29,583 30,827 43,959 886,716 253,874 668,614 544,152 732,200 133,011 123,361 167,793 169,263 207,271 616,881 648,010 763,681 479,085 178,730 1,379,588 491,103 675,290 989,543 124,374 1,396,608 1,041,178 388,275 349,311 569,618 260,751 140,905 12,821 434,203 807,372 601,721 119,117 413,573
TOTAL	44 Mines	20,050,245

(From “Le Genie Civil” ‘Le Gisement de mineral de fer Lorraine’ by J. Tribot Laspiere. 7^th April 1917.)

 

TABLE (4) PRODUCTION of the IRON MINES OF FRENCH LORRAINE now in Enemy Possession.

Mines	Name of Company	Ore Production for 1913
Longwy District Mont-Saint-Martin…. Moulaine……………. Warnimont………….. Saulnes Longlaville…. Pulventeux………….. Romain……………… Le Coulmy………….   Villerupt District Hussigny…………… Godbrange…………. Tiercelet……………. Villerupt et Crusnes… Micheville………….. Brehain…………….     L’Orne District Auboue…………… Homecourt………… Moutiers…………… Joeuf………………. Valleroy…………… Droitaumont………. Jarny……………… Giraumont…………   Landres District. Pienne…………….. Landres…………… Amermont………… Joudreville………… La Mouriere……….. Murville……………..   Tucquegnieux District Tucquegnieux………. Saint Pierremont……. Sancy……………….. Anderny…………….. Errouville…………….	1st Longwy Basin Ste. des Acieries de Longwy……….. Ste. des Acieries de Longwy……….. Ste. Métallurgique de Musson MM. Raty et Cie et de Saintignon et Cie.. Ste. Lorraine de minerals de fer……. Ste. Métallurgique de Gorcy……….. Ste. Métallurgique de Gorcy………..     Ste. des Mines de Hussigny……….. Ste. des Mines de Godbrange……… Syndicat de Tiercelet……………….. Ste. d’Aubrives-Villerupt………….. Ste. des Acieries de Micheville……. Ste. des Acieries de Micheville…….   2nd Briey Basin   Ste. des Fonderies de Pont-a-Mousson.. Cie des Fges de la Marine et d’Homect. Ste. des Mines de Moutiers……… MM. Wendel et Cie…………… Ste. Des Mines de Valleroy……… MM. Schneider et Cie…………… Ste. des Mines de Jarny………… Ste. des Mines de Giraumont……     Ste. du Nord et de l’Est…………. Ste. des Acieries de Micheville….. Ste. des Mines d’Amermont……… Ste. des Mines de Joudreville……… Ste. des Mines de La Mouriere……… Ste. des Mines de Murville…………     Ste. des Acieries de Longwy………. Ste. des Mines de Saint Pierremont… MM. Raty et Cie……………………. Ste. des Mines d Anderny………… Ste. des Mines d Errouville…………	Tons 29,254 221,928 38,404 460,131 208,720 13,134 914     425,707 431,422 396,476 97,947   284,476 2,608,513     2.008,529 1,785,548 919,843 763,634 293,767 404,687 347,206 ………..     1,131,184 1,087,900 1,068,151 883,834 684,083 422,600     1,113,200 846,153 688,000 480,000 175,530 15,103,849
TOTAL……….	32 MINES	17,712,362

 

 

 

(2) THE BLAST-FURNACE WORKS of the LORRAINE FIELD

 

These can be classified in two lots:-

(1)   Those of Annexed Lorraine and Luxembourg (German controlled before the War)

(2)   Those of French Lorraine (now in German occupation).

 

Location. The location of these Works and the number of Blast-furnaces at each Works is shewn in detail on MAP (2), which has been compiled from various German and French Maps and technical articles in their Scientific and Trade literature.  The location will be found to be fairly accurate seldom more than ¼ a mile in error.

 

The Works are seen to be condensed in two localities, one fringing the North end of the ore field, and the other at its East centre.

 

On MAP (2) the German Works are reference numbered in red 1 to 22 from South to North beginning at the most Southerly works just north of Metz.

 

The French Works are reference numbered in red 23 to 34 (South to North), beginning at their most southerly works, Auboue.

 

TABLE (5) gives a detailed list of the German Works, their Blast-furnaces, Converters, Open-Hearth furnaces and output. This Table has been built up principally from various German data and maps in their technical journals, and from Ryland’s Directory.

 

TABLE (6) gives a similar detailed list of French Works. It is taken from “Le Genie Civil” April 7, 1917, p 225.

 

 

TABLE (5) “GERMAN” LORRAINE AND LUXEMBOURG IRONWORKS (from N. to S.)

 

Map Ref No	Location	Name of Company	No of Blast Furns:	Bessemer Converters	Open Hearth Furnaces	Approx: Production 1913	Remarks
22     21     20 19   18 17   16   15   14   13   12   11 10 9 8 7   6 5 4   3 2   1	(North) DOMMELDINGEN, Lx     Do     STEINFORT, Lx RODINGEN, Lux   DIFFERDINGEN, Lx REDINGEN, Lorr   ESCH Lux   Do   DEUTSCH OTH. Lx (Audin-le-Tiche) DUDELINGEN   RUMELINGEN .Lx   OETTINGEN, Lor FENTSCH, Lor KNEUTTINGEN, Lor HAYINGEN. Lor DIEFENHOFEN. Lor (Thionville) UECKINGEN, Lor MOYEUVRE, Lor ROMBACH, Lor   HAGENDINGEN, Lor MAIZIERES, Lor   Do	Eicher Huttenvereins Le Gallet, Metz et Cie   Vereinigte Huttenwerke Burbach-Eich-Dudelingen   Collart C & J Soc, Anon.d’Ougree Marihaye Deutsch Luxembourg Dillinger Huttenwerk   Vereinigte Huttenwerke Burbach-Eich-Dudelingen Gelsenkirchener Bergwerks   Do   Vereinigte Huttenwerke Burbach-Eich-Dudelingen Rumelingen Hochofen & Stalwerke. Do Lothringer Hutten Vereins Do De Wendel Rochlingsche E & S Werke   Stumm De Wendl Rombacher Hutten Werke   Stalwerk Thyssen A.G. Hutten Verein Sambre & Moselle Rombacher Hutten Werke	3   3     3 4   10 3   6   13   4   6   3   3 3 6 10 4   6 7 7   6 3   4	3-10t   5-18 t     4-22 t   4-25 t       3-22 t           5-20 t 6-12 t       4-10 t 5-20 t   4-28 t	2-25 t                             2-20 t             3-22 t         4-25 t   2-80 t	Tons 100,000     113,000     68,000 182,000   438,000 110,000   350,000   950,000   260,000   270,000   150,000   150,000 211,000 325,000 360,000 260,000   310,000 276,000 487,000   640,000 130,000   292,000	Elec Steel Wks   Elec Steel Furnaces     Roll Mill   Do     Do   Do       Do           Do Do       Do Do Elec Frns Roll Mills
	(South)	22 WORKS	117	43	13	6,432,000

 

 

 

TABLE (6) FRENCH LORRAINE BLAST-FURNACE IRONWORKS in German Occupation (From North to South).

 

Map Ref No	Location	Name of Company	No of Blast Furnaces	No of Bessemer Converters	Actual Pig-Iron Production Year 1913
34   33   32   31         30 29 28 27   26     25 24   23	(North) ATHUS (BELGIUM)   GORCY   SENELLE   LONGWY: Mont-St-Martin Longwy Longwy   REHON SAULINES HUSSIGNY MICHEVILLE   VILLERUPT Do   JOUEF HOMECOURT   AUBOUE	Soc. Anon des Hauts Fourn et Acieries d’Athus Soc Métallurgique de Gorcy………………….. Ste. Metall. De Senelle Maubeurge……………… Ste. des Acieries de Longwy………………… MM. de Saintignon et Cie Ste. des Hts Fourn de la Chiers…………………. Ste. de la Providence Marc Raty et Cie……. Ste. Lorraine Industrielle.. Ste. des Acieres de Micheville………………. Ste. d’Aubrives Villerupt Ste. Metall de Senelle-Mauberge………………. MM. de Wendel et Cie….. Ac de la Marine et d’Homecourt……………. Ste. des Fond. de Pont-a-Mousson………………….	2   2   5   9 5   4 3 4 2 6   2 2   8 6   3	4   6     3 3     4         6 4	Tons   50,000 (1)   36,000   178,500   365,000 173,000 80,000   190,000 95,000 52,000 390,000   70,000 71,500   394,000 454,000   180,000
	(South) TOTAL	15 WORKS	63	30	2,779,000

 

• Estimated

 

A brief description of Blast-furnace Works and their operations, will enable anyone to realise

(1) How very large and extensive the works are, and hence, what large marks they offer to air attack. (2) What an enormous amount of machinery is condensed into these areas. (3) How very dependent on the smooth running of each machine or part is the whole operation of producing pig-iron. (4) How little protected the machinery is against air attack. (5) How prominent a landmark such works are, because of the size and peculiar appearance of the Blast-furnaces and Hot Blast stoves.

 

• Take for example the Gelsenkirchener Company’s Works at ESCH. (See Red Reference No 15, MAPS (2) and (3), Photos 15, Pages 21-23).  Here 8-Furnace Works called ‘Adolph Emil Hutte’ alone are seen to cover a space over a mile long and half a mile wide.
• Not all this area is covered with machinery, but the percentage of space so covered is remarkably large. The entire western end and middle of the area is plastered over with important power machinery, furnaces, hot-blast stoves, Bessemer Converters, blowing engines, etc inter connected by a thick network of railway lines, travelling cranes, and mechanical ore-moving devices.  The Rolling Mill building in the middle is a quarter of a mile long.  The adjacent “Colonies” for workmen and staff are congested centres of highly skilled labour.

 

The whole works produce nearly a million tons of pig-iron per year, or one twentieth of the pig-iron production of the German Empire in 1913- If the whole German armed forces are guessed at 5,000,000 men,    then these Esch Works alone represent, proportionately, 250,000 men in terms of industrial strength for War.

 

This does not include the two other works numbered in Red 14 and 16 on MAP (3) Page 21 but only the works No 15.

 

• A Blast-furnace plant can be regarded as a delicately balanced and complex machine:

 

If the central power plant is stopped, the whole works stop. If the Blowing Engines stop, the whole works stop. If the huge air pipes are broken, one or more furnaces stop. If Hot-blast Stoves are hit, one or more furnaces stop. If Furnaces are hit, the effect would be disastrous. If the Mixer, containing hundreds of tons of molten iron at a temperature of 2,500o F is hit, the effect can be easily imagined.

 

The workmen (about 6,000 are employed in a works of this size, including the attached steel works and rolling mills) are largely skilled, and are engaged in arduous labour, many of them operating powerful machines of thousands of horse power, others tapping the furnaces or moving great ladles of molten iron. The demoralising effect upon these workmen of big air raids, day after day or night after night, would be immense.

 

This is not guesswork:

 

The known demoralising effect of only a limited number of German night raids upon a certain iron district, resulted in a decrease of 30,000 tons per week in its pig-iron production.

 

Any Iron Metallurgist knows that a furnace ‘freeze-up’ might result from such frequently repeated air raids; and if a Blast-furnace is once ‘frozen’ nothing can be done except to take down the whole furnace and rebuild it.

This operation is a matter of months of work, because of the slow-setting nature of the fire cement, and the necessity of a gradual drying of the furnace lining.

 

• Blast-furnace works are either out in the open or are sheltered by large thin-roofed buildings with roofs of steel-truss construction, the roofing material being merely designed to keep out rain and snow.

A bomb or grenade would puncture such roofing material as easily as a sheet of paper.

 

• Blast-furnace works offer a particularly prominent landmark. In the case of the works at ESCH above mentioned, the 8 huge furnaces and 40 hot-blast Stoves tower over a hundred feet into the air.  The furnaces and stoves are of such a peculiar appearance that once seen they can always be recognised.  If an aviator is shewn a similar works in England or France, or even photographs of the furnace, he could not fail to recognise any other blast-furnace works by daylight.  The furnaces and stoves are of such size that they could be ‘spotted’ many miles away.

 

By night, the red glow from the pig-bed, or sometimes the blinding glare from the electric steel furnace, or the flame from the Bessemer Converters, would be a helpful guide for our aeroplanes.

 

Typical Photographs, detailed Plans and Sections, illustrating some of these Iron Works are attached hereto, for the purpose of explaining the appearance, size and character of Blast-furnace Works, and why they are especially sensitive to injury by air attack. These Photographs and plans appeared mostly in “Stahl und Eisen” and “Gluckauf” the two principal German publications dealing with the subject.

 

 

APPENDIX B.

 

THE SAAR DISTRICT.

See MAP (2)

 

This District includes two main features (1)   THE COAL DEPOSITS and MINES producing about 9% of Germany’s Coal. (2)   THE BLAST FURNACE WORKS near the Mines producing about 7% of Germany’s Pig-iron.

 

(1)   THE SAAR COAL DEPOSITS AND MINES.

General Description.

The Coal Fields of the Saar begin 12 miles East of METZ and extend North-Easterly past the town of Saarbrucken, as seen on MAP (2).

 

Area of Coalfield……………………….. 600 square miles. Main producing area………………………120     “       “ Coal Reserves…………………………….16,548,000,000 tons Production in 1913 was………………………17,013.014 tons

 

The Coal Mines lie thickest in the neighbourhood of Saarbrucken and the Iron Works are shewn in red on MAP (2).  Most of the Coal Mines are owned by the Prussian State.

 

The Coal Measures extend South-Westerly into France, where they have been found in boreholes in the Pont-a-Mousson region.  Because of the occurrence of this Coal, together with the nearness of the Lorraine Iron ores, a number of Blast-furnace Works have been located in the heart of the Saar Coalfield.

 

(2)   THE BLAST-FURNACE WORKS OF THE SAAR DISTRICT are only five in number; their location is shewn on MAP (2) and one of the largest works is shown in detail on Plan 37.  They are as follows:-

TABLE (7)

 

Map Ref No	Location	Name of Company	Blast Furnaces	Bess. Converts	Open Hearth Furn:	Approx: Output 1913 tons of Pig-iron	Remarks
35 36   37         38 39	DILLINGEN VOLKINGEN   BURBACH         BREBACH NEUNKIRCHEN	Stumm Works Rochlingsch E & S Werke Vereinigte Hutten Burbach-Eich-Dudelingen A.G. Rud. Bocking Stumm	4 8   8         5 6	4 5   5           4	10     3           1	264,000 340,000   360,000         170,000 240,000	Roll Mill Do Do Elec. Furns       14 Pudd. Frns.
	5 Works		31	18	14	1,374,000

 

Some of the Saar Iron Works have already been bombed occasionally by the Allies. As they are all within 70 miles of NANCY, they should be heavily and repeatedly bombed and put out of business, if we have enough available aeroplanes to do the work.

 

 

 

APPENDIX C.

 

THE WETPHALIAN DISTRICT.

See MAP (4)

 

Besides Steel and other Industries of vast importance in this War, this District includes two main features:   (1)   THE COAL DEPOSITS and MINES producing over half of Germany’s Coal (2)THE BLAST FURNACE WORKS near the Coal Mines producing nearly half of Germany’s Pig-iron.

GENERAL DESCRIPTION.

The Westphalian District extends from the Rhine at Duisburg easterly through Essen and beyond Dortmund, and includes the outlying steel-producing towns of

 

GLADBACH

DUSSELDORF

CREFELD

ELBERFELD

BARMEN

SOLINGEN and

REMSCHEID.

 

Excepting as regards iron ore production (in which Lorraine is pre-eminent) this region is the busiest and most important industrial centre in the German Empire.  The whole district contains over 1,000 square miles.  About half this area is crammed full of collieries, iron and steel works, copper and zinc smelters, engineering, manufacturing, chemical and munition works of every description.  These industries are served by a vast and splendid network of railways, inland harbours, canals and navigable rivers.  At the mouth of the Ruhr River at Ruhrort and Duisburg is one of the largest river harbours in the world, it alone handling before the War 20,000,000 tons of material per year, including 6,000,000 tons of high-grade iron ores imported chiefly from Sweden and Spain.  (See Small MAP (5) Page 31)

 

Westphalia lies 200 miles North-Easterly from NANCY.  The distance is great; but if this district could be disorganised by repeated air raids on a large scale, it would have an instantaneous and most vital effect upon the whole conduct of the War by Germany.  No Iron ore is produced here, and the ore must be brought in from Lorraine or abroad, otherwise Blast-furnaces would stop, pig-iron production would cease, and ship-building and steel and munition plants all over Germany would suffer disastrously.

 

Westphalian industries depend on two main sources

On LORRAINE for Iron ore and Pig-iron

On SWEDEN (and other countries) for Imported Iron ore.

 

• THE WESTPHALIAN COAL FIELD AND COAL MINES.

The Coal Fields of Rhenish Westphalia begin along the Rhine 35 miles North of Cologne, and extend Eastward for more than 50 miles, as seen on KEY MAP (1) and MAP (4).

The District centres in Essen, and lies 200 miles North-Easterly from NANCY.

 

Areas of Coalfield……………………..                     1,000 sq. miles. Main central portion 10 x 35 miles……                       350        do Coal Reserves…………………………        213,706,000,000  tons Coal production, 1913………………..                 110,722,000  tons

 

The Prussian Crown has been lately purchasing and is now owner of a large portion of the Westphalian Collieries.

 

It is because of the coal that this district and its outskirts have attained so prominent a position among German industrial regions. Also because of the Coal, many Iron Blast-furnace Works are located here.

 

• THE BLAST-FURNACE WORKS of the WESTPHALIAN DISTRICT.

are only 18 in number, but are so large that they produced over 43% of all Germany’s pig-iron in 1913 1916.  The location of these works is shewn on MAP (4).  Each Works is numbered on the map in red figures (reference numbers); and the black figures show how many blast-furnaces there are at each Works.

TABLE (8) overleaf gives detailed statistics of the 18 Works, and has been compiled from various data in German Trade and technical Journals and Ryland’s Directory.

 

For judging the relative importance of these works to Germany’s pig-iron production, see Condensed TABLE (11) APPENDIX (E).  Most of these 18 Works produce not only pig-iron but also Steel.

 

 

 

 

TABLE (8) RHEINISH WESTPHALIA INONWORKS

 

Map Ref No	Location	Name of Company or Works	No of Blast Furnaces	Bess. Converts	Open Hearth Furn:	Approx: Yearly Pig-iron Production 1913	Remarks
44   45   46   47     48     49     50 51     52         53         54       55       56       57       58     59     60   61	RHEINHAUSEN   HOCHFELD (DUISBURG) Do   MEIDERICH Nr RUHRORT   LAAR Nr RUHRORT   BRUCKHAUSEN     MEIDERICH OBERHAUSEN     MULHEIM         STEELE         GELSENKIRCHEN       BOCHUM       HATTINGEN RUHR       DORTMUND       Do     APLERBECK     HASPE Nr Hagan   HUSTEN	Fried Krupp   Eisenwerk Kraft   Duisburger Kupferhutte Rheinische Stahlwerk     Phoenix A.G.     Thyssen Gewerkschaft Deutsch Kaiser Huttenbetrieb A.G. Gutehoffnungshutte     Deutsch Luxembourg Bergwerk & Hutten A.G. “Wilhelmshutte”   Deutsch Luxembourg Bergwerk & Hutten A.G. “Unionshutte”     Gelsenkirchen Bergwerke     Bochumer Verein       Henschel & Sohn       Deutsch Luxembourg Bergwerk & Hutten A.G. “Unionshutte”   Hoesch Eisen & Stahl Werke   Westphalisch E & Drahtwerke   Hasper E & S Werke   Hustener Gewerkschaft	9   4   6   5     21     6     5 11     4         2         9       4       2       5       7       3   3   2	5-20 t           4-15 t     4-13 t     5-15 t       6-22 t                                 3-9 t               5-20 t       3-12 t 1-20 t         3-8 t   4-25 to 40 t	6-40 t   4-65 t 4-45 t     1-20 t 3-10 t 4-28 t   1-15 t 5-20 t   7-20 t 2-40 t   10-15 to 45 t 3-75 t 3-12 t                   3-15 t 1-30 t     2-25 t 5-25 t 2-35 t   1-20 t 4-25 t 2-48 t   4-30 t 4-70 t     6-25 t 3-100 t	1,000,000   300,000   450,000   700,000     1,300,000     600,000     400,000 900,000     150,000         100,000         700,000       250,000       100,000       200,000       550,000       100,000   300,000   100,000	Rolling Mill 9000 Workmen Private Co   Do   Rolling Mill     Do     Do 5 Heroult Elec Furns Priv Co.   Rolling Mill Electric Furns                               Rolling Mill       Do       Do 2 Heroult Elec Furns   Rolling Mills               Do
		18 Works	108	39	94	8,200,000

 

To illustrate the size and character of the great Westphalian Blast-furnace Works, the Photographs and plans on the 6 following pages are included in this Report.

 

Two Works have been selected as typical, viz:-

THE RHEINHAUSEN WORKS belonging to Krupp

Red Reference Number 44.

 

THE OBERHAUSEN WORKS of the Gutehoffnungshutte,

Red Reference Number 51.

 

Small MAP (5) overleaf, shows the location of SEVEN Westphalian Blast-furnace Works (Red Reference Numbers 44 to 50)

These 7 Works alone in 1913 produced approximately 4,750,000 tons of pig-iron, one quarter of Germany’s entire tonnage of pig-iron.

 

These Works are along the Rhine 12 miles West of Essen.  Attention is directed to the peculiar shape and appearance of the great River Harbours of Ruhrort, in the centre of MAP (5), which might be of assistance to airmen in recognising this spot.

 

 

 

APPENDIX D.

 

SIEGERLAND DISTRICT

COBLENTZ ON THE RHINE

PORZ ON THE RHINE

ESCHWEILER

 

The above Western German Iron Districts all lie within 170 miles of NANCY.  They are of minor importance, but produced nearly 4% of Germany’s Iron ore and 7% of her Pig-iron in 1913.

 

Location	No of Works	No of Furnaces	Pig-iron Production 1913
SIEGERLAND COBLENTZ PORZ ESCHWEILER	19 3 1 1	32 10 1 2	774,000 Tons est 500,000   “ “ 50,000   “ “ 90,000   “
TOTAL	24	45	1,414,000   “

 

SIEGERLAND is the Southernmost portion of the province of Westphalia.

This Iron ore field lies some 45 miles easterly of Cologne, and extends from the town of Siegen in a South-Westerly direction.  It is about 10 X 20 miles in size, and the mines surround the Iron Works, which are shewn as red circles on MAP (4).

 

The Iron deposits occur as lodes, in zones or swarms. The ore is siderite, and normal Siegerland ore on which prices are based contains

9% MANGANESE.

 

ThisManganese content is important, as it is of use in the manufacture of Steel.

 

The Mines are very numerous and relatively small ones, hence would not be easy to attack by air. The Iron Works are also small, and the furnaces old.  There are about 19 such Blast-furnace Works in the district.

 

In 1913 the SIEGERLAND District produced

2,606,991 tons of Iron ore, or 7% of Germany’s total production.

774,000 tons of Pig-iron, or 3.8%           do           do        do

 

TABLE (9) SIEGERLAND BLAST-FURNACES.

 

Location	Name of Firm	Number of Furnaces
GREVENBRUCK……. CREUZTHAL………… WEIDENAU…………. Do………………… SIEGEN……………… Do………………… Do…………………. NIEDERSCHELDEN…. Do………………….. EISERFELD………….. Do………………….. EISERN………………. BRACHBACH……….. HERDORF…………… Do………………….. DAADEN……………..     NEIDEREISBACH……. GOSENBACH………… BRUCKHOFE……….	Germaniahutte (Gussstahlwerk Witten)….. Coln Musener Bergwerks A.V…………… Rolandhutte A.G………….…………….. Bremerhute A.G……………….………… Hainerhutte A.G………………………… Johanneshutte Aktien Verein…………….. Faconeisen Walzwerk. L. Mannstaedt A.G. Niederscheldener Hutte A.G……………… Charlottenhutte A.G……………………… Eiserfelderhutte A.G……………………… Marienhutte (Westfalische Stalwerke Bochum). Eiserner Hutte……………………………….. Gewerkschaft Apfelbaumer Zug…………… Bergbau & Hutten A.G. Friedrichshutte……. Gewerkschaft Herdorfer Hutte……………… Gewerkschaft Grunebacher Hutte…………..   The following are not definitely located Neiderdreisbacher Hutte…………………….. Storch & Achoneberg Gewerkschaft………… Ver Stahlwerke Zypen und Wissener Eisen Hutten A.G.	1 3 3 2 1 2 1 1 2 1 2 1 2 2 1 1____ 26   1 2 3
TOTAL	19 WORKS	32

 

COBLENTZ   On the East bank of the Rhine 5 to 8 miles N.W. of Coblentz are located 3 fairly important Blast-furnace Works, two of which belong to Krupps, and undoubtedly send pig-iron to Krupp’s great Steel Works at Essen.  These Works are 135 miles from NANCY; and being close to the Rhine might be easily found by our Airmen, should they be passing Coblentz.

 

No special Map is attached to show the location of these Works; but their exact position is shewn in Baedeker’s “RHINE” map opp p. 71 1911 Edition.

 

PORZ  The small Works at Porz is also on the Rhine, 5 miles above Cologne.  It is marked in Red No. 43 on MAP (4).

 

ESCHWEILER.         Eschweiler Works is about 12 miles N.E. of Aix-le-Chapelle.

 

TABLE (10) MISCELLANEOUS BLAST-FURNACE WORKS IN WESTERN GERMANY.

 

Ref No	Location	Company	Blast Furns:	Open Hearth	PIG-IRON Approx Production 1913
..       43     42     41     40	ESCHWEILER AUE       PORZ-a-RHEIN     NEUWEID     ENGRS     BENDORF	Eschweiler Bergwerk verein. Abt. Eschweiler Klon Eisenwerke   Gewerksch Carl Otto Adelenhutte   Fried Krupp A.G. Hermanshutte   Fried Krupp A.G. Mulhofenerhutte   Concordiahutte A.G.	2       1     3     4     3	2	90,000 tons       50,000   “     200,000 “     250,000 “     50,000 “
		5 WORKS	13	2	640,000   “

 

 

APPENDIX E.

 

 

Secret Memorial General Table German Blast Furnace Works and Pig-iron General Summary Coal and Iron Production of Enemy Countries. German Iron Ore Imports Other Industries Suggested Submarines.

 

 

APPENDIX E.

 

Portion of Secret Memorial addressed by the Six great Industrial and Agricultural Associations of Germany to the German Chancellor on May 20^th 1915.

A French translation of the memorial was published by the Comite des Forges de France, in their Circular No. 666 of August 24, 1915, from which the following extract has been translated into English by Mr. George C. Lloyd, Secretary, Iron and Steel Institute London, in August 1917.

 

“To His Excellency the Imperial Chancellor, Dr. Von BETHMANN HOLLWEGG Berlin   “………Concerning France, and especially of our position with regard to England, it is of vital interest to us that we should possess the coastal region of Belgium and about up to the Somme, which will give us an opening to the Atlantic Ocean. Apart from the necessary annexation of the ore district of Briey, any other territorial conquest in France would be governed by strategical considerations.  Besides the iron ore region of Briey it would also be necessary to acquire the coal region in the Departments of Nord and of the Pas de Calais.  The security of the German Empire imperatively requires the possession of all the minette mines, including the fortresses of Longwy and Verdun which are necessary for their defence.  The possession of the vast quantities of coal, and especially of the bituminous coal which abounds in Northern France, is no less important than the acquisition of the iron ore mines.   “The monthly production of pig-iron in Germany is about a million tons at the present time.  The monthly output of steel exceeds a million tons.  But with all this there is no great abundance of iron and steel.  The manufacture of shells of all kinds absorbs at least 4,000 tons of pig-iron per day though exact figures of the consumption are not to hand.   “As raw material for the manufacture of this quantity of iron and steel the minette ore is becoming more and more important, as this is the only ore we possess which can be mined in large quantities, and the extraction of which can be rapidly expanded.   The production of other ore districts is greatly reduced, and the importation by sea even of Swedish ores, is attended with such difficulties, that even in the manufacturing regions outside Lorraine and Luxembourg the minette ore at the present time supplies 50 to 80 per cent of the raw material for the production of iron and steel. If the output of minette were checked, the war would be as good as lost.”   (SIGNED BY) The League of Agriculturalists…………… Dr. Roesicke The League of German Peasants……………Wachorst de Wente The Provisional Group of Christian Associations of German Peasants,      at present the Westphalian Peasants Association….Baron de Twickel The Central Union of German Industrials ……….…Roetger The League of Industrials……………………………Friedrichs. The Union of the Middle Classes of the Empire ……..Eberle.   DATED, Berlin, 20th May 1915.

 

 

TABLE (11) GERMAN BLAST-FURNACE WORKS and PIG-IRON

District	No of Works	Blast Furnaces Active 1913		Bessemer Converts	Open Hearth Furnaces	Pig- Iron Production
		No	% of Total Active			1913 Tons	% of Total	1916 Tons	% of Total
ANNEXED LORRAINE and Luxembourg   Saar District   Coblentz   Siegerland   Rhenish Westphalia	22   5   3   19   18	117   31   10   32   108	32.6   8.6   2.8   9.0   30.2	43   18           39	13   14   2       94	6,420,000   1,374,000   500,000   774,000   8,209,000	33.2   7.1   2.6   4.0   42.5	4,025,000   946,000   400,000   500,000   5,730,000	30.4   7.1   3.0   3.8   43.2
Total above Districts	67	298	83.2	100	123	17,277,000	89.4	11,601,000	87.5
All other German Districts	35	60	16.8			2,014,000	19.6	1,658,000	12.5
Grand Total. All Germany including Luxembourg	102	358	100.0			19,291,000	100.0	13,259,000	100.0

 

 

 

TABLE (12) SUMMARY OF COAL AND IRON PRODUCTION of Enemy Countries or Countries in Enemy Occupation

 

COAL Germany Austria-Hungary   Belgium Total	1913	1914	1915	1916
	191,511,000 17,519,000   22,842,000 231,872,000	161,535,000 16,321,000 Austria only …………….	146,712,000 16,232,000   14,238,000	…………. 17,602,000 Austria only 8,479,000 (1st 6 months)
IRON ORE Germany (incg Lux & anxd Lorraine) French Lorraine Austria-Hungary Belgium Total	35,941,285   17,487,899 5,318,631 149,450 58,897,265	…………   …………… 4,003,591 …………….	…………….   …………. 1,238,268 (Hungary only)	……………   ………… ……………. …………..
PIG-IRON Germany (incg Lux & anxd Lorraine) French Lorraine Austria-Hungary   Belgium Total	19,291,920   2,729,000 2,380,864   2,484,690 26,886,474	14,391,611   …………. 1,988,000   1,233,410 (First half)	11,789,931   ……………. 1,959,084   …………	13,259,000 (Dec estd) ………… 1,969,124 (Austria only) …………….
MANGANESE ORE Germany Austria-Hungary Total	3,079,000 35,546 3,114,546	………… 25,221	…………. …………	………….. ……………..

 

RUSSIA Coal Iron Ore Pig-Iron Manganese Ore

33,369,000 8,077,000 4,557,000 970,000

33,274,000 ………… 4,257,000 614,000

27,820,000 ………. 3,649,000 32,200

…………… …………… 2,826,964 253,975

 

(Compiled from Statistical Report of the Iron Steel and Allied Trades Federation, 1916, and other sources.

 

 

TABLE (13) GERMAN IRON ORE IMPORTS 1913.

 

Source	ORE Tons	Iron Content Tons	% Iron
Sweden………………. Spain…………………. Russia………………… France………………… Greece………………… Algeria………………… Tunis………………….. Norway……………….. Belgium……………….. Newfoundland………… Austria-Hungary………	4,558,400 3,632,100 489,400 3,810,900 147,200 481,200 136,400 303,500 127,100 121,200 106,000	2,928,800 1,816,100 296,100 1,393,900 73,600 240,600 68,200 197,300 63,600 64,200 42,400	64.25 50.00 60.50 36.70 50.00 50.00 50.00 65.00 50.00 53.00 40.00
TOTALS and AVERAGE	13,913,400	7,184,800	51.6%
Deduct Exported Iron Ores for 1913… 2,613,158 Tons
NET IMPORTS …………………….. 11,300,242   “

 

How this affected Germany’s Iron Industry is seen by the following:

 

Home produced Ores……………… 35,941,285 tons averaging 30% Iron Net imported Ores…………………. 11,300,242 tons

TOTAL GERMAN CONSUMPTION 47,241,527 tons

 

(Compare TABLE (1) page 10)

 

The imported ores were much richer in iron content than the home produced ores; and in any serious attempt which might be made by the Allies to injure Germany’s Iron Industry, these imports of ore must be taken into consideration.  How much foreign ore is still being imported I do not know: but it is still being freely brought in to Germany from Sweden, according to the following Iron Market Report written by Dr. W. Beumer.  (overleaf)

 

(Imports from Gluckauf, 1914 p. 1444)

(Exports from Statistical Report Iron Steel & Allied Trades Federation July 1917)

 

NOTE: (This Dr. Beumer is Business Manager of the Association of German Iron & Steel Manufacturers.  He is of the “fire eating” type, and at this Association’s December Meeting in Berlin, they adopted a resolution urging the German Government not to conclude peace unless the conditions of peace include a definite guarantee that the French Mining districts of Briey and Longwy pass for ever into the possession of Germany.)

 

Quarterly Report of German Iron Market, July-Aug-Sept, 1917.

By Dr. Beumer.

 

 

RHINELAND WESTPHALIA THE CONDITIONS OF THE ORE MARKET HAVE NOT CHANGED AS COMPARED WITH THOSE OF THE PREVIOUS QUARTER, EXCEPT THAT THE PRICE OF FOREIGN ORES ROSE STEADILY.  THE SHIPMENTS FROM LULEA (SWEDEN) HAVE CONTINUED UNTIL NOW UNDISTRUBED.   IN ORDER TO RELIEVE THE RAILWAYS AS FAR AS POSSIBLE MINETTE ORE WAS TRANS-SHIPPED AT THE RHINE PORTS FOR DISTRIBUTION, AND EVEN THE ILSEDER WORKS (NEAR HANOVER) WERE SUPPLIED VIA CANAL.

 

(Stahl und Eisen, Oct. 11 1917, p. 935)