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Attention is drawn to the following points:- (a) The original stocks of ammunition must

already be running low for some items. (b) The only stocks available for replenishment

are:-

75,000 rounds of 75 mm. mountain

Schneider in the United States of America.

75,000 rounds, of 105 mm. mountain

Schneider in the United States of America.

7,000 rounds of 105 mm.

mountain

Schneider from General de Gaulle.

The Greeks, with the assistance of the British Purchasing Commission in the United States of America, are negotiating the above purchases of 75mm. and 105 mm. and possibly also of 155 mm. Schneider ammunition in the United States of America, but the ammunition cannot become available in Greece for many weeks.

(a) For 75 mm. and 105 mm. mountain and field .

guns, the Greek Arsenal (Poudreries et Cartoucheries Helleniques - P.C.H.) can manufacture 2,000 rounds per day for each type, provided that the Arsenal is not bombed out of existence and that raw material is made available. 2,750 tons of steel for 6" ammunition out of a total of 6,000 tons now available here, are now being shipped to Greece, but will not arrive

Further before the middle of March.

shipments are being arranged.

The Greeks

have also been urged to purchase 11,000 tons of steel suitable for 75 mm. and 105 mm. shell originally ordered by France in the United States of America, which now belongs to us.

(a) No stocks of ammunition for the 65 mm. Dangli

mountain gun and 85 mm. Schneider field

They are gun are available for purchase. not at present produced by the Greek P.C.H. The possibility of a turn over to this supply is being explored, but it can only be done if further supplies of 75 mm. and 105 mm. ammunition can be obtained regularly and in sufficient quantity. We have no evidence that this can be done except by setting-up special capacity which could only begin to produce in six months' time.

(e) The 40 85 mm. field Schneider and the 48

105 mm. field Schneider, need liners.

Manufacture will are available in Greece.

take nearly as long as that of new guns.

None

(f) Orders for Greek ammunition cannot be placed

here without dislocating our own urgently needed supplies.

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