The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1898-11-14
~ Work Il Had to Do During
the War.
PLANS OF COAST DEFENSE


~ var II SnoNS tncrc WtIc eApcnucu
during the fiscal yea ending June 30.
1854. s7.sls. 7ss. and that there still re-
mains Of the appropriations made for
the ordnance bureau sls. ssS. 35s. This
large sum is derived from the appro-
priations for the fiscal year which
were made for war purposes. amount-
ing to e2l. 5o4 $50.
REGARDING the army Of volunteers.
he general thinks IL would be as well
% ave h government equip them
instead of their bringing their state
arms int service. saying that II could
b. done N quickly. owing TO the con-
dition of the arms of state troops. lie
speaks In terms OF praise of the man
ner In which work has been performed
IN arsenais and ordnance factories in
the rush that was made in putting the
country on q footing for war with
Spain.
AS to the equipment of an army. he
0ys: $50 long as the principal de-
. pendence In this country In a time OF
war 10 q large volunteer force. newly
levied. IL IL impracticable to keep on
hand large supplies of cavalry, artll-
lery and horse equipments. as these. IN
the course of a few years. not only
deteriorate. but will have TO be ma
terially modified TO keep pace with i'm
provements. The major part of such
material can, by taking advantage q
the resources Of Rock Island and the
other arsenals and the numerous PR
vate factories most capable of pro-
ducing Il. be supplied as rapidly as
troops can be raised N prepared for
. campaign. There should. however.
be on hand field and siege artillery,
with carriages and a portion OF the
harness required for 500 men. such
guns n carriages cannot be turned
out In large numbers until about six
months after initiating the work"
For e%quipping an army with a sup-
rly of small arms. he thinks there
should be a supply OF o 1000 on hand OF
any new arm n the arsenals kept in
condition so as to produce $500 per
day.
An interesting feature of the report
Is hat which treats Of coast defense.
especially invited to the experience OF
abe last few months in attempting TO
provide quickly a coast defense. II Is
believed to be imprac.icable n we
will always be forced In any emergency
20 rely upon what has been provided
in time of peace. I think IL fair to
state, though not in the way OF COM
plant. hat this has been urged on
for the past ten years.
The situation IL very simple. A
plan has been adopted for providing
q complete coast defense. With the
present facilities of the department
this work can be carried on economi-
cally and In the most efficient manner
IN such q way as to complete the pres
emit plan I'm about seven years. Estl-
mates ought TO be submitted zach year
for so much OF the work as the facil-
titles for its production will permit. IL
rests with congress TO determine how
much of the work can be provided for
each year consistently with the re-
sources Of the country. But the work
cannot progress faster than the appro-
priatlons provide for.
TT Is probable that there must be
added 10 the plans and estimates for
the coast defense some provision for
the defense of added possessions"
General Fiagler does not claim for the
45-caiiber Springfield rife equality with
the new ~3o-caliber magazine rife Of the
army, but says that II is a very good
arm and Possesses many meri,s. This
feature has heretofore been commented
upon in discussion of small arms used
during the war. The machinery for tho
manufacture OF small arm ammunition
was one Of the best. yet the depart
ment turned out 80. O00, 600 rounds for
the war. For years past. the report
states, the appropriations for equip
ments OF infantry. cavalry. artillery and
horses have been barely sufficient 10
meet the consumption of the regular
army and. although there were build
ings. there was not machinery with
which to manufacture these supplies. II
was not possible to Ill acquisitions for
the volunteer troops when made.
Details are given OF what VAS done
TO rapidly increase the coast defenses
when the war began. He calls attention
20 the fact that congress has not appro-
prtated what was asked for powder and
projectiles. and in consequence the sup
ply At the beginning OF the war was
Inadequate. and he gives some instances
Of the work done by the department "a
make good the deficiency.
The following statement Is made as
20 powder: For several years this de-
partment has been experimenting on
some smokeless powder for seacoas-
guns. and had completed the determi.
nation OF the specifications and require.
ments for the smokeless powder for
nearly all the seacoast guns n NOR.
tars. Some of the powder m~anufactur
ers that had engaged In the production
OF these experimental powders had
small plants for their production. II
was impossible. however. 20 produce the
powders fast enough to meet the emer'
gency, and In some cases e<I erience d.
their use was necessary for ~adaptin:
them to all the requirements Of the serv-
ice. All the companies. however. were
ready at once to tax up the manufac-
ture OF the carbon powders. and as the
requirements for this were simpler. the,
could expand their plants for this pro,
duction more rapidly. and for a tins
this department. therefore devoted all Il,
energies to providing a supply OF carbon
powders. Later. and as fast as possible
the manufacture was changed 70 smoke.
iess powders.
1T should be stated. however. that
smokeless powder only was manufac-
tured for field and siege artillery. ThS
fact thst the field and siege artillery
was 20 be employed was not determined
until about the time that war was de,
clared. and there was no funds avail.
able for procuring ammunition for thes,
guns before that time. The preparation
of smokeless powder ammunition for
these guns commenced at once, but ii
was necessary 20 issue Immediately III,