Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1898-11-17
GEN. FLAGLERs,s REPORT.
distressing Facts Concerning the Provide
ing of Arms and Ammunition and
the Coast Line Defense.


Ter, chief of the bureau of ordnance,
has made his annual report to the sec
rotary of war. It shows that there
were expended during the fiscal year
ending June 80, 1898, S7,34s, 795, and
that there still remains of the appro-
priation made for the ordnance bu-
reau SIS, 1893 1859. This large sum is de-
rived from the appropriations for the
fiscal year which were made for war
purposes amounting to So, 5o4, 592.
The Equipment of Volunteers.
Regarding the equipment of volun-
teers, the general thinks it would be
as well to have the government equip
them instead of bringing their state
arms into service, saying that it could
be done as quickly, owing to the con-
dition of the arms of the state troops.
He speaks in terms of praise of the
manner in which work has been per-
formed in arsenals and ordnance fac
tories in the rush that was made in
putting the country on a footing for
war with Spain. As to the equipment
Of the army, he says:
tmpracticabIe to Keep Supplies on Hand.
$50 long as the principal dependence
in this country in a time of war is a
large volunteer force, newly levied, it
is impracticable to keep on hand large
supplies of cavalry, artillery and horse
equipments, as these in the course of
a few years will not only deteriorate,
but will have to be materially modi-
fed to keep pace with improvements.
The major part of such material can,
by taking advantage of the resources
of Rock Island and the other arsenals
and the numerous private establish
ments capable of producing it, be sup
piled as rapidly as troops can be raised.
mustered into service and prepared
for campaign. There should, however,
be on hand field and seige artillery
with carriages and portion of the
harness required for 100000 men. Such
guns and carriages can not be turned
out in large numbers until about sig
months after initiating the work"
Must be Prepared for Emergencies.
For equipping an army with sup
ply of small arms, he thinks there
should be supply of 100000 on hand
of any new arm, and the arsenals kept
in condition so as to produce 1850 per
day.
An interesting feature of the report
is that which treats of coast defense.
The general says:
The Coast Defense.
Attention is especially invited to
the experience of the last few months
in attempting to provide quickly a
coast defense. It is believed to be I'M
practicable, and we will always be
forced in any emergency to rely upon
what has been provided in the time of
peace. l think it fair to state, though
not III the way of complaint, that this
has been urged upon congress each
year for the past ten years.
1.-The situation is very simple. A plan
has been adopted for providing COM
plete coast defense. With the present
facilities of the department this work
can be carried on economically and in
the most efficient manner in such a
way as to complete the present plan
in about seven years. Estimates ought
to be submitted each year for so much
of the work as the facilities for it's
production will permit. 1t rests with
congress how much of the work can
be provided for each year consistently
with the resources of the country. But
the work cannot progress faster than
the appropriations provide for.
"It is probable that there must be
added to the plans and estimates for
the coast defense some provisions for
the defense of added possessions
The Springfield Rifle and the Magazine
Rifle.
Gen. Flagler does not claim for the
45-caliber Springfield rife an equality
with the new 30-caliber magazine rifle
Ct the army, but says that it is a very
good arm and possesses many merits:
This feature has heretofore been COM
mented upon in discussion of small
arms used during the war.
The machinery for the manufacture
of small arm ammunition was none
of the best, yet the department turned
out 100000 rounds for the war.
THE CUBAN COMMISSION.