The times., 1898-11-14
EQUIPMENT OF THE ARMY
Annual Report of Gen. Flagler,
Chief of Ordnance.
LESSONS LEARNED OF WAR
Springfield Rifle Defended-imprac-
ticnbie to Keep Large Supplies on
Hand So Long ns Country Depends
Upon "a Large Volunteer Force
study Of Bnttleships Against
Coast Defenses.


study Of BattIeships Against
Coast Defenses.
The annual report of Brigadier General
d. W. Flagler, chief of ordnance, United
States army, with remarks aud recon-
mendations in the interest of that branch
of the military service has been submit
ted to The Secretary of War.
The report states that VIXEN the first
call for volunteers from the States for
the war with Spain was made, it was de-
cided TO take as many of the regiments
Of the National Guard as possible already
armed and equipped by the States
This department took steps at once to
ascertain and record correct lists of the
ordnance and ordnance stores thus fur
nished by the States to organizations
mustered into the United States service,
with the view of submitting the matter
to Congress at its next session, for such
action as Congress may deem desirable
for restoring to the States the ordnance
and ordnance stores so furnished and
turned over to the United States, or of
having Congress authorize credit to the
allotment for arming and equipping the
militia of each State equivalent to the
value of the stores so furnished.
when the mastering out of volunteer
troops commenced, the governors of some
OF the States represented that they We're
in great need of State troops, that supply
ing troops mustered into the service of
the United States had stripped the States
Of all ordnance and ordnance stores. and
requested that some at least of the regi-
ments mustered out might be authorized
TO retain their arms and equipments. This
was authorized by the Secretary of War
and is being done. and the stores so re-
tained by the States are charged against
the credit of the States for stores fur
nished by them To the United States"
The preparation OF a correct statement
of the credits and debts of each State will
be completed, it is expected and ready
TO submit TO Congress at its next session.
State Troops should he Ready
Il think states Gen. F'lagler, the
question as to the wisdom and advantage
of having States furnish arms and equip
ments to troops mustered into the United
States service should receive careful con-
sideration. OF course the reason for
adopting this method is the supposition
that the State troops, being already arm
ed and equipped, by retaining their arms
and equipments they would be ready for
immediate service. This is based on the
supposition that the arms and equipments
are in good condition and ready for i'm
mediate service.
This expectation was generally not re-
allied during the present war, and it is
a question whether troops would not have
been ready for service at least as quick
ly by leaving their ordnance and ordnance
stores with the States and by equipping
them with new stores furnished by the
United States in perfect condition and
ready for active service
Some organizations might not have
been ready for service as soon, and 9TH
ers would have been ready more quickly
In consequence of the delay that occur
red in ascertaining whether their arms
and equipments were in fighting order,
and the further delay incident to inspec-
ton, condemnation. and re-equipment. it
would have enabled the War Department
TO know with more certainty when the
troops could be ready"
Referring to some of the principal op-
erations of the ordnance department due
to the war with Spain, the report states
that:
Upon the first call for troops on April
%, 1895, the duty was imposed upon the
department of arming and equipping al
most Immediately a large army of infan-
try, cavalry and artillery. In consequence
of my own experience of the difficulties
encountered in suddenly arming and
equipping large armies during the Civil
War, the subject of preparation for meet
ing such an emergency, should it arise
again, has received much attention. Some
account of the experience of the depart
ment in the same work during the present
war is not only interesting, but important
for reference, should a similar emergen-
cy arise in the future
so long as the principal dependence in
this country in time of war is a large
volunteer force. newly levied it is i'm
practicable to keep on hand large SUPPLIES
of cavalry, artillery and horse equip
ments, as these in the course of a few
years will not only deteriorate but will
have TO be materially modified TO keep
pace with improvements"
BE Prepared for War.
"A supply of ammunition for field and
siege guns sufficient for three months
should at all times be kept on hand BY
the expiration of that period the plant
that is now established at Frankford
Arsenal, and which ought and which it is
expected will be installed at Rock Island
Arsenal, would be capable of meeting all
requirements.
THE question of the supply of small
arms presents difficulties. The changes
and improvements in arms are such as
TO make 1t practically impossible to keep
even large standing armies armed with
the latest and best arms. a nation that
does not keep standing army ready
equipped is still less likely to undergo
the great cost of changing arms in store
in order to be always ready to furnish
the latest and most improved patterns
Immediately.
when the model of the infantry rifle
is changed, however, it is believed that
supply of at least 100000 stand should
be procured by purchase or manufacture
al the earliest moment that the resources
of the arsenals and the country can pro-
duce them, and that machinery should be
installed at Springfield and Rock Island
for their production at the rate of $500
stand per day. After sufficient reserve
is established some 10000 per year should
thereafter be manufactured, as experience
has proved that this number will add
to the supply required az rapidly is
desirable, provided always that machinery
has been installed for rapid increase of
the output whenever war is anticipated
Gen. Flagler does not believe in the
policy of procuring arms from abroad in
an emergency, and says the policy of
relying upon our own resources is the
best" II is his opinion that there should