The Bourbon news. [volume] (Paris, Ky.) 1895-19??, 1898-11-15
REPORT.
Chief of the Bureau of Ordinance Tells
of His Department.
Recommends TIaat the General Govern
menu Arm the Volunteers Instead of
the States-The Coast Defenses-
Work of the Arsenals.

WASHINGTON, Nov. l1.-Gen. ID. w.
Flagler. chief of the bureau of ord
nance. has made his annual report to
the secretary of war. 1t shows that
there were expended during the fiscal
year ending June 80, 1898. 7,34S, 1875,
and that there still remains of
the appropriations made for the
ordnance bureau, $40. 1885 This
large sum is derived from the
appropriations for the fiscal year
which were made for war purposes
amounting to S21, 5O4, SOP. Regarding
the equipment of volunteers the gen
eral thinks it would be as well as to
have the government equip them in
stead of their bringing their state
arms into service, saying that it could
be done as quickly owing to the cOndi-
ton of the arms of state troops.
He speaks in terms of praise in the
manner in which work has been per-
formed at arsenals and ordnance fac
tories in the rush that was made in
putting the country on footing for
war with Spain. AS to the equipment
of an army, he says:
so long as the principal dependence in this
country in time of war is in a large volunteer
force. newly levied, it is inpracticable to keep
on hand large supplies of cavalry, artillery
and horse equipments. as these in the course
of a few years will not only detcriOrate but
viii have to be materially modified to keep
he ~. of
such material can. by taking advantage of the
resources of Rock Island and the other
arsenals and the numerous private establish
ments capable o. producing it. be supplied as
rapidly as troops can be raised. mustered into
the service and prepared for campaign. There
should. however, be on hand field and siege
artillery, with carriages and portion of the
harness required for 10000 men. Such guns
and carriages can not be turned out in large
numbers until about six months after initiating
the work.
For euuipping an army with a supply
of small ,,.D,e h., thinks there ebouId
100 ,on ,,
~ J
new arm aga the arSehiIS kept III Il
condition so us to produce ,, 800 per
dav.
f,As, f1-,. - ,N,.%
~ -, 'ii''V "'''C'' 'i0''0 ~ 00''7' ''' i'''
ne GENERA says
riorce Of Tho i,st Tow ,nonth in oteen,n,t,. r.
provide Quickly a coast defense. It's believed
to be impracticable. and We will always bc
forced in any emergency. 10 rely upon what
i"' ',7' - ''ine VI pe"'e
not in the vav ., corrnlairt ,hat
this has been urged upon congress each year
for the past ten years. The situation is very
simple A plan has been adopted for pr"vld-
.ns " -" ~ -.
be carried on oconomicallv and in The most eff
icient manner in such a way Us to complete
the present plan in about seven years
Estimates ought 10 tie SUBMITTED Fach
,,,,,,a,fa ,;,' -
CONGRESS- 10 determine how much or Tho work
can be provided Tor each year consistently
with the resources of the country. Bat
the work can not progress faster than The APP
preparations pro''oe io'.
,,, ,IoIe ,',
some provi,ion Tor The defense or added nos.
sessions"
Gen. Flagler does not claim for the
45 calibcr Springfield rifle an equality
with the new 80 calibcr magazine rifle
of the army, but says that it is very
! good arm and possesses many merits.
| This feature has heretofore been com
mehted upon IN discussion OF small
arms uSed during the war thc ma
| ch'hery Ior the manufacture OF small arm
ana ammunition was none the best yet
the department turned out 10000 Oo'
rou nus lor the war ForyearS past the
| report states. the appropriations fOI