The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1898-11-14

BE Made During Time of Peace.
WASHINGTON. Nov. is.-Gen. D. W.
Flagler, chief OF the bureau OF ordnance,
has made MS annual report to the see
retAry of war. 1t SHOWS that there were
expended during the fiscal year ending
June o. lSn, s, ,33S.7s5, aud that there
stili remains OF the appropriations for the
ordnance bureau. So 1885 Tais large
sum IS derived from the appropria-
tions for the finance year, which Were
made for war purposes, amounting 20
81, -. So. Regarding the equipment of
volunteers he thinks It would De rs Wei
10 have the government equip them in
stead Of their bringing their state arms
into the service, saying that II could be
done as quickly. owing To the conditions
of the arms of state troops. He speaks
in terms OF praise u the manner in
which the work has been performed in
arsenais and ordnance factories in the
rush that was made in putting the country
on 4 footing for war with Spain.
AS TO the equipment Of army. he
says 80 long as the principal depend
ence in this country In time Of war Is a
large volunteers force, newly levied. Il IS
mpracticable 10 keep on hand large sup
plies OF cavalry. artillery and horse
equipments. as these in the course OF
few years. VII no, only deteriorate. but
Will have 10 be materially modified 10
keep pace with improvements. The major
part OF such material can. by taking ad-
vantages OF the resources of Rock Island
and the other arsenals and the numerous
private establishments capable OF produc-
ing II. be supplied rs rapidly as troops
can BE- raised and prepared for campaign.
There should, however. be on hand field
and siege artillery with carriages and n
portion Of the harness required for 5o.co
men. Such guns and carriages cannot be
turned out in large numbers until about
six months after initiating work"
For eQuIpping an army with a supply
OF small arms ne thinks there should be Il
supply OF 10000 on hand Of any new arm
and the arSenals kept In condition so as
10 produce 300 per day.
Plans for Coast Defense-
An interesting feature of the report is
THAI which treats az coast defenses. The
general says: Attention Is especially
invited 10 the experience Of the last few
months in attempting 10 provide quickly
coast defense. i; is believed to he i'm
practicable and We VIII always be forced
in any en- r2ency 10 rely upon what has
heen provided in t!ne cf peace. | think
ID fair "a stare. though not IN Jhe way Of
conn laint that this has been urged on
congress for the past ten years. The situ-
a..cn is very simple. \ plan has hen
adopted for providing a complete coast
defense. With the present facilities ot the
department this work can be- carried on
economically and In the most efficient man
ner n such Way as % complete tac pres
eut plan IN about seven years. Estimates
ought 70 fe submitted each year for 81
much os tbe work IS the facilities for IS
production VII permit. Il reSts with con-
s-rsSs 10 determine how much Of the work
can he provided foi each year. consistently
with fhe - sources of me country Bui the
work canuct progress faster than the ap-
gropriations provide for.
II = probable that there must be added
to tie plans ara estimates for the coast
defense some provision Tor the defense Of
added possessions
Gen F.ar}er dos not cla,m tne t~cal-
her S7rtnr-iold rifle 10 te eguai 20 he new
2n-...f5s,e~ raarazine rife Of tas army. but
seys that It is = very good arm and poS-
ee.~es rr8ry merits. This feature has here
tseara hsen commented upon in discussion
Of small arms ussd during the war The
machinery fer tha manufacture % the
small arm ammunition = none - the lest.
Vet the department turned ont ot41o'@
rounds f5r the war. For years past. ths
rep9rf states. the appropriations f2r eqap-