The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1898-11-14

WASHINGTON, Nov. 19.-Gen. D. w.
Flagler chief OF the bureau Of ord
nance, has made his annual report TO
the secretary Of war. 1t shows that
there was expended during the fiscal
ye2r ending June 80. 1898, $50. AS. 795, and
that there still remains Of the appro-
priaticns made for the ordnance bureau
1873, 1853. This large sum is derived
from the appropriations for the fiscal
year, which were made for war pur-
poses amounting 20 81 ,j04 592
Regarding the equipment OF volun-
teers. the general says: $50 long as the
principal dependence in this country In
time Of war is a large volunteer
force. newly levied it is impracticable
10 Keep on hand large supplies OF cav
airy, artillery and horse equipments
as these. in the course Of a few years,
Will not only deterioTate. but will have
10 be materially modified 10 keep
pace with improvements. The major
part Of such material can. by taking
advantage Of the resources of the ar
senals and the numerous private estab-
lishments capable Of producing II, 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 ar
tilery with carriages and small arms
Tor 10000 men. Such guns and car
riagcs cannot be turned out In large
numbers until about six months after
initiating the work"
For equppIng an army with supply
OF smlll arms, he thinks there should
Is --.Fi,fy Of 100 0J9 ON hand OF any
new arm, ard the arsenals kept in a
condition go as TO produce 2 800 per day
An Interesting part OF the report is
that Which treats OF coast defense. The
general says:
Attention is especially invited to the
experience Of the last few months In
attempting 20 provide quickly a coast
defense II is believed TO be imprac-
ticable. and We VIII always be forced
In any emergency 10 rely upon what
has been provided in time Of peace. a
plan has been adopted for providing a
complete coast defense. With the pres
ent facilities OF the department this
work can ba carried on economically
ard in the most efficient manner in
such way as 20 complete the present
plan IN about seven years.
COAST DEFENSE.
Estimates ought To be submitted
each year for so much Of the work as
the facilities for its production viii per-
init. II rests with congress 10 deter
mine how much of the work can be
provided for each year consistent with
lNe u sources or the country. kuf the
work cannot proceed faster than the
appropriations provide for. 1t is prob
able that there must be added 70 the
plans and estimates for the coast de-
fense some provision for the defense of
added possessions"
Gen. Flagler does not claim Tor the
forty four -Caliher Springfield rifle an
equality with the new thirty cali Der
magazine rife or the army. but savs
that IL is good arm and possesses
many merits. This feature has here
tofore been commented upon In discus
sion OF small arms used during the
war The machinery for the manufac-
ture az small arm ammunition was
none the best. vet 90 0e0 600 rounds
Were turned out for the war For
years past the report states. the ap-
preparations for equipment OF infantry,
cavalry, artillery and horse have been
barely sufficient 10 meet the consump-
ton OF the regular army. and, although
there were buildings. there was no ma
chinery with which TO manufacture
these supplies. IIAyas impossible TO
Hil reQu Citions for the volunteer troops
when m de-
The Following statement is made as 10
% WIDER; For several years this de-
urtment has been experimenting ON
smokeless powder for sea coast guns
ana had completed the determination
of the specifications and requirements
n smokeleSs powder FOR nearly all the
sen coast guns and mortars. Some OF
the powder manufacturers that had
been engaged in these experimental
powders had small plants at their dis
pcSal. II was impossible. however "a
produce the powders fast enough e
meet the emergency. and in some cases
experience i'm their use was necessary
fol adapting them 70 all the require
ments of the service. The companies
however were ready al once 10 take
up the manufacture OF the carbon
powders. and, as the requirements for
these were simple. they could extend
tfe!r plants Tor this production more
readily, and Tor time this depart