The Middleburgh post. [volume] (Middleburgh, Snyder Co., Pa.) 1883-1916, 1899-02-02

-ecretary Long CorrectS a State
ment of Ex-Minister Woodford.
WERE READY FOR SPANISH WAR.

At No Time were the Vessels OF Our
Navy Short OF Ammunition, and the
Government Had . Liberal supply
In I,eserve.
Washington, Jan. 3l.-Secretary Long
has addressed letter 10 General Stew
art l.. Woodford In which he says: Il
find the papers attribute to you GER
tain statements with regard to the
supply of ammunition in the navy dur
Ing the war which are so erroneous
that l cannot believe you have been
correctly quoted. l have asked the
bureau of ordnance to give me the ex-
act facts and inclose you copy OF the
statement. l am sure you will be glad
to read It," Then follows the report
from the ordnance bureau. signed by
Charles O'Neill, chief of the bureau. 1t
is rs follows:
Referring to the reported speech OF
General Woodford at the Army and
Navy club at New York on Saturday
evening last, in which he is quoted as
saying that on Feb. is. 1898. three
days after the Maine was blown up in
Havana harbor, he received informa-
tion by telegraph that this government
did not possess powder enough to pro-
vide the warships and forts with two
rounds for each gun" so far as relates
to the navy. Is an error. as every YES
sci was practically filled up with her
allowance of ammunition.
The regulations of the department
prescribe that the reserve ammuni-
ton for guns of the main battery, ex-
cept on monitors and coast defense
vessels, shall not be allowed to fall be-
low 40 rounds per gun for six inch
| caliber and above. nor below so rounds
per gun for the rapid fire guns, and no
vessel Of the navy was reduced so low
as this.
I'm addition to the supply Of am
munition ailoat the navy had fair
amount in reserve. especially Of pro-
jectiles. There were less rounds OF
powder per gun than of shell. and for
this reason. by direction Of the secre-
tary. an emergency order was placed
| for powder on Jan. Is, 1885, just one
month before the destruction of the
| Maine, and by the 18th OF February
the date OF that catastrophe. the navy
| department had about 750. 900 pounds
of powder in reserve. and ii was being
turned out In large quantities daily.
so far as relates to the supply OF
ammunition on Dewey's ship. the fact
is they never We're reduced below ths
limit prescribed by the department. and
they could have safely gone into ac-
ton without receiving further supply
The vessels engaged expended only
about one third OF their allowance.
"As further showing the state of the
ammunition supply OF this fleet, 1t Is
remarked that on Nov. 2. 1897. orders
were issued by the bureau Of ordnance
to the Mare Island navy yard to pre-
pare FOR the Olympia. Boston anc
Petrol n quantity Of ammunition which
would completely M their allowance
and give them one-quarter target prac'
tice in addition. This ammunition was
forwarded as rapidly as possible. thus
filing up all the vessels of the AsiatiC
fleet. but without this they were II
condition to go into battle.
"As soon as the department learned
that a battle had been fought steps
were taken to make further shipments
to the East Indies. These shipment!
were made In anticipation Of possible
further need OF the squadron, and were
sent after the battle OF Manila bay"