New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-01-31
40 LACK or AMMUNITION.
GENERAL WOODFCRn STATEMENT DE
MED BY THE NAVY DEPARTMENT.
A STATEMENT FROM TIE ORDNANCE BIT
REAU SHOWING THAT LARGE SUP
t1.xn

A STATEMENT FROM TGE ORDNANCE BIZ
REAU SHOWING THAT LARGE SUP
PLIES WERE ALWAYS or HAND.
Washington. Jan. 30.--Secretary Long has ad
dressed the following letter 20 General Stewart
l. Woodford
Navy Department Washington. Jan. 80.
My Dear General: I frd the papers attribute
TO YOU certain staten1' nts with regard TO the
supply II ammunition in the Navy during the
war. which are so erroneous that | cannot be
lieVe you have been correctly reported. | have
asked the Bureau OF Ordnance to give me the
exact facts and inclosc "a copy OF it's state
ment. l am sure YOU xiii be glad TO read IT,
Very truly yours, IN H. LONG
The statement Of the Bure-d I ordnance is
as follows:
Navy Department Bureau Of Ordnance.
Washington. D. c.. January 80. 1899
Memorandum for the Secretary Of the Navy.
Referring 10 the reported speech OF General
Woodford al the Army ana Navy Club. at New
York on Saturday evening last. In which he is
quoted as SAYING THAT on February II. 1888
three days after the Maine was blown up in Ha-
vana Harbor. he received information hy tAle-
graph that this Government did not possess
powder enough 70 provide its warshins and
forts with two rounds for each gun" So far
as relates 70 the Navy IS an "rror. as every YES
SCI was practically flleG N With her allowance
OF ammunition.
The regulations Of the Department prescribe
that the reserve ammunition for guns Of the
fence vessels. shall not ne allowed to fall below
forty rounds per gun .or 6-inct cebre and
above. nor boloa. CITY rounds per Gun for the
rapid-hre guns ana NJ vessel Of the Navy was
reduced 50 low this.
In addition 70 the supply n ammunition
afoat. the Navy had fair amount in reserve,
especially o. nrojectilas There were less rounds
of powder per gun than OF shell and for this
reason, nv direction Of TO Secretary. an emer-
gency order was placed for powder on January
II. 1895, just one month before the destruction
30 h f1f .ts1t ~ lat -
that catastrophe. the Navy Department had
about three quarters ~ a million pounds 81
powder in reserve. and II was hcinE turned out
IN large quantities daily
So far as relates 70 the ~1pplv NJ ammunition
hoard Dewey's ships the fact is they We're
never reduced below the limit prescribed by the
Department and they could have safely gone
into action without receiving further supply
The total number Of rounds fred from guns
. Of the main batteries IN nc Manila engage
ment was 1913 viz 1J7 4ight-inch f35 eiy-
second batteries 4.445. viz 1887 Elx-pounders.
500 three-pounGer and l,l:}0 one-pounder. The
vessels engaged expended about one-third ~
their allowance
As further showing the state ~ the ammuni-
ton supply Of this feet, # Is remarked that on
November .. 1891 orders were issued by the
Bureau Of Ordnance 10 the Mare Island Navy
Yard 10 prepare for the Olympia. the Boston
ard the Petre quantity ~ ammunition which
would completely FIJI their allowance and give
them One-quarter target practice In addition.
This quantity was ascertsined from the reports
from the vessels showing what each had
on hand. owing 10 ;he impcssib:lity Of
securing transportation for ammunition ex-
cept in vessels specially chartered the
Concord which was destined for the Ash
attic Station was directed 10 carry as much
Of this order as she could. end she sailed on
January &. 1898. with quantity. The renal Under
was sent by the Mohican. which sailed March
H. 1895 for Honolulu md was transferred to
the Baltimore. the lattor vessel having been or
dered to join Dewey feet Sh- sailed from
Honolulu March % 1855. and arrived al Hong
Kong April % 1885 an2 delivered her ammuni-
ton. thus filing Up all inc vessels Of the Asiatic
fleet: hut without This they we're in condition 10
go into battle.
AS soon as the Department learned that
battle had been fought steps We're taken n
make a further shpme.-, 70 the East Indies and
on May and a shii ment made by ex-
press from New-York 10 san Francisco Of 1000
5-inch cartridge cases and $500 6-pOundCr cart
ridges. these being the orly articles sent by
express. and they wero sent IA go by the
Charleston. which to sail on May 81 1898
by the City Of Pekn. to Sai on May -
The Charleston took ~ rounds OF assorted
ammunition. The City Of Pekin contained 90 Az
rounds and ~ guncotton mines and miscena-
reous supplies. The Monterey. following took
9f1 rounds The Mo'ainock. following took
1875 rounds and the collier Nero also took $3.50
rounds. These shipments wore made in antici-
patton OF possible future needs of the squadron
and, IL VIII be observed we're sent after the bat
lie Cf Manila Bay
on June 30 1898. a special fast freight train
Of fourteen cars loaded with ammunition. was
collected at Harrisburg ard started for the Mare
Island Navy Yard. This ammunition was TO
form large reserve supply for the Pacific and
Asiatic squadrons. and was Che only tranoad
OF ammunition sent West. II is 70 this train
that General WoodforS probably refers but it
will be seen that he wa mistaken in supposing
that Il reached Dewey in time for the fight OF
May !
In addition to this large supplies ~ ammuni-
ton were sent 10 Tampa and Key West. one
hundred and seven auxiliary vessels and four
teen newly commissioned regular vessels were
supplied with complete outfits Of ammunition.
ard q good reserve supply WIS maintained al
the principal naval station. that at no time
either before during the war il be said
that the Navy short Of ammunition that
n could not AZ any time have carried active
operations Respectfully.
CHARLES O'NEILI.
Chief o, Bureau ~ Ordnance.