The Washington times., 1902-08-03
Ammunition Needed to
Teach Men Behind the
Guns to Shoot.
APPROPRIATIONS INADEQUATE
Corps Unable TO Secure Necessary Prac-
tice in the Use of Heavy Guns-War
Department to Put Responsibility
Upon Congress.

coast Notifications. Some officers do not
hesitate to say that they propose put
ting the matter in such shape that the
entire responsibility of this condition
will rest upon Congress unless proper
provision is made for the firing of the
big defense guns.
1t is admitted that owing to the lack
of training the artillery knows practi-
cally nothing about the operation of the
guns under service conditions. Artil
lery officers say that it is no fault of
the artillery corps that the men lack
this training. and that it is not purposed
that they shall take the blame for the
situation when it is entirely due to the
failure of Congress to appropriate money
for the firing of the guns.
The men have been drilled at the guns
by the different officers in command Of
the artillery posts. but this does not
give the necessary training in the firing
of the guns, which can be obtained only
by firing with full service charges.
The Situation in Brief.
How can anything be expected from
the artillery when Congress provided
for only ten rounds of firing from each
caliber at each fort. This is the annual
allowance, and at place like Fort
Wright it means that in one year only
five rounds can be fired from each of
the big twelve-inch guns, and as there
IS but one ten-inch gun only ten shots
can be fred in the same period.
How much can a man learn by firing
five shots from a gun in one years time?
OF course extra provision has been made
for sub-caliber practice, but that does
not simulate war, nor does it give the
gun itself the movement that 1t would
have with full service charge"
Gen. Wallace Randolph has been
fully cognizant OF the condition of the
fortifcatfons. and has used every effort
to bring the artillery up TO the highest
standard of efficiency, but, owing to the
action of Congress. ne has been unable
to carry out all his Recommendations
A little over a year ago there was
practically nothing - the artillery of
The army. The ordnance and engineer
corps had constructed more defense
works and built and Installed more
guns than there were men to care for
them. The artillery had no recognized
head, and the guns themselves, accord
ing to an inspection report by General
Crozier were being ruined from lack of
care.
It las been just year since Congress
rcorganized the artillery, doubled 1t in
size, and provided for a corps organiza-
ton, General Randolph being placed at
its herd This done, Congress failed to
take into account that the large in
crease in the number Of men in the ar
tillery would necessitate an increase IN
ths allowance for ammunition, and that
several thousand green men would need
to know how a gun was fired.
General Randolph's Report.
General Randolph perfected the corps
O: ganization and in a report to LieuIen-
ant General Miles declared:
"Tbe large increase in the conmis-
stoned and enlisted strength of the ar
tillery corps transforms each post into
q center of instruction. and, in order
that the officers and enlisted men may
become thoroughly acquainted with
their new duties, II is essential that
they should have the proper equipment
TO work with"
He recommended that the target
practice, instead of being annual, be
quarterly, and called attention to the
allowance of ammunition for target
practice in the navy, which is practi-
cally double that allowed the artillery.
With the increase of the artillery
force there was a corresponding in
crease In the number OF officers. 4 re-
cent statement made at the War De-
partmenL shows that 10 first ieuten-
ants, exclusive of the % graduates from
the Military Academy, and l66 second
lieutenant. exclusive of 3S Academy
graduates, have been appointed to the
artillery during the past year without
any experience whatever.
To give these men proper training
the artillery school has been reorganiz-
ed and ut Fort Monroe a complete sys-
TEN OF fire control. embracing vertical
and horizontal range hnders, is being
installed.
The officials of the War Department
have believed for some time that the
weakness of the coast defensos lay In
the ignorance of the men with the guns.
knowledge of this character can only
be acquired by service work. and for
this reason General Randolph first
recommended artillery maneuvers. 1t
was intended to have these maneuvers
apart from the navy. but at the sug
gestion OF the Chief of Artillery the
navy was asked 10 participate.
The Corps Inefficient.
While there was strong belief on
the part of some officers that 4 thorough
inspection of the artillery post would
demonstrate the inefliciency OF the men,
It was not until the gun carriage board
visited q number OF the forts and fired
the big guns that this belief was fully
confirmed
At each place where tests were con-
Quoted, II was found that the officers
had given the men all the training pos
sible under the existing conditions. All
they needed a sufficient allowance
of ammunition 20 make the men
familiar with the guns.
The ordnance officers are gratified
with the results Of the gun tests. be-
cause they say IL shows that the ma
jorfty of the guns were in excellent
working order. or eight guns fired only
one WAS disabled by reason OF any trou-
BILE with the gun itself, and Of nine guns
fired only TWO developed trouble with
the gun carriage. II is pointed out that
these accidents all took place at Fort
Wright, a newly established post. while
at Fort Monroe and Fort Du Pont, at
Fort Wadsworth and Sandy Hook, the
guns Withstood all the strain put upon
them by continuous firing. and at Sandy
Hook all records for time firing were