The Detroit times., 1910-10-28
POWDER WOULON'T
LAST THREE HOURS
FIGHTING bon" EVANS.
FIGHTING Bon" EVANS
In Magazine Article He Produces
Figures To Prove Inadequacy of
Supply in U. S

NEW YORK. oct. 21-Under the
title OF lis the United States Prepar'
ed for War; In the November Nun
sey, Rear-Admiral Evans produces an
arroy OF figures To show the made
quacy Of the powder supply in this
country.
Fighting Bob's" statements must
inevitably cause sensation in congress,
for II IL is true that a branch OF the
service costing Sl33, 900 year is
hopelessly inadequate 20 cope with =
real fighting force il is only TO be
supposed that the ma ter viii be made
a question OF congressional inquiry.
Fighting Bob says in part:
TIE people of the United States
are justly proud OF their navy, and OF
what IL has done. but II they are un-
der the impression that we have a
sufficient force 10 play peace-maker
Tor the world or TO have any weight
In such a role. without the assistance
OF some first-class naval power. they
are sadly mistaken.
No matter how many or how good
our ships may be. and no matter how
many guns OF the best quality they
may carry, our feet will be useless
for war purposes, or as peacemakers,
unless il has bountiful supply of
powder OF the most reliable kind
Have We this absolutely necessary
supply? little figuring will. | think,
surprise the average reader and give
a rude shock 10 our dream of security
The Atlantic fleet, in an engage
ment lasting one hour. and without
using any except its heaviest guns
might use 5.360.000 pounds or powder
This is the expenditure for sixteen
battle-ships only; no account Is taken
of the other battleships that would
be in commission in time OF threat
ened trouble. or OF the many cruisers
and torpedo-boats. II 10 this amount
We add the powder that will be burn
ed by the six-inch. five-inch. and three
inch guns. We flnd that the fleet as al
present constitute. would -HFe ~ one
hour 6.243 600 pounds OF powder
We must certainly have enough
powder on hand TO allow the fleet TO
fight for three hours. and this would
amount 10 lS.72900 pounds II We
allow an equal amount for the feet in
reserve. and for all other purposes,
we find that We should require for
use in a sudden emergency 37,45S,O00
pounds of smokeless powder.
To further Illustrate this import
ant subject, let us assume that the
active feet will be composed OF six
teen battleships-one division OF fou
each carrying twelve
twelve-inch guns. one division OF four
such ships. carrying ten twelve-inch
guns: and two divisions OF four ships
each OF the present Atlantic fleet. Tho
feet thus constituted would fire I'm one
hour 7.03S, 500 pounds OF powder, and
ID three hours, 21.115,s00 pounds. II
We allow the same amount OF powder
for the reserve feet, and for all other
We fnd that the govern
ment should have ready for use In
sudden emergency A2,23l.6OO pounds
OF the best grade OF smokeness pow
der.
How long would II take all the
powder factories in the country 10
supply this demand, even If they
worked day and night?
How much we actually have on
hand. and how long IL would take To
secure the amount necessary TO make
up the deficiency. II there is one, are
questions which for obvious reasons
cannot answer. II is safe, however.
to say that the answer would starue
the people OF the United States.