The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1911-04-09
FIELD ARTILLERY
DEMANDS HORSES
Major Workman Advocates Their
Purchase by Government for
National Guard.

Making the point that the eN-
ilpensivc equipment furnished militia
field artillery is practically worth
less. because field artillery minus
horses equals zero. Major r. NJ.
WORKMAN, commanding tho Virginia
troops of this branch of the ser
vice advocates the purchase of trained
horses for instruction purposes. He
has written communication to this
| effect TO all the Virginia representa-
| tives In Congress.
1t is Major Wortham's plan that
| Twenty-Five horses be furnished each
of the fifty-four batteries OF militia
| field artillery in the county, This num-
| her of trained animals would, in his
| opinion. If permanently stationed with
| tho battery, be enough for purposes OF
| instruction.
Calculates Cost.
Together with his argument OH the
subject Major Workman presents Il
series Of calculations as to cost. These
SHOW that the expense would not be
great in comparison with the cost of
he puts as n credit 1.-The probable value
! OF one National Guard battery and
educated personnel TO the govern
| ment." Naturally. after the original
purchase. the cost OF maintenance
would be comparatively small Putting
the price Of each horse at 5000. and
| the expense of feeding at $3.50 peI
annum, there would be an increase Of
$4,000 per battery for the first year.
The cost Of IA threc-inch ma terial bat
! 1ery's equipment is about 100000. and
inns is already furnished, being, Ma jor
workman says, now practically use
1 less.
To equip and maintain a battery Of
! artillery in the regular army Involves
an expense of s222,le4.4o, against
sll0,S0o in the National Guard. under
his plan the latter figure, including 6
PEI cent; interest on the Investment
3; Expense OF Conversion.
| III would cost the government la
says, s6,554.7l7.tO to take the iifty-
-FOUR sets of three inch field artillery
| material IN the hands OF the Nationa
Guard OF the states an. buy horses,
| feed both. and clothc the men. TO con
vert them into regular batteries the
nrst year. Afterwards. it would cost
| the horses or s5.233,9I7.60 every year.
On the other hand, at an expense of
ONLY SSlS 5000 for the first year. and
| s2i3.000 annually thereafter. the gov
| eminent would secure Gfty-four bat :
tcr1eS which would be fairly efficient
| all the time and within thirty DAYS
could be made satisfactory for active
service. The personnel would be In
Structed In the first principle Of field
artillery manocuyres and for the gov.
ernnent there would be accumulated
reserve, of field artillery horses-a
| iramc"ork to horse these batteries
: IN the event Of war Major Worthan
I iurtncr argues as follows:
THE National Guard field artillery
| scattered
| over tho Union, nrc equipped as Vol,
| know with the new three inch field
| nrtlliery material. which. when issued
| 70 nc states. was not chargca bI q
| against the appropriation due the
state from the national government,
PVT to an approximation created bv
Congress FOR this purpose. Now. field
| artillery is Il mobile arm: il has to bc
| moved over the country rapidly in or
der ia be of any use. In order 10
move this horses anu well-irained
/ horScs arc necessary, and unless field
| artillery is provided s. with Trained,
| norses in time of war. it is usclcsss
We think II is the most effective Of ali
arms, when properly horsed and when
! the personnel is well trained
Now. while this material has been
issued 10 the States gratis they have
! agreed and do provide to pay for
| skilled mechanics as carctakcrs. and
also, out OF private battery funds. PRO
vide horses in order to train personnel
this is not and ncver has been salts
iactort either to the States or 10 tho
war department. and II does seem
| mat from a standpoint OF econ omy
| alone and iii keeping with the policy
OF THIS country. which is 10 maintui II,
an efficient National Guard, that these
| horses should be provided and main
tanned at tho cost of the national gov
eminent