The Pensacola journal., 1913-04-03

cavalry.
Everything else being equal, the army
with four guns per thousand is bound
TO triumph. In England the regula-
tons call for approximately six guns
per thousand; in Germany 4.e0. I'm
France 4.20, and in the United States
BIC. Not only do our regulations call
for fewer guns than any of these other
nations, but we have actually failed to
supply our forces, Eow organized &C
cording to our own regulations, by "a
per cent.
The war strength of our regular In
fantry and cavalry combined is 65, ,115,
and that of our organized militia for
the same branches 227 900. Total war
strength Of Infantry and cavalry of
both regular army and militia is 2g2. 116
men. Accordingly. to protect and sup
port this army with the necessary field
artillery we must supply them at the
rate Of 3.16 guns per thousand men, and
we must also provide extra guns to the
number of 81 to be included in the field
ammunition trains. These extra guns
are to be used In replacing those put
out Of action We need 900 guns for the
existing regular and militia mobile
army at war strength. The number Of
guns Of approved types now on hand is
632, or about 66 per cent. Of the guam
tity actually needed at once.
The above figures are startling
enough, but when we take into consid-
Grafton that In the event OF actual
hostilities with a f1rst-class power It
would be absolutely necessary to rush
into the field a large force, and at the
same time call for from 100000 to 20O,-
600 volunteers, our position as regards
artillery Is clearly shown. Field guns,
carriages. caissons, and limbers cannot
be thrown together over night. It is
that the Watervliet Arsenal
at Watervliet, N. Y, can turn out $50 |
guns In year, running twenty-four |
hours a day. It is also estimated that |
the Rock Island Arsenal at Rock ISL |
and, ILL.,. can turn out carriages, cais-
sons, and limbers at the rate of nine
teen batteries a year, running twenty
four hours day. This would provide
enough carriages, &C., for seyenty-six
guns, there being four guns to a bat
.ery. Inasmuch as field guns are
worthless without running gear, am
nunition chests. and the various other
accessories supplied by the Rock Island
Arsenal, we find that our total yearly
product of complete guns, carriages,
imbers, and caissons would be seventy
six. Outside of the arsenals there are
TWO or three private manufacturers
qualified to produce gun carriages,
and limbers; but 1t is prob
lble that some months would elapse
before they could get together the nee
start work.
In the event of such trouble as would
require an army of 47o.00O, plus volun-
.eers to the extent of 100000 or 20O, 600,
he field guns needed to properly pro-
:ect and support this force, with a !,
'mall percentage in reserve. would be
1892. OF this number we still have
,ut $50. and at the rate these can be
with our present facili-
les it will be easily seen that a num-
Der of years would be consumed to ac-
Iuiring proper supply.
In compiling these data, reference to
models other than the latest approved
,-inch field gun has purposely been
united. Among the omitted types are
he 3-inch mountain howitzer. 3.S-inch
ield howitzer, .4.7-inch field howitzer,
L.7-inch field gun, and the 6-inch field
lowitzer If we were to attempt to
,ring our artillery up to the ], 1,292-gun
mark, each of these types would be in
.luded in proportion. and the rapidity
# manufacture would be lessened ma
erialiy. /.