Tulsa daily world. [volume] (Tulsa, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1905-1919, 1913-02-23

thousand or combined infantry ana
cavalry.
Everything else being equal, the army
with four guns per thousand is bound
TO triumph. In England the rcgula.
tlons call for approximately SIX guns
per thousand; In Germany 400, in
France 420, and in the United States
3.1G, Not only do our regulations call
for fewer guns than any Of these other
nations. but we have actually failed to
supply our forces, now organized ac-
cording to our own regulations by 81
per cent.
The war strength Of our regular in
fantry and cavalry combined is G5,115,
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 29!, 1l5
men. Accordingly, to protect and sup
port this army with the necessary field
artillery we must supply them at the
rate of 3.1G 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
G32, or about &C 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 tirSt-class power It'll
would be absolutely necessary 10 rush
into the field large force, and at the
same time call for from 100000 to 200,-
600 volunteers, our position as regards
artillery is clearly shown. Field guns,
carriages, caissons, and limbers cannot
be thrown together over night. 1t is
estimated that the Wateryliet Arsenal
at Watcrvllet, y. Y, can turn out $50
guns in a year, running twenty-four
hours n day. 1t Is also estimated that |
the Rock Island Arsenal at Rock Isl
and, H.. can turn out carriages. cais-
sons, and limbers at The rate Of nine
teen batteries Il year, running twenty |
four hours u day. This would provide
enough carriages, &c; for seventy-siX !
guns, there being four guns TO n bat
terry. Inasmuch rs field guns are |
without running gear, am
chests, aud the various other
accessories supplied by the Rock Island |
Arsenal, we find that our total yearly
product of complete guns, carriages,
limbers, aud cassons would be seventy.
six. Outside of the arsenals there are |
two or three private manufacturers
qualified to produce gun carriages,
and limbers but it is prob
able that some months would elapse |
before they could get together the nee
essary materials with which to even
start work
In the event Of such trouble as would |
require an army of 10000. plus volun.
teers to the extent of 100000 or 100000,
the field guns needed to properly pro.
tect and support this force. with a :
small percentage in reserve, would be
/ ,292. OF this number we still have
but 632, and at the rate these can be
with our present faclll-
ties 1t will be easily seen that mum.
ber of years would be consumed to ac.
qulring a proper supply.
In compiling these data. reference to
models other than the latest approved
3.inch field gun has purposely been
omitted. Among the omitted types are
the 3.inch mountain howitzer, 3.S-inch
field howitzer, .4.1-inch field howitzer,
4.7.inch field gun, and the 6-inch field
howltzer. IL we were to attempt to
bring our artillery up to the 1,292-gun
mark. each OF these types would be In
cluded in proportion, and the rapldlty
Of manufacture would be lessened ma.
terially.