Bridgeton pioneer., 1913-11-20
"WAR PLANS" OF
ARMY FINISHED
Uncle Sam Ready to Equip and
Arm 500, 900 Men.
AT A MOMENTS NOTICE.
For the First Time In History Govern
ment Is Prepared For Clash With
First Class Power Plans Worked d
Out by Colonel J. 7. Thompson of
Army Ordnance Department.

First Class Power Plans Worked
Out by Colonel J. 7. Thompson of
Army Ordnance Department
The war plans" of the army ord
nance department are completed. and
for the first time in the history of the
country, it is declared, Uncle Sam is
in readiness. at a moments notice. TO
arm and equip 10000 men TO send
into the field in the event of war with
first class power. These plans have
been worked out during the past six
years through the systematic and IN
remitting labor Of Lieutenant Colonel
J. T. Thompson of the ordnance de-
partment. under the direction of Brig
adler General William Crozier, chief of
the bureau.
Colonel Thompson pointed out that
his war plan" is based upon condi-
tions as they would actually exist in
the event OF hostilities. The line of
the regular army would be increased
TO its maximum enlisted strength. as
provided for by law: the entire organ
lied militia OF the country would be
mustered into service Of the United
States at full war strength, and the
remainder by the enlistment Of volun-
teers.
Concentration Camps Provided.
The war plan" as now completed
provides that this force shall be armed
and equipped at concentration camps
before the different units are sent to
the scenes of operation.
For coordination tables and maps
have been prepared. giving for the
mobile army and the organized militia,
for each arm of the service, their pres
ent strength and the number of troops
required to bring each arm to war
strength as well as the number and
kind of volunteers 10 be raised to COM
plete half million of troops
The various increases needed in each
branch of the service are shown on a
map which is divided into FIVE ord
nance supply sections corresponding
as follows: Sections Nos. and 2. east
ern department of the army; section 8,
southern department; section f. GEN.
tral department.: section 5. western, de-
partment. The number of sets of
equipment of the different kinds re-
Quired can thus be very closely ap-
proximated The exact number Of
arms and equipment of every kind to
be held on hand at the supply arsenals
throughout the country is then deter
mined.
System of Supply Depots.
The department also has worked out
system of division field. supply
depots. Each depot has the necessary
personnel tools, ordnance stores and
supplies estimated as sufficient for
maintaining for six months complete
division of infantry or cavalry or aux
iliary army troops. These division
depots are SO arranged that several
can be readily combined into a field
army depot
The system includes kilograms. let
ters and various orders. which would
need only to be dated and signed. in
the office of the chief of ordnance in
order TO set the machinery of equip
ment in operation. The general staff
Of the army deems the new "war
plan" as applied to ordnance so valua-
BILE in the expeditions placing of prop
erly equipped troops in the field at
short notice that il has directed other
departments. such as engineers. quar-
termaster corps, medical department
and signal cOrpS fo Dranara similar
systems.