The Oskaloosa herald., 1914-01-22
CHIEF OF STAFF TELLS CON.
eREssMEN ABOUT SHORTAGE
OF AMMUNITION.
ENOUGH FOR BUT ONE BATTLE
Supply for Field Artillery Especially
is Short-Lawnakers Spend Money
for Guns but Not for Powder
and Bullets.
Nv GEORGE CLINTON.


army. The other day the general in
what may be called perhaps a fare
well message of warning told the
house committee on military affairs
that It ought to appropriate S3.OOo,Ooo
for field guns and ammunition for the
regular army Here In brief Is the
tenor of General Woods warning note:
III we sent out troops into war as
they are now, without guns or am
munition. ii would be absolute slaugh-
ter. II called into TIE field suddenly
we should have to go with a very
small allowance Of ammunition even
for the guns in the hands OF the
troops. and we should have neither
guns nor ammunition enough for our
field artillery forces"
There is something to this test
mony of General Wood to make 1t ex'
tremely interesting not only from the
military point of view. but from what
may be called legislative point OF
view. It points up. for the facts are
are the general has given them. the
popularity on occasion OF congress
sional thought and Of congressional
action. There are Of course many
men in the United States. and they
are constantly making their influence
felt who, hoping for peace between
all the nations of the world. think that
disarmament Is the way to bring about
concord among the peoples. Con
gressmen constantly get letters from
some constituents urging that no ap-
rropriations be made for the army
and navy. Unquestionablv there
would be more attention paid these
petitions If the congresses or the par
liaments or whatever the legislative
bodies are called OF other nations.
would agree to withhold warfare
money" in company with the United
States.
Guns Gut No Ammunition.
As long as congress continues to
vote money for the support OF the
army and navy 1t naturally would
seem that the money should be well
applied and well expended. Here is
where one OF the peculiarities Of con-
gressionaI thought and action shows
itself Every year the lawmakers ap-
propriate a good deal more than $780,
000,0 each for the army and the
navy.
Take the army case Of which Gen
eral Wood speaks Men here, and
they are not all military men either,
are asking what possible use 1t is for
congress TO vote large sums of money
for field guns, which the uninitiated
should know are the light artillery
pieces OF the service, and also appro
pirate money for the pay Of six regi-
mepts OF field artillery, and vet with
hold money for the purchase OF the
ammunition which would make the
batteries serviceable.
In other words. the curious thing
from legislative as well as from a
military point of view. Is why the law.
makers should ask the tax payers to
expend large sums OF money for guns
for which there Is no possible use
for it does not take a brain Of the size
of that of Daniel Webster to make
man appreciate that a gun without
powder and projectiles to FIJI it is a
pretty useless sort OF a weapon,
Enough for Only One Battle.
| II is known to be a fact, for the
records show IT, that II We were to
have a war today with any country
worthy the name of a power, our field
artillery could not engage in more
than one battle with it's present sup
ply OF powder and shot. II takes a
long while to manufacture field artil-
lery ammunition and to get it to the
front
! General Wood has said also that
there is very small allowance OF
ammunition even for the guns in the
hands OF the troop" These gurs OF
course, are the rifles Of the infantry
and the carbines of the cavalry and
also the small arms of the coast ar
tillery. for the heavy gun men must
serve on occasion as infantry men.
II Is understood that the condition so
far as our infantry forces are con-
cerned is absolutely nothing like so
bad as that with which the field arii!-
lery is confronted The fcoT soldier
with his modern Springfield proba bly,
would have cartridges enough TO give
a good account Of himself in many
a battle. but the cannoneer OF the
field forces after few rounds Wo1ld
be obliged to stand at his caissou or
at the mouth OF the piece as mark
for the enemy's rifemen without suy
chance to return shot for shot.
Congress perhaps will make up In
an appropriation bin this year for the
neglect of the last few years TO supply
the means to use the weapons which
the army has, but this sort OF hap.
heard way of appropriating, which
gives a gun and nothing to me- 1t with.
has not been confined solely in the
past to the army and nsvy II may
he that before long budget system
OF appropriations will be adopted aud
the supply bills so centralized for con
sideration. that a real system will be
evolved. An attempt Is 20 be made to
bring this condition about before con-