The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1914-01-14
GEN. WOOD SAYS Our TROOPS
LACK NEEDED GUNS
NOT PREPARED FOR WAR
Chief Of Army STAFF Says That to
Send our Men into the Field With
Their Present Equipment Would
Mean Absolute Slaughter-Asks
Congress to Buy Some More Guns.

Explaining that his judgment was
not Influenced by the Mexican situa-
tion, Maj. Gen. Wood, chief OF stat,
of the army, has advised committees
of congress that they should appro-
pirate s3,oOO,00o for field guns and
ammunition for the regular army,
and 100000 for the militia.
eff you sent our troops into war
as they are now, without guns or
ammunition, it would ba absolute
slaughter, the general told the
House military committee. 1T call
ed into the field suddenly we would
have to go with a small allowance Of
ammunition and we would havo
neither guns nor ammunition enough
for our field artillery" -
Gen. Wood in a written statement
said: eve have neither guns nor
ammunition sufficient to give any
general commanding any army In
the field any assurance Of success II
attacked by an army Of equal size.
which was supplied with its proper
quota Of field artillery.
"It IS my belief that no modern
war between first class powers will
last for one year, and unless private
manufacturers are encouraged to
manufacture. ammunition for our
guns, after war is declared they will
not be in a condition to do so until
after the war Is finished.
1.-THE war department believes az
ter extended study that, in case Of
war with first class power, an army
Of 100000 men will be needed to
give this country any chance Of sue
cess against invasion and that this
force will be needed at once. TO
make it efficient it must be given its
proper quota Of field artillery. To do
this artillery must be on hand, for
it can not be supplied after war is
started"
The general suggested that the
United States regular mobile army
should be organized into three infan-
try and two cavalry divisions with an
aggregate war strength OF about
$4,000, requiring 81 batteries or
216 guns.
With the cooperation Of State
governors, the militia, he said, now
could be organized into ~ Infantry
and five auxiliary divisions with an
aggregate war strength Of $4,000
men, needing 174 batteries, Of 6s6
guns. The aggregate Of the two
forces thus would be $4,000 men, or
approximately two field armies short
Of the force of 500,o00~men. These
two field armies will require ,S3s
guns. The United States garrisons
abroad have ss guns. Noting that
the militia has in its hands about 81
pieces, it should have, the general
added, to summarize for the regular
army and volunteers, owe would need
sos guns, for the militia 6se guns"
Gen. Wood said that the total ap-
preparations up to October last BY
the House military and appropria-
ton committees provided for only
245,090 rounds Of ammunition for
the modern field guns, all Of which
ammunition will not be manufacture
ed until June 80 next.
"Of this ammunition, he said,
"we have at present in this country
1s6,50S rounds and for the 2.s5
mountain guns 1906 rounds, or .
total of 201,614 rounds. And this
IS all we have: At Mu' IN, in nine
days. the 1904 Russian guns e1-
pended 25O,000 rounds.
"The present daily output Of the
ordnance factories, for three shifts
running night and day, is not above
1900 rounds. The war department
was obliged last year to equip part
Of the regular army with obsolete
Finch fowitzers and 5-inch siege
gun batteries mainly because Of lack
of sufficient ammunition 70 rtho
modern guns"
The war department Is trying to
accumulate 1892 field guns Of ve-
rious calibres, of which 735 yet have
to be appropriated for, and Gen.
Wood said it was not his idea that
the country constantly should be
armed to the teeth in preparation for
any war, but that it should be reason
ably prepared for war. He said he
did not care so much whether con-
gress gave the war department the
money for a reserve Of hats, clothes
and shoes, as they could be gotten at
any time.
"But." he continued, "you can not
make a large quantity Of field guns
and ammunition without taking
months or years to do It. We would
be absolutely helpless II we did not
have them. No country can go into
the field to-day without liberal sup
ply OF artillery unless 1t goes in to be
licked. And we are as liable to have
war as anybody else.
eft we are unprepared for war.
there would be more temptation for
a. country to strike and II It makes
ND its mind to do so It can strike us
at any time"
Field guns wanted for force OF
500. 900 men. the general declared,
would be used for defensive pur-
poses, as this country would not 20
abroad with an army Of that size.
On the other hand. he said It was
hardly likely any nation would send
any smaller army than 100000 or
! 100000 men across the Atlantic
ocean to this country, after dispos-
ing of this country's feet. # ever
such an event happened.