Vilas County news. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1896-1927, 1914-01-28
CHIEF OF STAFF TELLS CON-
GRESSMEN ABOUT SHORTAGE
OF AMMUNITION.
ENOUGH FOR BUT ONE BATTLE
Supply for Field Artillery Especially
Is Short-Lawmaker Spend Money
for Guns but Not for Powder
and Bullets.
BY GEORGE CLINTON.

army. The other day the general IN
what may be called perhaps fare
well message of warning told the
house committee on military affairs
that it ought to appropriate $3,000,000
for field guns and ammunition for the
regular army Here in brief is the
tenor of General Woods warning note:
IF we sent out troops into war as
they are now, without guns or am
munition, it would be absolute slaugh-
ter. If called into the field suddenly
we should have to so with 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 testi-
mony of General Wood to make it ex-
tremely interesting not only from the
military point of view, but from what
may be called a legislative point of
view 1t 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
Guns But No Ammunition.
To
vote money for the support of the
army and navy it naturally would
seem that the money should be well
applied and well expended. Here is
where one of the peculiarities OF con
gressional thought and action shows
itself. Every year the lawmakers ap-
propriate good deal more than $780,
100000 each for the ARM and the
navy
Take the army case of which Cen
ekal Wood speaks. Men herey and
they are not all military men either,
are asking what possible use it 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-
ments of field artillery and yet with
hold money for the purchase of the
ammunition which would make the
batteries serviceable.
In other words, the curious thing,
from a 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 brain of the size
of that of Daniel Webster to make
man appreciate that gun without
powder and projectiles to fill it is a
pretty useless sort of weapon
Enough for Only One Battle.
1t is known to be fact, for the
records show it, that if we were to
have war today with any country
worthy the name of a power, our field
artillery could not engage in more
than one battle with its present sup
ply OF powder and shot. 1t takes
long while to manufacture field artil-
lery ammunition and to get it to the
front
General Wood has said also that
there is a very small allowance OF
ammunition even for the guns in the
hands OF the troop" These guns, 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 infantrymen.
1t IS understood that the condition so
far as our infantry forces are con-
ceTned, is absolutely nothing like so
bal as that with which the field artil-
lery is confronted. The foot soldier
with his modern Springfield probably
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 would
be Obliged to stand at his caisson or
at the mouth of the piece as a mark
for the enemy's rifiemen without any
chance to return shot for shot.
About Canal Zone Rule.
It is believed that President VIII
his views as to the best means to
govern the Panama canal zone after
the isthmian canal commission passes
out of existence. Secretary OF War
Garrison already has communicated
to the president his ideas as to what
ought to constitute a proper system
Of government for the canal strip 1t
may or may not be that the president
will agree with him.
Sometime ago Isthmian Canal Com
missioner Richard l.. Metcalf suggest
ed change in the law which provides
for the zone government after the
commission is abolished. II Mr. Met
calf's ideas shall prevail part of the
law as 1T stands must be repealed
There are men in congress of all par
ties who think that the Metcalf plan
is the only one strong enough to serve
| she country's interests at Panama in
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