Honolulu star-bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1912-2010, 1914-07-03
nation SHORT j
ON ARTILLERY
FOR LONG WAR
For Conflict Against Small
Power This Country
Is Prepared
ARMY WELL EQUIPPED II
WITH SMALL ARMS
Oahu Has On sixth of Armys
Field ArtiIIery-LocaI
Supplies Adequate
Especial Star Bulle,,n Correspondencel

Especial Star Bulletin Correspondencel
Is the nation prepared for war?
That is a question frequently asked
in and out of the army. Stress has
been laid on the alarming shortage Of
big gun ammunition and of field artil-
lery equipment. Such shortages do
exist. Oahu, however, is well sup
piled with ammunition for its mobile
artillery. For great, prolonged war
with a first-class power it would be
a fatal shortage. -.
But for war with a small power,
and fer a war where artillery work
would be reduced to minimum, The
country is in general wonderfully we'll
prepared. The army. never was in
better shape than now. Between to.
day and the days preceding the Span
ish-American war there can be no
comparison.
Big Supply Of Arms.
1t is fact mol generally known that
the nation possesses small arms, mod.
ern, high-powered, better far than the
arms of some European powers, suf-
ficient to equip a million infantrymen
and cavalrymen. And it has supply
of ammunition for these arms suffi-
cieR for three months battling, I'M
der ordinary conditions.
When the Krag-Jorgenson rifle was
discarded as the service arm of the
United States army, 100000 of these
rifles were deposited in depots. Uncle
Sam still has them. They are fine,
effective weapons. ..
The new Springfield, the present
service arm, is better. Uncle Sam has
made all these himself. They are all
Of the same model Enough of them
have been made TO leave 100000 today
in reserve, after arming the army,
the navy, the marine corps and the
national guard-120,000 of the latter
With Springfields. .>--.s-
Different Arms Used. ..-.: =.
In the country wars the different
gone into battle with different rifles
The regular army man had one kind.
the navy and marine corps another
kind, the national guard, or volun
teers, still another kind. Today al
ire standardized All these rifles Ere
he same ammunition-a nickle- jacket
I'd projectile, propelled out of ha--
eel 30.10Cths of A. inch in diameter a.
I velocity of 81 10 feet second. This
,rojectile travels al effective distance
If 1850 yards. Point the barrel up
ward at an angle of As degrees and
he bullet will travel two and three
'ourths miles before it comes to
earth ..- ... '...".
Consider. that every man in the
irmy. navy, marine corps and 100 ene
aational guard Is armed with this
life and that there is plenty of ammu
Iition behind them, made both in gov
,rnment and private factories; then
consider that 100000 more of thess
rms are held in reserve. ready for In.
tant issue; and consider further that
$4,000 elective hrags also are laid
eway ready for service, and you will
have some idea of the resources ri
Uncle Sam in what are technically
ynown rs shoulder arms. ...
'hortase Of Artillery. r..
But wa artillery II is aother story.
There is woeful shortage Of field
guns and of all big gun ammunition,
though the supply, for all that, Is pro-
oortionately better than ever. 49,
Setting aside from consideration
he coast artillery-for that is in place
and cannot be moved--the artillery OF
The army consists of six field regi.
nents Of regulars, six batteries to the
regiment and four guns to battery,
md sixty-N-ee n2Sional guard batter.
les scattered all over the country. One.
sixth OF the country's total field artil.
cry Is stationed on Oahu. Two Of
The regular regiments are organized y
mountain, or mule batteries. and the
remainder for the most part are ordin
lry field artillery, armed with three.
nch gNs. though a few batteries have
runs Of Al inches caliber This is all
our regular army mobile artillery
equipment. a total Of IA guns, and II
las not all the ammunition or reserve
guns behind it that Il needs by any
manner OF means. ~
But for the main fighting force 81
my war, the infantry and cavalry, the
nations armament IS excellent