The Madison journal. (Tallulah, Madison Parish, La.) 1888-current, 1914-01-31
CHIEF OF STAFF TELLS CON-
GREssMEN ABOUT SHORTAGE
OF AMMUNITION.
ENOUGH FOR BUT ONE BATTLE
Supply for Field Artillery Especially
Is Short-lawmakers Spend Money
for Guns but Not for Powder
and Bullets.
BY GEORGE CLINTON.

chief of staff of the United States
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 $3,000.0OC
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. II called into the 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 testi
tremely interesting not only from the
military point OF view, but from what
may be called a legislative point OF
view. II 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.
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 we'll
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 a good deal more than $780,
100000 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-
ments Of field artillery. and yet with
hold money for the purchase Of the
ammunition which would make the
haftarioe eorvicoahl
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 1t does not take brain of the size
of that Of Daniel Webster to make a
man appreciate that a gun without
powder and projectiles to fill It 10 a
pretty useless sort of a weapon.
Enough for Only One Battle.
1t is known to be a fact, for the
records show 1t. 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 its present sup
ply of powder and shot. 1t takes a
long while to manufacture field artil-
lery ammunition and to get 1t 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 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-
cerned, is absolutely nothing like so
bad 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
battle. but the cannoneer of the
field forces after a few rounds would
be Obliged to stand at his caisson or
at the mouth Of the piece as a mark
for the enemy's riflemen without any
chance to return shot for shot
About Canal Zone Rule.
It is believed that President VIII
son is about to give expression to
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. II
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