The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1914-01-29
WARNING BY WOOD.
CHIEF OF STAFF TELLS CON-
0RESsMEN ABOUT SHORTAGE
OF AMMUNITION.
ENOUGH FOR BUT ONE BATTLE
Supply for Field Artillery Especially
10 lawmakers Spend Money
for Guns but Not for Powder
and Bullets.
BY GEORGE CLINTON.

BY GEORGE CLINTON.
Washington. --Ccn. Leonard Wood
soon will retire from his position as
chief OF staff OF the United States
army. The other day the general in
what may be called perhaps a fare
we'll message of warning told the
house committee on military affairs
that it ought to appropriate $4,000, 900
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 al
they are now, without guns or am
munition, it would be absolute slaugh
ter. IL 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 oul
field artillery forces"
There is something to this testi
mony of General Wood TO make 1t 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 the,
are constantly making their influence
felt, who. hoping for peace between
all the nations of the world, think that
disarmament is the way tn bring about
concord among the peoples.
Guns But No Ammunition.
As long as congress continues tc
vote money for the support OF the
army and navy 1t naturally would
seem that the money should be vel
applied and well expended. Here Ia
where one OF the pecnliarities Of con
gressional thought and action shows
itself Every year the lawmakers ap
propriate good deal more than 500,
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
IRE asking what possible use 1t is fol
congress to vote large sums of none,
for field guns, which the uninitiateC
should know are the light artillery
pieces Of the service. and also appro
pirate money for the pay Of six regi
ments NJ field artillery. and yet with
hold money for the purchase OF The
ammunition which would make thu
batteries serviceable.
In other words, the curious thing
from legislative as well as from {
military point Of view. is why the law
makers should ask the tax payers tt
expend large Sums Of money for gum
for which there is no possible use
,or 1t does not take brain OF the size
OF that of Daniel Webster to make q
! man appreciate that gun withou
powder and projectiles to I'LL it is {
pretty useless sort OF weapon.
Enough for Only One Battle.
1t is known to be a fact. for tn,
records show II, that il we were t.
have a war today with any countr,
worthy the name OF power, our fielt
artillery could not engage in NOR,
than one battle with its present sup
ply OF powder and shot. II takes {
long while to manufacture field artil
lery ammunition and to get It to the
| front
General Wood has said also tina
there IL very small allowance o.
ammunition even for the guns In thu
hands OF the troop" These guns, o.
| course. are the rifles OF the infantry
and the carbines OF the cavalry, ant
also the small arms OF the coast ar
tillery, for the heavy gun men mus
serve OH occasion as infantrymen
II is understood that the condition sc
far as our infantry forces are con
cerned. is absolutely nothing like sc
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
good account OF himself in many
battle, but the cannoneer of thu
field forces after a few rounds woult
be obliged to stand at his caisson OF
at the mouth OF the piece as q mari
for the enemy's rifemen without any
chance to return shot for shot.
About Canal Zone Rule.
IT is believed that President VII
ron is about to give expression Il
his views as 10 the best means Il
govern the Panama canal zone after
the isthmian canal commission passel
out of existence. Secretary OF Wal
Garrison already has communicates
to the president his ideas as to wha'
ought 10 constitute a proper systerr
| Of government for the canal strip. |,
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