The Hawaiian gazette. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1865-1918, 1915-08-27
RODERlCK 0. MATHESON, EDITUR
Americas Mu11itionSupplv

=
ton Of afhi4 ahd munitions Of war which, since
the beginning Of the European War, has develop
ed into an industry of considerable magnitude.
From unofficial reports it is learned that the MUM
tons industry has increased four fold within the
past year. In small-armS ammunition the increase
has been from one million rounds day, this being
the amount that the government could turn out
for it's use, to FIVE millions rounds day.
But as compaucd with the amount of such ammu-.
milton that would be required should the United
States become involved in war; the augmented
production has been inhnitesimal -.-
How small is the proportionate ability of gov,
eminent operated and private munitions plants in
the United States to turn out such supplies may
be understood by the appropriate figures OF Ger
preparedness. The war department report
shows that at the outbreak of the war, the Ger
man army had hand FIVE rifles for every sol
der, regular or reservist, with two thousand
rounds Of ammunition for each rife That is to
say, the German army before a hostile shot
fired, had twenty-five million rifles and fifty bill
lions rounds of ammunition. Our government has
something more than six hundred thousand mod
ern Springfield rifles of the present army model
and in the neighborhood of three hundred and
sixty-fve thousand rifles of the Krag- Jorgenson
pattern, which is not used by the army, which
could be distributed to troops in the field in case
of emergency. Thus the reserve supply of rifles
of the United States is slightly less than mil
lion compared to the twenty-f five millions of the
German army. "
Officers of high rank in beth the Army and the
Navy greatly encouraged1p the increased abi-
ity OF the country to turn out AIMS and ammun-
tion through the extension Of Npresent private
plants and the construction of new cues. But they
admit that these additions to the producing capa-
f,r Hah i'll
in case of war The capacity of one million rounds
for the government arsenals and FIVE million
rounds for private plants is based on aNworking
schedule of twenty four hours day. This means
that If million could be placed in the field,
each man would have ammunition supply of
FIVE rifle cartridges day.
Through the official figures supplied by the de-
partment OF commerce it is learned that although
European nations have placed many orders for
small arms in the United States up to August
OF this year none had been shipped to Europe. 1t
has been learned also that the supply OF artillery
ammunition that has gone abroad has been so
small as to make no appreciable showing. There
has been marked increase in shipments of other
forms of ammunition and explosives, however.
The figures obtained by the government show
that American factories have only turned out
about one-twenty-ffth of one per cent of the total
amount OF ammunition used by the Allies since
the war began fourteen months ago, making rd-
culouS such statements as that circulated for StOd-
dard'S name for instance, that seventy-fve of the
Germans wounded on the western front owe their
sufferings to American-made ammunition. 1t is
known, however, that from now on there will be
a tremendous increase in these shipments Some
factories are now ready for the expectation of arms
and ammunition in earnest. Plants that contract
ed to build extensions in order to make the char
md ,,f1
have completed this construction and about to
start their machinery. Agents Of new ammunitions
concerns and of that have built extern
SONS engaging workmen in all parts OF the
country. Washington is by no means an industrial
city, but the government report shows that within
one week more than one thousand applications for
employment were received recently by a1represen-
tatve of newly organized concern A consider
able number of men from the naval ordnance shops
at the Washington Navy Yard applied for private
employment and accepted.
One OF the plans that will be pressed upon the
attention Of congress in connection with the effort
to provide more adequate means for national de
Tense conemplates increasing the capacity of gov
eminent plants to great degree, but with provi-
sion for producing only minimum amount in
time of peace. This plan, which has been urged
upon congress by the ordnance department OF the
Army in past years, would keep the additions to
the government arsenals in irstclass condition at
all times, so that in the event of the plant
could be started at full capacity without delay
1t is also to be urged upon congress to purchase
the entire amount of available ammunition at the
private plants, and store it for emergencies.
. 81 General Crozier the chief of ordnance will urge
that private plants including those that have
sprung up a result of the war in Europe, to re-
ceive enough government contracts to induce them
to be prepared to work at a maximum capacity in