The Washington herald., 1915-09-26

There is very little prospect of any
legislation for a government armor
plant at the next session of Congress
The drift of sentiment of the country
is in an entirely different direction.
The European war demonstrates
clearly the vital importance of en-
couraging private concerns in the
manufacture of munitions of war. II
is this policy that has put Germany
in an independent position, despite the
fact that she is virtually cut off from
all other countries that produce muni-
-tions If Germany had not practically
subsidized such concerns as Krupps
and given her attention to the scien-
tiic development of her munitiop
manufactures she would doubtless
have been crushed by the allies before
this
Instead of discouraging private con-
Germs in the manufacture of munitions,
it is now being urged that something
should be done at the close of the Eu-
ropean war to keep the concerns that
dIc III thc
permanently employed in producing
war material Just how this can be
done it is difficult to see. unless this
government let's contracts for large
supplies of reserve material
There is no doubt there is a short
age of artillery ammunition. The
board of review, after considering all
the reports on the subject. has re-
Gently decided that the supply of ar
tillery ammunition should be equaI
when a gun is built the government
should provide it with enough ammu-
milton to wear it out.
Conservative estimates places the
life of 3-inch field gun at 1000
rounds, although this caliber gun has
been known to fire 1000 and 5000
rounds. On this same basis 6-inch
guns should fire 500 rounds. s-inch
guns 400 rounds, 10-inch guns $50
rounds. 12-inch guns 300 rounds, and
has been made on 16-inch guns. but
following the same method of esti-
mating a 16-inch gun would be shorter
lived
According to the report of the board
of review which will be submitted to
Congress there will not only be a great
shortage in ammunition for both coast
and field artillery, but there is a short
age in field artillery guns. if this
country is to be prepared for war
with any frst-class power. The coun-
try should. it is insisted. have field
artillery for at least an army of
1000. 900 men.
Need More Field Guns.
The European war has fully demon
strated that there should be at least
four field guns for every 1000 rifles.
The last report gives 613 pieces. which
includes the guns of the army. the
militia and in reserve. This is almost
200 short of the required mum Der; of
all calibers of field guns this country
should have at least 500. which is the
amount for an army of 100000 men.
field guns, field artillery ammunition
and coast artillery ammunition which
the country should have If it is to arm
itself on plans drawn up by the board
Of review is about s426.oo0,o0o. This
is a project which would keep the mu-
milton manufacturers that are now
turning out material for the European
armies busy for number of years and
would establish the business on a basis
which would put the American con-
10 monopolize the South American mar
ket.
OF course. Congress could not be ex-
pected to appropriate for this entire
project at one session, but il it should
adopt a policy like that of Germany.
France and Austria. of appropriating
so much annually. it would not only
give the nation an adequate supply of
reserve artillery and artillery ammu
milton, but would build up the munition
factories so that in the event of war
the country would be in a position to
supply itself with artillery material.
II would not then be like the allies, de-
pending on other nations for NUM-
tions, and paying exorbitant prices for
material os a doubtful character.
On the conservative basis fixed by
the board of review. by which the gov
ernment should keep on hand a suf-
fcient supply of ammunition for the
life of each gun. there is a dangerous
shortage in both coast artillery and
field artillery ammunition for the guns
that have already been built On an
average basis Of 1000 rounds per gun.
with the 613 guns now available there
should be 1.226.00o rounds of ammuni-
ton.
The latest reports are to the effect
that there is now on hand only 10000
rounds of all kinds OF field artillery
ammunition. which is $4,000 rounds
short of what the most conservative
estimates fixes as our necessary sup
ply. Seven hundred thousand rounds
of ammunition would not be suf-
ficient supply for the army and Ma
tional Guard.
| Arnv and Naw Notes.