Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1915-06-17
MUST ENLARGE ARMORY
TO PROVIDE FOR HORSES
Howitzcrs Are Otherwise Prepared to
Receive Aid OF Federal
Government.
MYERS WILL ASK AID OF CITY
Would Mean Annual Expenditure Of
$4,000 in Richmond for Mantle
nance Alone-Battcry Commended
by MajOr-Gcneral Wood.

Plans are on foot to improve the
armory facilities of the Richmond
! Howitzcrs so that the battery will he
III position to receive an allotment
| of thrty-two horses from funds APP
propriatcd at the last session of Con-
Sress to give permanent mounts to
artillery commands. There are two
requirements which must be met by
each battery to the satisfaction OF the
War Department before the horses can
be secured. as we'll as an annual allow
ance of from $4,000 to $1,000 for
forage and care of the animals to be
spent in the city.
The first is that Il battery must have
sufficient high rating for efficiency
to justify the allotment of permanent
mounts: and the second is that ample
accommodations must he provided for
the animals The Howitzers is the
only battery of field artillery in the
South which has been personally. com
plimentcd upon it's showing in maneu-
vers by General Leonard Wood COM
mander of the Department of the East
and 1t has met his efficiency test on
every occasion.
MUST ERECT ANNEX TO
PROVIDE FOR HORSES
To meet the second requirement.
Captain w. NJ. Myers. commanding the
battery, and his officers, are now plan
ming campaign to secure the neces-
sary funds with which permanent
stable quarters may be erected Details
have not yet been worked out, and
the amount OF money which will be
necessary to make the improvements
has not been estimated with sufficient
accuracy to justify tho publication of
the figures. AS soon as he is in n
position to formulate a definite plan
Captain Myers will ask for the appoint
ment Of committee from the City
70 toll ~
report on what expenditures will put
the battery In "a position to take adj
vantage of the Federal appropriation
to equip militia batteries with horses
and secure the allowance for main
tCnnnce
Captain Myers feels that the plan
is one which will commend itself to
the people of the city as n whole, and
that if the Howitzcrs are able to Sc
cure the allotment that 1t will mean
n great deal to the battery and the
military organizations OF Virginia. AT
the same time thcre will be no expense
TO the State or city in caring for
the horses, tho government providing
the funds for every detail, except the
permanent quarters.
GOVERNMENT WILL
PROVIDE FOR MAINTENANCE
In addition to the appropriation for
the purchase of horses to equip about
one-twentieth of the militia batteries
In the United States, Congress made
IN allowance of 100000 for the main
tenance of the animals during the first
year. The movement was regarded in
the nature Of an experiment, but the
War Department is confident that the
results Will be so satisfactory that
Congress Will permit an enlargement
! of the plan at it's next session.
The thirty-two horses. which the
Howitzers Will need, will cost the gov
eminent approximately $500 each,
making an original investment of more
than $4,000. The cost of forage veteri-
! nary supplies, and salaries of stable
men for this number of animals is
figured at not less than $4,000, and
may run as high as $4,000, all Of
which will be spent in the city OF
Richmond. Five men would he detailed
from the enlisted strength of each
battery TO care for the horses at sala-
res Of from $50 to $50 a month each
If necessary, these salaries may be
augmented from the battery funds.
Captain Myers Is confident of liberal
support in the campaign which the
HowitZcrs Will inaugurate TO secure
the armory facilities which will justify
the War Department in setting aside
an allowance to equip the battery
with horses and provide for their main
tenance. When the movement takes
dennlte shape and tho Federal Division
Of Militia Affairs is satisfied that ample
stable quarters will be provided as
early as possible, there Is little doubt
but that the government Will readily
do it's share, and in this instance its
share will mean an annual eXpendi-
ture in the city of not less than 10000
The Howitzers are now in excellent
shape and interest In the battery is
being kept up TO "A high degree. At
| drill Tuesday night the full enlist ed
strength was present, and Captain
Myers accented several recruits