The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1915-08-01
New Munitions Industry in u. S. Would Equip
Amy AS Fast As Modified in War Emergency
American Manufacturers Supplying Europe Warning Millions Put This Nation State of
Preparedness Never before Observers on Foreign Baehes Learn
Numerous Secrets which War Department Uses to Advantage
By JOSEPH r. AMIN.


IF We had the trained men in re-
serve we could equip an army almost
as fast as we could mobilize it"
This statement represents what the
springinG-up of A war munitions in
dustry in this country has done toward
aiding the United States to prepare it
self for war. and although the state
ment by a prominent officer in the
Quartermaster Corps does not apply in
toto beyond the problems of that
corps. it does apply to large extent TO
the entire equipment of the army.
4 careful investigation by The Her
aid shows that the period of time nee
essary TO overcome our present unpre-
paredness in every department of the
military has been more than cut in
half through the increase in capacity
and output of industries making sup
plies for the European belligerents.
This is one OF the results OF the first
year of the great war il affects our
military situation with respect to the
army. The other result is that the
military experts have learned from the
war everything which the armies of
the entente allies have had TO learn
from Germany. to advances in
military equipment and methods of
warfare.
Talks with representative officers of
the three most important branches of
the military service indicate to what
extent this is true. Here is the state
raent of a high officer of the ordnance
department. a statement which in ev-
cry respect may he accepted eX
cathedra:
Need More Artillery.
The lessons of the European war with
respect TO military equipment solve one
problem for US and present another. VI e
find that We must have upward of 10 per
cent more artillery per l.nw lnfantrvmcn
and Cavalrymen. and an even greater m
crease in the rounds of ammunition For
gun. On the other hand. We find that
We can manufacture within a RENAL h2-
bly, short period OF time AS much ammI-
milton for these guns as they reasonably
might be expected to per day of aC-
ton. and that our output Of guns has
heen very materially increased. thouSn
in this respect the increase has not kept
pace with ammunition. Our potential
production Of ammunition has increased,
in the smaller sizes. tenfold. and in
sizes for field guns and howltZers, at
least half that much.
1t Is impossible 10 estimate &C
curately at this time just what is
the present capacity of the private
industries of this country. Increases
are going into effect all the time and
although the private manufacturers
are keeping the department informed
confdentially TO their output and
extensions. no compilation of info:ma-
ton has been made. or could he made
short of weeks work by corps OF
clerks and experts.
In the first eleven months OF the
Mar our exports OF cartridges. eNplo-
:Ives and firearms increased from
seven and half million dollars for
corresponding period a year ago. TO
shirty-seveu and half million dol
lars III round numbers. All of the eX
tension Of production therein repre-
sented would be available for the
,-nited States army in time of emer- |
.enCy. thereby cutting down the time
necessary to prepare equipment ire |
nendously.
OF course. theoretically. We should |
aavs all necessary equipment for A de
-ensive army slowed away before the |
menace is apparent. but With our sys-
iem Of aprropriatinG. and with the nix !
EardIv poitvI which all Congresses seem !
10 adopt. Ne have to depend in time OF
emergency uHoD a tremendous private
production Immediately ayaila BILE This |
The present war has furnished us.
One enCouracin- lesson from the war
Is seen IN the demonstration that insofar |
as our equipment goes. it is as efficient
and in MANY respects. more efficient |
than that with which III" EurOpe1l |
armies entered the Nar. This is par
tiCUIdrIv true Of our machine guns and
two field pIeCes-the Inch and the A.
inch field guns. Both Of these last
named guns will have = greater range i
and a higher angle of FIRE than any
piece of similar size abroad with the |
exception of part of the equipment of
the italian army. which adopted the
carriage we have adopted giving this
higher angle and increased range.
Our newly adopted machine gun.
the NICkerS is the equal II not the
superior Of anything IN use abroad.
6f course we have not anything like
the number of these pieces necessary
for the equipment of defensive army.
hut with 4 loosenInC-un Of the purse
strings ny Congress. We hope 10 ac-
ouIre the necessary reserve within
two wears and thai means the cut
tIue in half OF the period formerly
allowed
One Of the lessons in this respect.
however. is the necessity for an in
crease Of 100 per cent in field pieces
and field howitzers and of 20n per cent
in the number Of machine guns.
Want Mobile Guns.
81 DO n; think that the European
w7r has developed tho necessity as far
as this country is concerned for increas-
ed weight of field ordnance. Until We
have developed piece firing heavy
prolectile and at the same time having
a greater mobility than anything so far
shown abroad. there is no cr,!n- ne
,essitv for changes in The types of
field guns used. We ran duplicate any
thing USED abroad il find it wise,
bur what we want is a gun Which fires
heavy explosive a. long range and.