Evening star., 1915-12-27
.FAVORS EXTRACTING
N|TROGENFRO AIR
Gen. Crozier Suggests the De-
veIopment of Electrical
Processes Therefor.
NEED OF THE INGREDIENT
FOR EXPLOSIVES is CITED
Chief of Ordnance. in Annual Re-
port, Discusses Various Phases of
Army Equipment.

| 10 1ree the United States Army from
its dependence for nitrates for the
manufacture of explosives. Brig. Gen
CroSier. chief of ordnance. in his an
nual report today. says the govern
| ment, il necessary. should develop the
electrical processes of taking nitrogen
from the air. If means can be found tc
promote that work through private en-
| terprise, the report contends, that
would be the soundest economic pol
icy, but the need is SO urgent it is
] asserted. that the government should
| itself undertake the work if other
means fail.
| The country is now dependent upon
| nitrates from the Chilean fields, it is
stated. which might be cut off in time
OF war. "A store of sodium nitrate has
been piled up against a sudden emer-
| gency. but would not last any consid-
cradle time.
Suggests Liberal Policy.
The report disapproves of the limita-
tion placed by Congress on many re-
cent appropriations for ordnance sup
plies. requiring that the government
itself manufacture the articles unless
private bids are below the cost of
manufacture in arsenais. Greater lib
erality toward private munition plants
is urged to insure an adequate source
Of supply lin time OF need. The "acci-
dent of circumstances" the report
says. has. greatly increased American
munition plants since the outbreak of
the European war, and the bureaus
inquiries as to the present capacity Of
such plants and the willingness of the
manufacturers to cooperate in safe
guarding the nations war resources
have brought satisfactory results. but
further steps are necessary.
There has been no increase, except in
field artillery. during the year in re-
serve equipment for the mobile army
of $4,000 men estimated as Immediate
ly necessary in case of war. the report
says, for lack of funds. OF the 323 bat
teries of field guns needed for such a
force, it adds. 22s are now in service,
in reserve, under construction or au-
thorized. 5t
For the coast artillery five additional
forty -caliher guns We're
built during the year. They were de-
signed to hurL 1sea-pound projeetiles
range Of 1890 yards. At that range.
more than ten miles, they will pierce
ten inches of armor. BY reducing the
weight OF the projectile to 1900 pounds
70 maximum range Of more than twelve
miles can be obtained. -
Lesson Taught by War in Europe.
A study of events of the European
war has shown both the necessity Of
increasing the range of heavy and
light guns and of providing for a
greater supply of machine guns. the
report states. Firing at ranges hereto
fore believed to be impractical is an
everyday occurrence abroad, it SAYS.
and the results obtained appear to
justify the expenditure of ammunition
steps are being taken to increase the
range of all United States artillery.
The allowance Of ammunition pos
sible to provide with the appropriations
made in the past years for field artil-
lery target practice has been found to
be far from adequate for the proper
instruction Of the personnel Of the
student officers at the School of Fire.
says the report. "a number of field
artillery batteries are supplied with
the heavy field material, and these bat
teries REQUIRE a greatly increased al
lowance for the work of developing
the best method of handling this ma
teriel. as well as for the instruction of
the personnel in accordance with such
method Special effort will be made to
obtain the increased appropriation con-
sidered essential.
Equipment Of Rife Clubs.
The report further sets forth: Since
the provisions Of the act Of Congress ap-
proved April %. 1914, have been put into
effect 1880 rifles and 1,446,o60 rounds of
ammunition have been issued to 261 rife
clubs. Of which 1875 drew both rifles and
ammunition. IS ammunition only and
rifles only. Twenty schools have taken
advantage Of this act and have drawn
LOIS rifles. S22 carbines and 118,480
rounds of ammunition therefor The rifles
are of the model Of 1893. the carbines of
the model Of 1899 (both Krag-Jorgen-
sens). The additional work entailed by
the issue OF rifles and ammunition to rifle
clubs and schools has occupied practically
the entire time Of one clerk, many in
quiries being received In regard to these
issues which do not result in an issue
being made. The department has en-
deavored to make 1t as easy as possible
for the clubs and schools to obtain arms
and ammunition under the provisions of
this act without deviating from the con-
ditions laid down by Congress"