The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1915-04-25
MERICA had lost Narraganset

MERlCA mad lost Ndrragansett
~ Bay, with all its defences.
n great guns and Government
stations. in less than two
weeks after the declaration of war.
The generation that faced this dis
aster had faced many catastrophes
which had seemed great disasters. II
had seen States RACED by cyclones.
1t had seen giant floods. 1t had seen
magnificent cities thrown down by a
shaking earth. Cnterrified. it had
flung money and men to the stricken
places to make them whole. Destroyed
cities rose in beauty almost before the
dust OF their fall had ceased to veil
the sun.
Money. money. money Men. men,
men. It seemed that no disaster
could be so colossal that the wonder
full resources and efficiency of the
United States could not mock al it.
Before the news Of Nara gansett's
fall was an hour old the cities of the
United States, including many towns
SO obscure that few Americans ever
had heard their names. had sub
scribed enough money to raise and
equip an army twice over and keep
it in the field for months. But the
country that was so efficient so in
trepid, so resourceful, was facing
disaster now that IL could not con-
lure away with all the money and
men that ever We're.
Money. the ma gician, was futile now.
1t could not stamp its golden foot
and make gun factories and ammu-
milton works spring from the empty
ground. 1t could not send to the army
in Connecticut cannon that did not
exist or cartridges that had not been
made.l
An order had gone out from the
American headquarters that morning
an ominous warning that, given in
battle. would have indicated surely
the beginning of the end. 1t was:
ut is of the utmost importance that
no ammunition be expended without
urgent need. Company commanders
will enforce this order Vigorously"
While the futile dollars were being
flung TO the Government for new ar
mics the army that was already in
the field was counting its small arms
ard artillery ammunition, knowing
that it did not possess enough for two
days battle.2
From ocean TO ocean men with
naked hands were crowding to enlist,
The generous nation that never yet
had denied a need when the need was
made apparent was as generous with
its lives as with It's dollars. For two
and three blocks around the recruit
ing stations of regular army and mill
tia the streets We're packed with men.
They had come from work and pleas
ure. They had come home from far
places. They had dropped shovels
and tennis rackets. pens and picks.
They stood shoulder to shoulder, In
fine stuffs and in rags, made equal
by one loyal purpose. And they were
as futile as the dollars.
One million men, it was computed
/. We hare less than one-qudrtcr OF
the ammunition considered necessary as
an adequate suppIy ana rcscrre for orr
flH numLcr OF small drmS.--i uthOI's
note. We are less ddeqUdtcly sWpplied
uith dcM artillery material than with
any other form Of dDhtnD equipment
Henry l.. StimSOH. secretary Of War
1911. 4 fW supply Of this type OF
material must be stored and ready 10,
use before lcdr Is automatically. W
WOtherSpoon. Muior-G cnerdl, Chicf OF
STAFF, l.. =. A., NOrcmber Is, 1914 an.
nudl report.
2. II has been said auth oritdtrcIy that
" all the guns OF the army should hdr,
to 30 into action at am one time there
Is not enough ammunition for a singl,
days engagement, ercn at a conserrd
tire estimate OF the amount OF sheli'
expended by each gun. IN some Of tn
European battles more guns than on
Whoic supply wcre engaged on each side