The Hartford republican. (Hartford, Ky.) 18??-1926, 1916-07-07
FOR
ARMY IS READY
UNITED STATES LEARNS LESSON
FROM EUROPEAN WAR DE-
CLARE OFFICIALS.
MAY BE SHORT In HORSES
Otherwise Largest Army Ever TN
der the Flag Can BE Amply
Cared For.

Washington, July THANKS 20
the European war, the United States
is prepared today to equip and mu-
milton the largest army that has ever
marched under its flag. This was
| the statement of war department
| officials. The only adverse circum-
stance resulting from the great war
abroad, officials said is a possibility
of a horse shortage.
These facts have been learned
after two or three days and nights
of almost continuous work in the
quartermaster' department. Many
muntion plants that sprang into ex-
istence to supply the allies with ex-
plosives, cartridges, guns and all
war munitions, recently have report
ed a slackening in their exports.
This has been due to the creation
of such plants in England, Russia,
France and Japan. But for the
present Mexican situation, officials
yesterday declared, dozens of these
mushroom" plants would have clos
ed down.
Experts Reticent As to Cost.
Government experts were reticent
regarding the economic cost of cali
ing out the militia and Keeping
them in war harness for any length
of time. They merely said the av-
erage wages which militiamen give
up is about SIS a week. The salary
loss, therefore, to the militiamen
and their families, roughly estimat-
ed, they said, would amount to
about $1,5OO,000 weekly.
Greatest activity was shown in the
quartermaster's headquarters, and
in Offices of officials in charge of sup
ply munitions to the army.
Not since the days preceding the
Spanish-American war have these
departments shown greater activity.
Although administration officials in
sisted they still hope to pass the
present crisis, far greater amount
of supplies and munitions than
would be necessary merely for Dor
der patrol duty is being arranged
for.
officers said sufficient ammuni-
ton, guns, food and other munitions
will be delivered within the next
few days to supply the regular army
and militia forces for some time.
Shortage in Horses. %.
Supply experts, who have been in
touch with the market ever since
Funston and his regulars left for the
front, declare the only shortage
which will be felt will be in horses
condition which they say is a
remarkable tribute to the resources
of the United States when the
amount of war supplies which have
been shipped abroad is considered.
Even with a large supply of
horses to draw on, the problem will
be largely one of replacing animals
which are lost. Both regulars and
state troops will reach the border al
most, if not quite. fully supplied.
But once these are killed off, or
die because of campaign hardships,
the task of substituting for them
from among the hardy plains ponies
which make the best cavalry mounts,
will become increasingly difficult.
The Western plains have been
combed by European buyers for
these animals.
Rations, munitions, tents, auto
trucks, etc, can easily be had at
once in the open market, it is de-
| clared.
The American soldier will con-
tinue the best fed in the world-at a
cost of not more than thirty cents
day per man. This rock-bottom ra-
ton per day is a pound OF canned
meat or twelve ounces of bacon a
pound of hard bread, over an ounce
of coffee, sugar and salt. To this
even when campaigning, the COM
handing officer is supposed to add
whatever supplies money can buy.
A great deal of information deal
ing with supplies is suppressed Tor
military reasons"