New-York tribune., 1916-07-17
Bostwick Says He Has to
Sort Out and Return
u. S. Property.
ARSENAL DAMAGE
PLACED AT $4,000
Stotesbury's Aid Declares Only
800 Rounds of Shrapnel and
Few Blanks Were Exploded.

Colonel Henry A. Bostwick, assistant
adjutant general of the National Guard
of New York, yesterday explained the
order issued by Adjutant General
Stotesbury ordering Colonel Ernest b.
Jannicky. in command of the Attn Regi-
ment now encamped at Peeksklll, back
10 the armory in Brooklyn to straighten
out the regiments accounts.
"The 47th was one Of the first regi-
ments designated for service at the
border" he said "and great deal oil
government property was issued to H.
Later il was decided that it would not
be sent to the border at the present
time. and as the nine regiments calied
for in the order have departed 1t may
not 60 at all.
"Colonel Jannicky is called back to
sort out the government property from
/ that of the state and return it 10 the
arsenal TO be forwarded to the govern
ment depot. lie will report to me as
chief property officer Of the state when
he has completed the WORK.
Arsenal Damage $4,000.
, Colonel Bostwck added that the
damage TO the arsenal from last FRI
DAYS fire would not exceed $4,000.
Lewis f. Pitcher, State Architect
made thorough inspection Of the dam
aged parts Of theobuilding yesterday
preparatory to planning the rebuilding
"The stories which appeared in the
newspapers the morning after the hre
have frightened the people living IN
the neighborhood Of the arsenal Colo
mel Bostwick said. "The announcement
that 100000 rounds Of shrapnel were
stored in the magazine made them ieei
that they had been living on top oil a
nowder mine. There were at the time
/ If fhe fire only 500 rounds OF shrapnel
| in the magazine, and 1T was noodeu %
/ eoon as the blaze was discovered:
/ There were about 800 900 rounds OF
| small arm ammunition IN the build
| inr hut not one ball cartridge eXplod-
/ cd. Perhaps fifty or seyenty-hVe
/ blanks. which had been left over rom
consignment shipped that day. ala 90
/ off
Even If the ball ammunition had
| been exploded there would nave oeen
no danger, as the bullets would not
/ have been thrown any distance IL -
| the impetus gained within the DaIte.
| of the rife that carries the lead. AS
! For tbo enormous amounts Of calcium
/ carbide said to have been in the ar
| sonai~ they amounted TO about twenty
| f0.nound cans. one Of which Is sent
ont with each carbide lamp we issue 70
/ hospitals"
Difference Over Armored Battery.
Although officers Of the lst Armored
I Motor Battery yesterday denied the re-
port that the organization would not ne
recognized by the War Department, II
/ is rule of the department, while per-
hitting the state 10 have any military
unit il NAV see ft 10 maintain, not 10
accent from the state any organization
which does not already exist IN the reg
| ular army. While Writicism may arise
| that the Federal government IS over
/ looking an opportunity IN not accepting
! an orpauization Of this kind. II has
| been pointed out that the battery was
orranized al a time when armored mo-
tor cars. now 10 a great extent dis
carded. were playing a large part IN
| the field operations Of the European
war. They are so heavy that they can
/ be used with success only on well kept
military roads, and would be OF little
value in an expedition into Mexico.
Adiutant General Stotesbury spent
Yesterday at Beekman inspecting the
camp. Major Allan Reagan and Colonel
Henry S. Sternborger will probably
start to join General ORyan at the
border early this week.
General Wood yesterday ordered his
horses and those of his staff TO be
shipped by boat from Governors Island
to the Plattsburg camp, where he VIII
20 this week. II was rumored that the
general would inspect several nearby
forts before starting for the camp.