New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-02-06
General Crozier Will Get
Ready to Supply Army
of 100000
ARSENALS EQUIPPED
FOR PRESENT NEEDS
S1l, 100000 in Coast De
fence Material May 10
to Private Plants

Washington. Feb. 5.-Plans for the
immediate creation Of reserve OF am
munition for an army Of 100000 men
are under way at the War Department,
and extensive surveys are being MADE
of the facilities in this country Tor
manufacturing artillery material. briga-
der General William Crozier, chief OF
ordnance, has compiled figures to show
that the government arsensls are
equipped, with little aid from private
firms, to handle all the contracts for
guns that would be needed for any army
that could be raised Immediately.
II the creation Of really adequate
army is authorized by Congress, ord
nance experts believe the material prob
lem can be solved without interfering
appreciably with the shipments now
going forward for the Allies. They con-
slider it Of the greatest Importance that
this country. if it joins the Allies, shall
not in its own preparations hamped the
campaigns Of the Entente powers.
Estimates made by General Crozier
as TO the capacity OF srsenals on a two
shift basis for field artillery contracts
follows: Rock Island Arsenal. 1920
900; frankfort Arsenal, s375000;
Watervliet Arsenl. S765,000; total, S.
100000. II the pending estimates for
field artillery are authorized all o. the
- - IL,
appropriations can be manufactured
at the Watervliet y. " Arsenal. the
forgings necessarily TO be procured by
purchase; but no work can be done at
Frankford or Rock Island. as the orders
which those places now have and which
will be given them from the appropra-
tons made at the last session of Con-
gress will occupy their total capacity
Tor more than two years.
sll,00O.OO0 for Private Plants
The annual capacity of arsenals for
the manufacture of sea coast material
on a two-shift basis is about $4,000 900
If the pending estimates for this ma
terial are authorized, there will have to
be Sl1.000,000 worth Of work done I'M
der contract. Il has been sscertainad
that IL would be possible to take care Of
this al private plants.
Small arms ammunition has been
ordered from the following firms: ka-
thodan Bronze Works, New York City,
100000 rounds; Western Cartridge
Company, Alton, H.. j0.0O0,000. and
Winchester Repeating Arms Company.
of New Haven. 100000 rounds.
The sources of supply Of powder are
ample. the government factories being
go Z L IL.
the du Pont Powder Works is practi-
cally unlimited in what il is able 20
do at its various plants.
General Crozier has made an inter
esting estimate. which shows what II
would cost to put the government
plants in a condition 70 manufacture
all the ammunition and arms that
would be necessary for the army. The
plans of the War Department with ref
erence TO the quantities TO be accu-
mulated and the estimated cost Of the
additional plant required, exclusive Of
land, and operating on one-shift
basis, is S52,O0O,O0O.
What Plants Would Cost
The probable war needs arc not so
clearly defined, but based upon reports
received from abroad estimates have
been made Of the probable expenditures
by the United States in time Of war
with a first class power The cost Of
plants additional TO existing plants
required 70 run 100000 men through
the first year of war, equip the second
million and run them through as much
of that years war as they would get
into, and supply the necessary sea
coast materiel plants operating on a
one-shift basis is s496,000, 900.
The cost Of plants additional 20 ex-
isting plants required to run 100000
men through the first year of war;
eo1ip 5000 900 ore men and run them
through IS much Of the first year Of
war Is they could get into, and supply
the necessary sea coast material
plants operating on a one-shift basis
IL 1927. 900 900. The plants estimated
for under these two items would be
capeb!e Of fully maintaining and sup
plying during the second and any sue
ceeding year of war the forces con-
templsted.
General Crozier is planning to accu-
mulate one billion and quarter rounds
81 rife ammunition. II is desired 20
have reserve ammunition for about
! 100000 men.