New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-02-07
ARMY HEADSBUSY
OVER MUNITIONS
Deserve Stocks Reduced
BY Big Drafts for Bor-
der Mobilization

washington. Feb. The War De-
...4,,srt officials In the various bu-
,,gs notably in the Surgeon Generals
S. tho oFce of the Quartermaster
neral and ID the Ordnance Office. are
Gagged in preparing estimates cover
,,sar accumulation Of supplies, equip
-.,, clothing and ammunition which
rus, be acquired in haste TO furnish
:, enlarged military force. 1t Is no
,s,,et that the reserv~ stock of medi-
N ordnance ana quartermaster stores
-, bser materially reduced b. the
80 made 70 meet the demands OF
80 National Guard modified for duty
IL texas.
..,sidered is that OF obtaining sup
lies which may be used b. the Allied
,-ries in Europe and for the use OF the
inhabitants OF the countries at war
nth Germany. IL Is IN that direction
,souId war be declared, that army ON
,.rs believe the most valuable service
ssa he rendered by this government. in
.,ssd Of attempting 20 raise huge
,rmv and adequately equip It for duty
,brosd It is iD that connection that
10 War Department has sent out cir
r,lsrs 20 the manufacturers IN all sec
tons Of the country. Il is desired to
obtsin the latest prices AZ which con-
tracts might be placed.
Irtimation viii be given when the
time comes that IL is desirable for such
firms 20 contribute their share toward
the preparation against the emergency
BY confnirg prices TO what may be re-
gsrded as reasonable and just by the
Washington authorities. Unless this -
done the War Department will take ad-
vantage Of the provisions Of the ma
tional defence act OF June 3.
That statute contains a clause, Sec
ton 10. empowering the President
vhen war is imminent. TO place orders
i.- such product as may be required
Compliance with all such orders IS
made obligatory. and will take prece-
dsnce over al other orders ard con-
tracts. Refusal 70 give 10 the United
States this preference or 20 nanufact-
ure the material required cat reason
able price as determined By the Secre-
tary Of War win lead 20 the seizure OF
any plant 50 refusing and the operation
Of L under the Ordnance Department
There is in addition a penalty attach
ing 70 failure 70 comply with the War
Department orders.
L Is in this connection that General
William Croz.er, chief Of ordnance OF
the army. has compiled a complete list
Of al privately owned plants equipped
20 manufacture arms or ammunition,
together with those plants which may
b readily iran sformed into smmuni-
ION factories, where the capacity OF
re plant s sufficient 70 warrant such
proceeding This list has not been
completed. but enough work has been
accomplished that direction 20 show
that the resources Of the country In
any direction are ample for any pos
s.ble need
Dye for Uniforms Scarce
The difficulty. OF course, arises from
he delays which will inevitably ensue
IN the production Of certain classes Of
Material These are mostly Of an ord
nsrce character, but they include uni
iorms and certain articles OF ECU p
nsnt The inquiry has shown that
there is sufficient wooliens in the coun-
~ 70 provide all the uniforms which
s't likely 90 be needed, but the main
'fogbe vi probably come from dye
rg tle material so as 70 establish uni
iornIty Of color. That, however. may
BE- regarded as of no consequence in an
ensrgency