Fulton County tribune. (Wauseon, Ohio) 1883-1925, 1918-04-12

February 5, when the British ship
Tuscania was torpedoed and sunk.
The bodies Of IA soldiers, en- route to
France, have been found and So others
were still missing on March Is.
To secure an adequate number Of
competent officers to lead the new
armies various plans were devised.
Two classes at West Point were grad
uated in advance of the usual gradu-
ating dates and special examinations
were held in various parts Of the coun-
try for appointments from civil life.
Three series of officers training camps
have been held. OF 63,203 candidates
In the first two series of camps 44,578
qualified and were awarded commits
slons. In the third series of camps,
opened January 8, 1918. about $4,000
candidates, consisting largely of en-
listed men. have been in attendance.
Corps Of Engineers.
At the beginning Of the war the en-
gineer troops consisted of three regi-
ments OF pioneer engineers, with
trains, one mounted company, one en-
gineer detachment at West Point. The
aggregate strength was approximate
ly Abs officers and enlisted men. At
present the aggregate authorized
strength Is over 100000, with an act
ual strength of approximately 10000.
OF the special engineer units re-
cruited for service on railways and in
the maintenance Of lines Of communi-
cation, many are already in France
and others are awaiting recruitment
to full strength in order to be ready
for overseas service. The first en-
gineer troops, HOO strong, to be sent
abroad, arrived in France about three
months after wal was declared. Since
that time the number has been greatly
augmented. These troops have been
constantly engaged in general en-
cheering work, including the con-
struction Of railways, docks, wharves,
environments, and hospitals for the use
of the American expeditionary forces.
They have, in some instances, in the
performance of their duties, engaged
In active combat with the enemy.
ordnance department.
Since the outbreak of war the
commissioned personnel of the ord
nance department has expanded from
90 officers, operating with yearly ap-
preparations Of about $4,000 900 and
with manufacture largely confined to
government arsenals, to 5000 officers
IN this country and abroad, tr~ansacting
an unprecedented war program for the
supply Of ordnance, the total direct
appropriations and contract authorize
tons for one year having been $4,-
756,5O3,1S5.
While building the foundation for
greater production, the ordnance de-
partment has provided 100000 rifles
has brought the rate Of rife production
up to 5000 per week, sufficient to
equip three army divisions; secured
deliveries on more than 1900 ma
chine guns; brought the rate Of pro
duction Of machine guns from 10000
to 225.000 per year increased the rate
Of production Of 3h-inch to 9-inch call.
Der guns from 1900 to $1,000 per year
and has arranged for the manufacture
Of some $4,000 motortrucks and trac'
tors for hauling heavy guns and am
munition, which are being delivered
almost as fast Is they can be shipped
One billion rounds of ammunition
has been purchased for the training
Of troops In the environments alone.
An idea Of the extent Of the ord.
nance program may be gained from
the following few items Of purchase
Twenty-three million hand grenades
725,O0O automatic pistols, 100000 re
volvers. 23,0O0,O00 p~rojectiles for ali
calibers of heavy artillery. 427,246,0OC
pounds Of explosives. 100000 machine
guns, and 2,484,0O rifles.
ouartermaster Corps.
The magnitude Of the work Of the
quartermaster corps is indicated by
the operation Of the subsistence divi
sion, which is charged with the re
sponsibility Of seeing that food sup.
plies for the army are available at al
stations from the Philippines to Lor
raine. Purchases recently made in
cluded 100000 pounds dried beans
lie, 1000, 900 cans baked beans Of tbs
1917 crop, 65,1S4.475 cans Of tomatoes
81, 1000 cans of condensed milk, anG
20.2S7.O 900 pounds Of prunes.
The establishment of the subsistence,
division centralized the purchases Oh
foodstuffs for the army, previous tt
which such products were distributed
through the depot quartermaster. Eff
fective January 1, the central contro
system has resulted In greater Ell
cheney and a big saving. In January
for instance, 100000 was saved unde
this system as compared with tn,
prices obtained by depot quartermas
ters, and in February a saving O
$39.740 was made on potatoes alone
The central control system is still be
ing perfected.
Production of 10000 new AUTOMOBILE
trucks Is in progress for the army, IL
addition to purchases Of $500 passen
ger cars, e,126 motorcycles, and 5,o4
bicycles, with appropriate repair an,
replacement equipment.
In three months the cantonment di
vision Of the quartermaster general
department built 16 cantonments, eael
one practically a small city, compris
ing about 400 separate buildings an,
providing quarters for $1,000 men.
Air Service.
The air service has been Gale
upon in the past IL months to bull
an enormous structure Of the mos