The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1918-04-11

France. have been found and IS other
were sill missing on March 16.
To secure an adequate number o
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 camp:
have been held OF SO, POS candidates
In the first two series of camps 44,57S
qualified and were awarded commits
sionS. In the third series OF camps
opened January 5, 1913, 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
Nv 4.125 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
4ro
TO full strength In order to be ready
for overseas service. The first en-
gineer troops, loo strong, 10 be sent
abroad, arrived in France about three
that time the number has been greatly
These troops have been
constantly engaged In general en-
gineering work, including the con
structlon Of railways. docks, wharves
environments, and hospitals for the use
Of the American expedltionary 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
81 officers, operating with yearly APP
OF about S14,000,000 and
with manufacture largely confined to
government arSenals. 70 5000 officers
in this country and abroad, transacting
an unprecedented war program for the
supply OF ordnance. the total direct
and contract authorize
tons for one year having been ST.
756, 500, 1876.
While building the foundation for
greater production the ordnance de
Dartment has provided 100000 rifles
has brought the rate Of rife production
up 10 5000 per week, sufficient 10
Equip three array divisions; secured
deliveries on more than 1900 ma
chine guns brought the rate OF pro
1uctlon OF machine guns from 10000
10 225,OO0 per year; increased the rate
Df production OF 3ia-nch TO 9.inch cali
Der guns from 500 to $4,000 per year;
and has arranged for the manufacture
Of some $4,000 motortrucks and trac-
tors for hauling heavy guns and am
which are being delivered
almost MS fast as they can be shipped
One billion rounds Of ammunition
has been purchased for the training
Of troops in the cantonments alone
An idea Of the extent Of the ord
nance program may be gained from
the following few Items OF purchase
million hand grenades.
725,0O0 automatic pistols. 100000 re-
yolvers. 23,000000 proJectiles for all
ralibers Of heavy artillery, 427 246. 600
Of explosives. 100000 machine
guns, and 24S4O00 rifles
ouartermsster Corps.
The magnitude OF the work OF the
corps IS indicated by
he operation OF the subsistence dlvi
sion. which is charged with the re-
OF seeing that food sup
plies for the army are available at all
stations from the Philippines to Lor
-anp Purchases recently made in
'luded 100000 pounds dried beans,
10000 900 cans baked beans OF the
1917 crop, 651S4.475 cans of tomatoes,
u coo, 900 cans Of condensed milk. and
!O2ST 900 pounds Of prunes.
The establishment Of the subsistence
division centralized the purchases Of
'oodsiuffs for the army, previous to
which such products were distributed
through the depot quartermaster Ef
'ectlye January l. the central control
system has resulted in greater eff
'iency and big saving. In January,
FOR instance 100000 was saved under
his system AZ compared with the
prices obtained by depot quarternas-
Icrs, and in February saving OF
$40, $40 was made on potatoes alone
The central control system is stlll be
Ing perfected.
Production Of 10000 new automobile
trucks is in progress for the army, III
10 purchases Of $500 passen-
ger cars, Gl26 motorcycles. and 5.O4O
bicycles, with appropriate repair aud
replacement equipment,
In three months the cautonmcnt di
vision ot the quurtermHster generals
department built 10 environments. each
one practically q small city. comprls-
Ing about liO0 separate buildings and
providing quarters for 1900 men.
Air Service.
The air service has been called
upon IN The past ~ months TO build
an enormous structure Of The most
wire. A lid or cap FOR The lighter is
madr from another piece Of brass shell