Mexico Missouri message. (Mexico, Audrain County, Mo.) 1899-1918, 1918-05-23

| pace with competitors in war equip
ment, and secure every advantage pos
slble.
Have Capable Experta
In peaceful industries the public Is
satisfied to Judge by the quality Of the
final product. When the history Of the
present war is written, 1t will proba-
bly, be found that this was the proper
measure Of our fighting industry, the
| results secured on the battle front
| Those results will be secured by the
| American military officer trained to
design the equipment Of an army, and
the weight of expert opinion both from
| military men Of other nations and
capable business men In this country
who are working with the war depart
ment is to the effect that we have as
| good a system of development as ex-
| lists.
In ordinary times our requirements
| for fighting tools are so small that
they can be supplied as an incident to
| peaceful industry. The American mill
| itary expert was able to center upon
the design Of rifles. guns and ammuni-
ton. turning his blue prints and speci-
| fcations over TO manufacturers who
were waiting 10 bid upon contracts.
When the design was finished he sim
ply advertised for bids and secured de-
llveries through the penalty clause In
government contracts, and saw that
quality was maintained by careful in
spectiOn Of material delivered.
For several months after war was
declared the ordnance department
found its whole scheme Of organization
fairly satisfactory, and for a reason
which will he apparent to everyone
when II is stated.
Regardless of the magnitude of our
war task and the urgency which has
not been lost sight of our new army
and our war preparations had to be
arranged on an orderly program Of
growth. Soldiers for the army had to
be drafted and trained. This was work
which would consume months Of time
no matter how well the plans were
laid And while the men were being
mobllized and instructed, the ordnance
department could arrange for their
fighting tools. There was even time
to spend on thorough tests to deter
mine which type of rifle, machine gun,
etc, would give the best results on
the fighting front. The peace-time
plan of organization was therefore
adhered to. hut with full provision for
A.,
and sent to France. II was possible TO
plot the requirements for each bureau,
increase the organization by drawing
in more technical men from civil life
for each specific task, and provide
new bureaus to deal with new tasks.
A bureau Of supplies became neces-
sary, for instance, and was started last
May. with two men in a single room,
who proceeded to map out that bu-
reau's functions for IS months. taking
into account the delivery of supplies
from factories, and their distribution
10 every army camp in the United
States, as required by the army's de-
velopments In this country, and final
~ taking care of its requirements
when II reached the western front.
This bureau of supplies today has
about 5000 workers, and more are be-
ing added daily according to orderly
growth Of work. and by the end Of this
year there will be fully 10000.
War Engineers In Charge.
The ordnance department is now ar.
ranged in a way that makes IT an eff
ficient, self-contained agency for the
performance Of it's particular work on
the largest scale, and with the most
careful attention to all details for the
period of the war. At the head Of the
department today Is the chief Of ord
nance, which position is still held by
Maj. Gen. William Crozier. General
Crozier, however, is at present in
France, applying his ability and ex-
perience to the study of the army's re-
quirements in the field. Brig. Gen.
Charles B. Wheeler, as acting chief of
staff. is in charge in this country. Cen
eral Wheeler is West Pointer, thor
oughly familiar with the requirements
of the army. and is assisted by three
other regular army officers, each at
the head of bureau carrying part of
the detail work.
The engineering bureau, under Col.
John Fl. Rice, conducts researches and
experiments, deals with inventions and
designs determines types Of military
equipment, conducts tests and draws
up specifications.
The control bureau, under Col.
Tracy G. Dickson, attends to esti-
mates and schedules of requirements,
co-ordinates and supervises the Vari-
Gus operating divisions, deals with
methods, organization, industrial rela-
lions, transportation and the ADJUST
ment Of complaints and disputes.
The general administration bureau,
under Col. William s. Pierce. looks af-
ter arsenal administration, finance.
property, legal and advisory details.
the personnel of the army, both mill,
tnry and civilian. attends to the de-