The Greenville journal. [volume] (Greenville, Ohio) 1850-1918, 1918-04-11

~ NAC BNhAhhAAh VI AA-G Wei AAA0 VII /
Eneer troops consisted Of three regl-
ments Of pioneer engineers, with
trains. one mounted company, one en-
gineer detachment at West Point. The
aggregate strength was approximate
ly Alps 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 communl-
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, 1,1O0 strong, to be sent
abroad. arrived In France about three
months after war was declared. Since
that time the number has been greatly
augmented. These troops have been
constantly engaged in general en-
gineering work. including the con-
struction Of railways, docks, wharves,
cantonments, 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
81 officers, operating with yearly ap-
preparations Of about $14,000,000 and
with manufacture largely confined to
government arsenals, to 5000 officers
in this country and abroad, transacting
an unprecedented war program for the
supply of ordnance, the total direct
appropriations and contract authoriza-
tions for one year having been S4,-
6,503,1 1856.
The ordnance storage properties
embrace separate warehouse buildings
and miles Of railroad siding, all COM
pretended within the depot premises,
which are inclosed by electrically
charged wire barriers and lighted and
patrolled with unremitting vigilance.
One Of these depots, now under con-
structiOn, will include 100 separate
buildings and so miles Of railroad Spe-
cially built to serve the depot's needs.
The supply division of the ordnance
department handles material amount
ing to approximately 10000 carloads
month.
While building the foundation for
greater production, the ordnance de-
partment has provided 100000 rifles !;
has brought the rate Of rifle production
up to $4,000 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 31a Inch to 9-inch cali
ber guns from 1900 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
munition, which are being delivered
almost as 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
Twenty-three million hand grenades
725, 900 automatic pistols, 250,000 re
volvers, 100000 projectiles for al
calibers of heavy artillery, 427 7,246.00(
pounds Of explosives, 100000 machine
guns, and 2,494,000 rifles.
The ordnance problem, however, Is
no less one Of quality than of quantity
production. The American soldier |:
being provided with weapons which
give him an additional safeguard t!
life and further guaranty of victory
Achievements of the ordnance de
partment include the Browning ma
chine rifle, model of 1918. and thu
Browning machine gun, heavy type
model of 1918, production Of the for
mer now being on q quantity basis b!
machine process, while similar produc
tion of the heavier type is imminent
4uc uSuNy DLO"hlAS ulSHIuC Gun
water cooled, in a government tes
fired 10000 shots in 49 minutes ant
16 seconds without malfunctioE.
Quartermaster Corps.
The magnitude of the work of TIN
quartermaster corps is indicated b,
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
116,0O0,000 cans baked beans Of tn
1917 crop, 65,194,475 cans of tomatoes
81, 100000 cans of condensed milk, an
20,2S7 900 pounds Of prunes.
The establishment Of the subsistence
division centralized the purchases o
foodstuffs for the army, previous t
which such products were distribute
through the depot quartermaster. Et
fective January 1, the central contrC
system has resulted in greater eff
| uAu DAS saving Ill Ouhuul '
for instance, 100000 was saved unde
this system as compared with tn
prices obtained by depot quarterma!
tiers, and in February a saving c
500, TAO was made on potatoes alon,
The central control system is still b
ing perfected.
Production Of 10000 new automobil
trucks is in progress for the army,
addition to purchases Of $500 passel
ger cars, 6,126 motorcycles, and 5,04
bicycles, with appropriate repair an
replacement equipment.
In three months the cantonment
vision of the quartermaster general
department built 16 cantonments, eac
, one practically small city, comprl
ing about ], 1,400 separate buildings an
providing quarters for $4,000 men.
J In the construction Of these 16 cGl
, tonments over $4,000 individual bull,