The Ordway new era., 1918-04-12

VNAS sum AAhSsihe w A'AhAN NAA 1O'
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 83,2O3 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, 1918. about $4,000
candidates. consisting largely of en-
listed men, have been in attendance.
Corps Of Enoineers.
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 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, LOO 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-
proprlations of about $14,0G0,000 and
with manufacture largely confined TO
government arsenals. to 5000 officers
in this country and abroad, transactlng
an unprecedented war program for the
supply of ordnance, the total direct
appropriations and contract authoriza-
tions for one year having been S4,-
756, 500, 1876.
While building the foundation for
greater production, the ordnance de-
partment has provided 1.400.OOO 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 1000 per year; increased the rate
of production of 3h-inch to 9-inch cali
ber 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
munition, which are being delivered
almost as fast as they can be shipped.
One billion rounds of ammunition
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, 600 automatic pistols. 100000 re-
volvers, 23,OOO,OOO projectiles for all
calibers of heavy artillery, 427, ,246OO
pounds of explosives, 100000 machine
gyms, and 2,4s4 900 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 all
stations from the Philippines to Lor-
raine. Purchases recently made in
cluded 100000 pounds dried beans,
116, 6,OOO, 600 cans baked beans of the
1917 crop, 65.1s4,475 cans of tomatoes,
81, ,OOO. 900 cans of condensed milk, and
20,2ST 600 pounds of prunes.
The establishment of the subsistence
division centralized the purchases of
foodstuffs for the army. previous to
which such products were distributed
through the depot quartermaster. Eff
fective January /, the central control
system has resulted in greater eff
cheney and Il big saving. In January,
for instance. 100000 was saved under
this system as compared with the
prices obtained by depot quartermas-
ters. and in February a saving Of
s39,74O 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, in
addition to purchases of $500 pasaen-
ger cars, 6126 motorcycles, and 5,O40
bicycles, with appropriate repair and
replacement equipment.
In three months the cantonment d.
vision of the quartermaster generals
department built 16 cantonments. each
one practically small city. compris-