Middletown transcript., 1918-05-11

American military officer trained to
design the equipment of an army. and
the weight of expert opinion both from
military men of other nations ana
capable business Iaen 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 mil
itary expert was able to center upon
the design of rifles guns and ammuni-
ton. turning his blue prints and specl-
fcatiOns over to manufacturers who
were waiting to bid upon contracts.
When the design was finished he SIM
ply advertised for bids and secured de-
liveries 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 it's whole scheme Of organization
fairly satisfactory. and for a reason
which will be apparent to everyone
when 1t 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 Do
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
modified 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-tfme
plan of organization was therefore
adhered to, but with full provision Tor
growth as the new army was trained
and sent to France. It was possible TO
plot the requirements for each bureau.
increase the organization by drawing
in more technical men from civil lie
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 Du-
reau's functions for 10 months, taking
into account the delivery of supplies
from factories. and their distribution
to 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 it reached the western front.
This bureau Of supplies today mas
about 5000 workers. and more are be-
ing added daily according to orderly
growth of work. and by the end of this
wear there will be fully 10000.
War Engineers in Charge.
The ordnance department is now ar
ranged in a way that makes 1t an ef-
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
Mai. Gen. william Crozier. General
Crozier. however, Is Mt present In
France, applying his ability and ex-
perience to the study Of the army's re-
ouirements in the field. Brig. Gen.
Charles B. Wheeler, as acting chief OF
staff. Is in charge in this country. Gen.
eral Wheeler Is a 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 a bureau carrying part OF
the detail work.
The engineering bureau, under Col.
John H. Rice, conducts researches and
experiments, deals with inventions and
designs. determines types of military
eouipment, conducts tests and draws
IN specifications.
The control bureau, under Col.
Tracy C. Dickson. attends to esti-
mates and schedules Of requirements.
co-ordinates and superylses 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 8. Pierce, looks az
ter arsenal administration. finance.
property, legal and advisory details.
the personnel Of the army. both mill
tary and civilian. attends to the de-
partment's mail, records, publications.
library and information generally.
In addition, the chief Of ordnance is
in touch with the general military sit
uation through the war council and
general staff of the army. and mill
tary attaches of foreign governments
stationed in Washington for advisory
service.
The ordnance department now has in
Washington alone approximately 5000
commissioned officers with thousands
Of civilian employees, and this organi-
cation will steadily increase in size as
the war program develops. When 1t is
remembered that much Of the work
was accomplished in peace times by
a chief and very small force in one
Office, some idea Of the magnitude OF
the new war organization Is realized.
Prior to the war. on April 6, 1917.
there were 70 ordnance officers; about