The Dermott news., 1918-04-11

1cuIuaIy ", WHICH tHe DIitisH snip
Tuscania was torpedoed and sunk.
The bodies OF 144 soldiers. en- route to
France, have been found and 80 others
were still missing on March 10.
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
in the first two series OF camps 44.57S
qualified and were awarded commits
sions. In the third series Of camps.
opened January s. 1918, 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
~ 4125 officers and enlisted men. At
present the aggregate authorized
strength is over 900 900. with an act
ual strength OF approximately 10000.
or the special engineer units re-
cruited for service on railways and in
the maintenance of lines OF communi-
81
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.
environments. and hospitals for the use
Of the American expeditionary forces.
They have. In some instances. In the
performance Of their d tiles. 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 mp
preparations of about S14.o0o,ooo and
with manufacture largely confined 10
government arscnals. To 5000 officers
In this country and abroad tranSaeting
an unprecedented war program for the
supply of ordnance. the total direct
appropriations and contract authorize
lions fer one year having been ST.
75G. sos Isl
While building the foundation for
greater production. the ordnance de-
partment has provided 400 900 rifles &:
has brought the rate of rife production
up to 1900 per week. sufficient to
equip three army divisions; secured
deliveries ON more than 1000 ma
chine guns: brought the rate OF pro-
duction 81 machine guns from 10000
to 225. oo0 per wear; increased the rate
OF production OF 3i2 Inch to 9-inch cali
Der guns from 800 To 1900 per year:
and has arranged for the manufacture
Of some 5000 motortrucks and trac-
tors for hauling heavy guns and am
munition. which are being delivereI
almost rs fast as they can he shipped.
one billion rounds OF ammunition
has been purchased for the trimming
Of troops In the environments alone.
An idea Of the extent of the ord
nance program may be gained from
the following few items Of purchase:
Twenty-threc million hand grenades.
7@5 coo automatic pistols, 100000 re-
volvcrs. 23.ooo 600 projectiles for all
calihers of heavy artillery. i2fiei6, 600
pounds Of explosives. 100000 machine
guns, and 24s4 coo 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
spousihility 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 10000, 900 pounds dried beans
lI6.000Ooo cans baked beans Of the
1917 crop. 65.1S4.475 cans OF tomatoes
81 .OO0,O cans of condensed milk. and
2O.2S7 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. Ef
fective January |. the central control
system has resulted in greater eff
cheney and a big saving. In January
for instance. 100000 was saved under
this system IA compared with the
prices obtained by depot quartermas-
ters, and In February saving OF
$40. TAO 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 passen-
ger cars 6.126 motorcycles. and 500