Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1918-11-10
w y It'll the report upon the pro-
NM duction of aircraft made
public and the publication

that the production had equaled
neither the promise nor the expecta-
tion-inquiries are heard concerning
the production of artillery by the
bureau of ordnance for the use of the
Army fighting against the sole re-
naming nation holding out against
the allies. 1t seems that the armies
abroad are fairly we'll supplied with
artillery, but notwithstanding the
many promises of the ordnance de-
partment that production was Just a
little way ahead, the deliveries ap-
pear to be largely imaginary, not
wholly that way. but sadly disap-
pointing, to express 1t mildly.
Exact details are not available, but
approximately few hundred United
States model s-inch field pieces and
about the same number of British 49,
Founders, the equivalent of a 3-inch
gun, have been produced. and none of
the large quantity productions of the
French lbs, after eighteen months
effort and the expenditure of an
amount Of money, that cannot be
tically the limits of the United States
Treasury. and apparently the war Is
nearing the end. If Germany accepts
the terms Of the armistice it is
claim any substantial part rt in the new Hs,
brought that end a about Mere Me- a ars
some things to be said in explana-
ton or excuse. The drop FORCES of
PLY gun forgings in the huge quanti-
:, ties that the emergencies have re-
CURED. and thousands of rough fin
ished sets have been sent to France
10 pc finished, not that 1T was good
economics. but because the facilities
We're there to complete the guns-fa-
cities that We're lacking in American
shops. Another class Of gunmakers
whlch had preference was the Navy,
Tor obviously it was of more i'm
ried men and supplies than it was to
send the completed guns to the other
side. But 1t is the fact that the de-
partment failed to deliver the goods
as promised.
But it is due the department to say
that 1t has delivered military rifles,
machine guns, pistols, ammunition.
helmets. soldiers equipment and many
other ordnance supplies in abundance
and in good season.
X
T Asst January Surgeon General
Braisted Of the Navy took the
view that an emergency might arise
and catch the Navy short Of hospital
beds, and although there was space
enough for anticipated casualties and
sick, he asked for the money to create
more accommo dation in case of that
emergency that he was afraid of.
When Admiral BREASTED asks for any,
thing he invariably gets it, because
the Secretary and Congress-or at
least the House naval committee
know that he never asks for anything
that he does not feel that the Navy
should have provided. This applica-
knew much about epidemic emergen-
cies, but they did know Admiral
Braisted. But somewhere in some Of
1.-The offices things did not go with their
usual smoothness as far as this con-
struction work is concerned, for when
that emergency caused by the cpl
demic of influenza came along the
hospital extension was not available.
Hut this was not due to any lack of
foresight on the part OF the surgeon
general
The sick Of the Navy personnel for
whom the surgeon general had the
responsibility were not neglected.
Where there was capacity of'720
beds 1890 were needed but thA Navy
got them, and then took care Of the
moving the well from their quarters
and putting the sick In them, by Sc
curing what nurses they COULD to take
the places of those who broke under
the strain, by putting all their hos
pital corps men where they could
be of most service and by using
civilian hospitals wherever 1t was
posnSble for the Nays people, If 1t
did not interfere too much with the
care of the citizens. The Navy was
well supplied with medical officers,
for 1t has been the practice to send
doctors who have completed their
course in the Navy Medical School for
duty where they can have experience
they observe how they do things in
the Navy, and all these surplus off,
GERS were put on special duty. All the
doctors under instruction in the Medi-
cal School Of the Navy were. relieved
for duty under the United States pub
lie health service.
& 81
tEi ~.
THERE is a persistent report, said
to have originated abroad and
cabled over here, that the American
naval guns are sixteen-inch, but 1t
may be authoritatively stated that
. this Is a misstatement. 1t is said that
there is not a sixteen-inch gun on
the whole front in either army. The
guns in question are fourteen-inch
.50-caliber guns-that Is, they are in
length fifty times fourteen inches. or
fifty-eight feet and four inches. There
is no comparison to be made between