The Idaho recorder. [volume] (Salmon City, Idaho) 1886-1927, 1918-04-12

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 4,125 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 eommuni-
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-
cheering 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 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 APP
preparations of about $4,000 900 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 authorize
tons for one year having been $4.-
756, sos. 1875.
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 unremittinR vigilance.
One OF these depots, now under con-
struction, will include 100 separate
buildings and so miles of railroad spe-
cialiy built to serve the depOt's needs.
The supply division OF the ordnance
department handles material amount
Ing to approximately 10000 carloads a
month.
While building the foundation for
greater production, the ordnance de-
partment has provided !, 4O0,OOO rifles /:
has brought the rate of rife 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.OO0 per year; increased the rate
Of production Of 31S-inch to 9-inch cali
Der guns from 1900 to $1,000 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 environments alone.
An idea of the extent of the ord
nance program may be gained from
the following few items of purchase
Twsnty-three million hand grenades
725,OOO automatic pistols, 100000 re-
volvers, 100000 projectiles for all
ealibers Of heavy artillery, 427, 246, 600
pounds Of explosives. 10000 machine
guns, and 2,4S4.000 rifles.
The ordnance problem, however. is
no less one Of quality than of quantity
production. The American soldier Is
being provided with weapons which
give him an additional safeguard 10
life and further guaranty of victory.
Achievements of the ordnance de-
partment include the Browning ma.
chine rifle, model OF 1918, and the
Browning machine gun, heavy type,
model of 1918, production of the for.
mer now being on a quantity basis by
machine process, while similar pSoduc.
ton of the heavier type is imminent
The heavy Browning machine gun,
water cooled, in a government test
fred 10000 shots in 4S minutes and
l6 seconds without malfunctIon.
ouaTtermaster Corps.
The magnitude OF the work Of the
| quartermaster corps is indicated by
the operation of the subsistence divi.
sioR. which is charged with the re-
B sponsibility Of seeing that food sup
plies for the army are available at all
stations from the Philippines to Lor-
| raine. Purchases recently made I'm
ciuded 100000 pounds dried beans,
100000 cans baked beans Of the
1917 crop. 65.1S4.475 cans Of tomatoes
sl,OO0OOO cans of condensed milk, and
2o.2S7OO0 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.