Crittenden record-press., 1918-04-11
candidates, consisting largely of en-
listed men, have been In attendance.
Corps OF Engineers.

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
ly 4,125 officers and enlisted men. At
present the aggregate authorized
strength is over 100000, with an act
ual strength Of approximately 10000.
or the special engineer units re-
crulted for service on railways and In
the maintenance Of lines Of c0mmunl-
cation, many are already In France
and others are awaiting recruitment
to full strength in order to be ready
for overseas service. The first ell
gineer troops, 1.lO0 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 expedltionary 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
OF officers, operating with yearly ap-
proprlntlons Of about s14,0O0,O00 and
with manufacture largely confined to
government arsenals, to 5000 officers
In this country and abroad, transacting
nm unprecedented war program for the
supply OF ordnance. the total direct
appropriations and contract authorlza-
tlons for one year having been S4,-
56,5O3, 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
patrolied with unremitung vigilance
One OF these dspots. now under con.
struction. will include 100 separate
buildings and 80 miles Of railroad spe.
cially built to serve the depots needs
The supply division Of tho 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 100000 rifles !;
has brought the rate Of rife production
up to 5000 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,OOO per year; increased the rate
OF production Of 3ia inch to 9-inch cali
ber guns from l,500 to 1900 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 rs fast as they can be shipped.
One billion rounds of ammunition
has been purchased for the training
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,OOO automatic pistols, 250,0O0 re-
volvers, 23,OO0O00 proJectiles for all
calibers of heavy artillery, 427,246,0OO
pounds Of explosives, 100000 machine
guns. and 2, ,4S4. 900 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 to
life and q 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 quantity basis by
machine process, while similar produc.
ton OF the heavier type is imminent.
The heavy Browning machine gun,
water cooled, In government test
fired 10000 shots In 4S minutes and
10 seconds without malfunctlon.
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.
sponslbility 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
118,OOo,000 cans baked beans OF the
1917 crop, 85,ls4,475 cans Of tomatoes
9l. 100000 cans OF condensed milk, and
20.2s7 900 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 l, the central control
system has resulted In greater Ell
cheney and big saving. In January
for instance. 100000 was saved under
this system as compared with III,
prices obtained by depot auartermas
ters, and In February a saving Of
$40. .740 was made on potntoes alone