Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1918-04-10

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 Alps 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 communi-
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 el-
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 Sl4.000000 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
tions for one year having been 81
756.503. 1855.
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 unremltting vigilance
One of these depotS. now under con
struction. will include 100 separate
buildings and 50 miles Of railroad spe-
chilly 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 !. 100000 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 225,000 per year increased the rate
~ production of 3H-inch to 9-inch cali
Der guns from ] 800 10 5000 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 ;
Twenty-three million hand grenades,
725,000 automatic pistols, 100000 re-
vOlvers, 23.000,000 projectiles for all
calibers of heavy artillery, 427, 246,0OO
pounds of explosives 100000 machine
guns, and 2.4S40O 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 a further guaranty of victory.
Achievements Of the ordnance de-
partment include the Browning ma
chine rifle, model of 1913, 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 produc-
tion of the heavier type is imminent.
The heavy Browning machine gun,
water cooled, in a government test
nred 10000 shots in As minutes and
10 seconds without malfunction.
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
sponsibility 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,
116000,0O0 cans baked beans of the
1917 crop. G5,1S347 cans of tomatoes.
81 100000 cans Of condensed milk. and
20,2S7,000 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. IF
fective January !. the central control
system has resulted In greater eff
cheney and a big saving. Ia January,
for instance, 100000 was saved under
this sye an as compared with the
prices obtained by depot quarterinas-
ters, and In February a saving Of
$39,140 was made on put1.oes alone.
The central control system is sull be
ing perfected.
Production Of 10000 new automobile
trucks is In progress for the army. III
addition to purchases Of $500 passen
ger cars. G.126 motorcycles. and 504O
bicycles, with appropriate repair and
replacement equipment
In three months the environment III
ri einn Of fhn mn n ERIN a afnr. .,nnnrn n.