The circle banner. [volume] (Circle, Mont.) 1914-1939, 1918-04-12

The bodies of IA soldiers, en- route t.
France, have been found and IS other!
were still missing on March 16.
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
have been held. OF go, 203 candidates
in the first two series of camps 44,57o
qualified and were awarded commits
sions. In the third series of camps,
opened January 5, 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
| 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 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 en-
cheering work. including the con-
struction Of railways, docks, wharves,
cantonments 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 ap-
preparations of about $14,000,000 and
with manufacture largely confined TO
government arsenaIs, 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
lions for one year having been $4,-
756, SOB, 1S5.
While building the foundation for
greater production, the ordnance de-
partment has provided 100000 rifles;
has brought the rate of rifle 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-
to 225,0O0 per year; increased the rate
of production of 35a-inch to 9-inch cali
her guns from 1900 to 5000 per year;
and has arranged for the manufacture
of some $4,000 motortrucks and trac-y
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 cantonments alone.
An idea of the extent Of the ord
nance program may be gained from
the following few items Of purchase:
million hand grenades, |
725,000 automatic pistols, 100000 re-
volvers, 23,OO0,0OO projectiles for all
calibers of heavy artillery, 427 ,246,0O0 |
pounds of explosives, 240,0O0 machine |
guns, and 2,4S4,000 rifles.
Quartermaster Corps.
The magnitude of the work of the
corps is indicated by |
he operation of the subsistence divi-
sion, which is charged with the re-
,ponsibility of seeing that food sup
,ljes for the army are available at all
stations from the Philippines to Lor-
.aine. Purchases recently made in
,luded 40.000,000 pounds dried beans,
100000 cans baked beans of the
GIT crop. 65,1S4.475 cans of tomatoes,
Il 100000 cans of condensed milk, and
@, 2ST 900 pounds of prunes.
The establishment of the subsistence
ivision centralized the purchases of
oodstuffs for the army, previous to
rhich such products were distributed
Trough the depot quartermaster. Eff
ective January l, the central control
ystem has resulted in greater eff
iency and a big saving. In January.
Or instance, 100000 was saved under
his system as compared with the
rices obtained by depot quartermas
srs, and in February a saving of
9,740 WAS made on potatoes alone.
he central control system is still be-
lg perfected.
Production of 10000 new automobile /,
'ucks is in progress for the army, in
EDITION to purchases of $500 passen- |
er cars, 6,126 motorcycles, and 5,040 S
cycles. with appropriate repairs and
placement equipment. Y
In three months the cantonment d. S
sion of the quartermaster generals 4
apartment built 16 environments, each
lie practically small city, compris- |,
& about 1.400 separate buildings and c
DIVIDING quarters for $1,000 men.
Air Service.
The air service has been called a
ION In the past u months to build t,
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