Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1919-11-15
BY GEN. ERICH Won IUDENDoRFT

!
| ammunition in production.
, It was thus necessary to exercise
? the greatest caution in deciding on
> any new construction. This was the
: reason why we We're not SO insistent
, on the Introduction of a special weap-
on for the infantry as the events
proved that we might have been.
satisfied With Tank Guns.
For defense against the tanks, field
gun O6, which penetrated the tanks,
was sufficient; the only thing neces-
sary was to turn it out in sufficient
quantities
At this time the increased produc-
ton of ammunition departed on the
question of explosives. and this in its
turn depended on the possibilities or
obtaining or manufacturing the neces-
sary materials
sulphur and nitrogen were particu-
/ larly important. IT was a very diff
cult task to solve the problem of their
supply we aimed at doubling approx
imatey the previous production.
This was gradually reached, in spite
of many obstacles, including heavy
explosives and shortage of coal When
1 the explosives program was carried
out, steel began to get scarce; in
short we had one trouble after an
other, before we succeeded in increas-
ing the munitions production to the
desired point.
A point deserving special attention
was the supply of the various sorts of
ammunition to the troops. There We're
too many varieties; it was nothing
less than work of art for battery
commanders to estimate their supplies
and for the staffs to get the right
supplies up to the right place at the
right time. Our fuses We're not of
satisfactory construction. The pre-
war fuses were not simple enough,
and it was essential to get the best
design.
Had to Give Up Shrapncl.
We We're considerably hindered by
having to go sparingly with supplies
of copper and brass, owing to the
short supplies In spite of the efforts
of the artillery testing commission It
was a very long time before we had
\ reliable fuses, which worked in such
q way as to burst the shell close to
the ground at the instant Of contact.
The shell fragments thus scattered
far and wide over the surface of the
ground, instead of being buried. We
soon abandoned shrapnel. the training
!
such delicate work Shells with SEN
sitive fuses We're everywhere pre-
ferred.
: Gas production, too, had to keep
pace with the increased output Of
; ammunition The discharge of gas
! from cylinders was used less and less,
the troops being opposed to it from
: first to last and the use of gas shells
increased correspondence Our yell
low cross shell was greatly feared by
the enemy. The fear of injury from
their own gas still remained very
= strong with our men. and did not
= abate until much later. Privv Coun-
cillor Haber rendered valuable service
in connection with the conduct of gas
fighting
Smoke shells, too We're now manu-
featured.
= The infantry were supplied with a
light machine gun, which might well
have been lighter and more simple,
b for it required too many carriers 1t
) was necessary to come to decision,
however, for the manufacture had to
begin; ii lasted months and months
Each company of infantry was to re-
ceive at first four and later six of
these light guns.
Bigger Anti-TanE Guns
Our older heavy machine gun was
good, and the men liked it, The ar
tillery was shortly afterwards equip
: ped with this for protection against
raids and for anti-aircraft work
The supply of armour piercing bull
let's to the infantry for use against
! aircraft and tanks was increased, and
the ministry of war also undertook
: the construction of further rapid fse
: weapons for the infantry, as we'll as
of weapons of heavier calibre to rem
, der effective aid against tanks,
J Great attention had to be bestowed
on the manufacture of motor lorries
Our horses were getting worse and
! worse, and remounts came forward
slowly. We had to build lorries to re-
place horse transport. although here
!. too, we were met with difficulties as
l to supplies of material.
: We also needed lorries for carrying
5 troops. The enemy, backed by theil
q enormous industries found it easier
y and easier not merely to move theil
= reserves quickly in lorries but also &c
use them on an increasing scale fol
y bringing troops up from billets to thu
= line and taking them back again
= thus achieving an important economy
u of physical and moral strength. w,
! had to be content if we could ftnt
> lorries enough for troop movement
II in cases of the greatest urgency.
:. The time was not vet come for u
7 to undertake the construction o
3 tanks.
y Some Remarkable Aircraft.
= Our aircraft industry took a quit,
y exceptional position. The opposing
9 armies were competing one with an
: other to produce the fastest and fast
= est-climbing machines. Each passet
2 the other in turn, and our industr,
was often ahead Especially IN 1871
4, we had some remarkable designs t
- which, together with their own cour
y age, our flying men owed their vic
y tories.
- In the preceding passages hav
80 dealt merely with some of the NOR
~ important supplies. in which great in
~ creases were necessary; but, in fact
- increases in all material were essen
tial. Barbed wire, for example. wa
10 as urgently required as small arm
,s ammunition To decide the volum
! of the various material to be manu-
20 featured one had to weigh one agains
,n another, and consider their relativ
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