Show UI u. Si s. NOW BETTER I PREPARED FOR WAR By FREDERICK M. M KERBY KERRY WASHINGTON ASHINGTON V Ma May 22 So So far faras faras faras as munitions of war var are concerned tho the United States Slates is probably In better better better bet bet- ter position to face race a possible emergency emergency emergency ency than over ever before beCore The Tho enormous Increase In capacity of or plants pants turning out rifles rUles powder ammunition and big guns since the beginning of oC the European war var has hils made the output of or such articles the greatest In the history of or the country Before tho the outbreak of the tile war abroad the tho capacity of oC all nIl plants In Inthe inthe inthe the United States States public public and private vate for for manufacturing small arms ammunition did not exceed rounds per week Today according to the best beet obtainable information the five big plants turning out this class of or ammunition arc are producing rounds per pct week The manufacture of or other classes of or ammunition ammunition ammunition am am- and armaments hO has in increased increased In- In creased proportionately There is a very general lack of In Information information In- In formation as to where war materials are arc produced and how a J great r at American Ameri Ameri- can field force would be supplied with munitions of ot war In cJ case e of or necessity Some of ot the necessary war munitions are arc manufactured in government plants some Borne In private plants The present model Springfield in infantry infantry in- in fantry rifle for example is made In two government arsenals one at atRock atRock atRock Rock Island III tho the other at Springfield Spring Spring- Springfield field Mass These two plants workIng working work- work Ing at full rull capacity twenty four hours a n day n can probably turn out about 1600 1500 such rifles per day or something more than half halt a million a 0 year clr In addition since the outbreak outbreak outbreak out out- break of ot the war private plants have rifles been manufacturing Infantry for tor the tho various torel foreign The private plants of ot the Remington ton Arms Arm company Ilion N. N Y and tho Winchester company at New New- Z en Haven Conn as well as the Stevens Arms company at at Chicopee Falls f Mass could all be bo used in case of or ency These three plants together would turn out about rifles per por day a at full tull capacity which a added ded to the government plants would produce produce pro pro- duce more than a CI million such rifles rUles in a 0 year As there aro already on hated hand sufficient rifles to equip an army of ot at least men It Is clear that we wo aro are well provided pro so 50 far tar as small email arms goes A As to hea heavy artillery both for army and na navy use the government o nt has two large plants plante In operation These Theo aro arc located at tho the naval nl gun factories at It Washington D D. C. C and N. N Y Tho private concerns turning out hea heavy guns suns are arc the Bethlehem Steel company In Pennsylvania Tho The production of or shrapnel the shrapnel the most t terrible shells In artillery fight fight- ing Is ing-is Is somewhat complicated b by the intricate mechanism known as the time Ume fuse tuso The Tho steel cases for tor shrapnel can be turned out b by practically an any machine shop using metal lathes The capacity of ot the United States State In this respect is practically unlimited But the production of ot time fuses which cause the shell to explode when It reaches Its destination desti desti- nation scattering the small balls contained con con- in the casing with great force in every cry direction Is confined to one ono government government and two private plants The Scoville Manufacturing company and tho the Bethlehem company aro are the tho private concerns while tho the government government govern govern- ment has an extensive plant at the Frankford arsenal Philadelphia Philadelphia- Field artillery carriages es horse equipment and other miscellaneous items of ot army equipment arc are all turned out at nt the Rock Island Ill arsenal and there Is IA another government government govern govern- ment plant at Water town Mass for tho the manufacture of guts gun carriages for tor heM heavy artillery Artillery ammunition ammunition tion as well as small arms tion Hon Is manufactured at the government government govern govern- ment plants at Fran oro arsenaL There are also two other small government gov gov- o arsenals at Augusta Ga and Benicia Cal Cat The principal arm of any army Is the Infantry It is the tho Infantry which must deliver the tha punch Artillery I may clear the tho w way cavalry Is used for scouting protecting convoys and special purposes the airmen may drop bombs and gather Information the special troops like engineers eng hospital and sanitary units may all do their part but It is tho infantry that wins or loses tho tiro fight tight Small arms ammunition for Infantry therefore therefore there there- fore foro is the most Important single Item of ot equipment which must be kept up UD The five plants which we have in this country to turn out this this class of ammunition consist of or orthe the government establishment at arsenal Philadelphia and the 55 private plants of ot tho ho United states Cartridge company compan Lowell Mass the Union Metallic Cartridge Bridgeport Conn the company New Hav Haven Ha- Ha Arm company compan Winchester v von ven T and the Peters Cartridge i company Cincinnati Ohio There company In addition several smaller Concerns concerns concerns con Con- are which are constantly expandIng expanding expanding expand expand- cerns ing Ing now under tho the impetus of or war orders All the tho military powder used Inthis in inthis inthis manufactured either cither Is this country countr it at tho the government o plant at Indian DuPont company com- com Head Hen 1 Md or by the which has vcr very greatly enlarged en- en n- n pany the beginning Its plant since or of tho war It Is certain certain that should this government government gov gov- be forced Into armed defense would of ot its Us ri rights the government im- im commandeer the hesitate to not supplies of all war munitions being menso turned out on foreign order I and ft It would have a 0 larger supply to draw from than has t c v er been the case before |