Weekly Summary No. 3
Title
Weekly Summary No. 3
Creator
United States. War Department. General staff
Identifier
WWP25058
Date
1918 June 11
Source
Library of Congress, Woodrow Wilson Papers
Publisher
Woodrow Wilson Presidential Library & Museum
Subject
World War, 1914-1918--United States
World War, 1914-1918--Statistics
Contributor
Danna Faulds
Language
English
Provenance
Document scan was taken from Library of Congress microfilm reel of the Wilson Papers. WWPL volunteers transcribed the text.
Text
Secret
WEEKLY SUMMARY
WAR DEPARTMENT
Page
Ordnance …………. 1
Quartermaster ……. 2
Aircraft …………….. 2
Engineer …………... 3
Medical …………….. 3
Ships ………………. 4
Raw Materials …….. 4
No. 3 Statistics Branch
June 11, 1918 General Staff
ORDNANCE
Divisional Artillery
French deliveries of 75 mm. guns and 155 mm. howitzers to the 15th of May were sufficient to equip American forces overseas. There will be some delay in furnishing guns to new troops as they arrive unless deliveries can be made by the French faster than has been promised.
Corps and Army Artillery
Seventy-two 155 mm. guns have been delivered abroad, but, according to a cable from General Pershing, cannot be effective in action until shells are received from the United States. United States shipments of 155 mm. gun shells can hardly be made before the first of August.
Twenty-four 8” howitzers shipped overseas during May are the first complete equipment for an artillery regiment to be shipped from this country. The shortage of 8” howitzer shell may, however, make it necessary either to curtail the rate of fire or to keep back some guns of this caliber which would otherwise be available for the firing line.
More rapid United States shipment and greater deliveries from England of the heavy caliber howitzers are essential if the desired quota and reserves of heavy artillery are to be secured.
Machine Guns
Production continues satisfactory, with considerable shipments overseas of aircraft types.
Small Arms
Production of rifles is adequate. Pistol production is increasing but is still below requirements.
Small Arms Ammunition
Overseas shipments are adequate
Trench Warfare
Overseas shipment has begun of high capacity drop bombs for use with aircraft.
Explosives and Propellants
Considerable quantities of picric acid and smokeless powder were shipped overseas in May to replace the French stocks used in ammunition delivered to the American forces.
Smokeless powder deliveries are adequate for present needs but if machined shells are delivered as expected, there will not be propellant enough for all of them.
Trucks and Tractors
Ordnance truck deliveries are still inadequate.
During May ninety-four 15 and 20 ton tractors were sent overseas for use in pulling heavy guns. This marks the first shipment of heavy tractors from this country.
QUARTERMASTER
Clothing and Equipage
Stocks of clothing on hand at depots overseas May 15 were adequate. The only items showing less than the desired 90 day reserve were woolen undershirts, summer undershirts, and woolen socks and trousers. Reserves in this country of practically all articles of clothing are low, but no reports of shortages in camps have been received in spite of the large increments of drafted men during May.
Subsistence
On May 15 there was in American supply depots in France a 35 day supply of frozen beef for each American soldier overseas. Of almost every other important article of diet there was more than the desired 90 day reserve.
Fuel and Forage
Overseas shipments in May were adequate for needs. All camps in the United States were well supplied.
Motor Transportation
Quartermaster deliveries of heavy motor trucks are somewhat behind. The past week’s deliveries of Standard B trucks were 432 -- the highest weekly figure yet reached.
Remount
There are 360,000 animals in the possession of the army. Of these, 69,000 are in France. Overseas shipment of animals has ceased since they can be secured in France. Contracts have been placed with the French government for 150,000. The slow deliveries of tractors will make necessary the use of more animals than was intended.
AIRCRAFT
Combat Planes
De Haviland 4 -- deliveries for week ended June 1, 38; for preceding week, 48; average for May, 32. Total deliveries to June 1, 193, of which 81 have been sent overseas.
Bristol Fighter -- no production. Experiments being conducted at flying fields.
Schedule of June 1 calls for production of 4,968 De Haviland 4’s and 1,825 Bristol Fighters between June 1 and the end of December.
Liberty Engines
Deliveries for the week ended June 1 raised the best weekly production record from 171 to 211. Total deliveries to date are 1,321, of which 215 have been assigned to the Allied governments, 577 transferred to the Navy, and 137 sent overseas.
Training Planes and Engines
JN4-H, gunnery training type, deliveries 12; bombing training type, deliveries 45. Production of each type slowly increasing. Observation training and pursuit training types, production not yet begun.
Primary training planes -- JN4-D -- 16 delivered. Engine OX-5 used in this plane, 346 delivered.
Combat and Bombing Planes at Front
An estimate based upon the June 1 production schedule, with allowances for transportation time, etc., shows that if present schedules are carried out, by the first of January there will have reached the front 3,257 planes, of which 1,704 will have been lost, 592 will be needed for reserve and training, and 961 will be available for active service. By April 1, 1919, the corresponding figures will be: total at front, 7,267; lost 4,630; assigned to reserve and training, 1,036; net effective strength 1,601.
ENGINEER
General Engineer Material
No shortages are now apparent. Reservoir locations overseas are being determined and supplies ordered.
Military Railways
Shipment of assembled locomotives and cars continue but only one ship is available for this purpose. United States production is still ahead of shipping capacity.
Gas and Flame
Complete new requirements have just been received by special courier from Europe. New purchase orders are going through.
MEDICAL
Bedding and Garments
Production ample.
Surgical Dressings
Present supply adequate. Large gauze contracts placed.
Surgical Instruments
Sufficient reserves for present. New contracts placed. Factories working day and night.
Ambulances
New contracts placed. Supply adequate.
Gas Masks
Production at government plant expected to increase rapidly. Supply adequate. American mask is protection against any poison gas devised by Germans. Experiments being conducted with oiled clothing as counter measure against mustard gas, a skin irritant, used largely in last German offensive.
Medicines
New contracts placed. Supply adequate.
SHIPS
Transport Operation
Troop transports continue their excellent performances. The index figure for the week remains at 30 days for a complete turnaround. The similar figure for cargo transports is 71 days, which approximates the performances of the last six weeks.
The appearance of German submarines on this side of the ocean has not been allowed to interfere with transport operation. Movement of transports has been pushed forward at full speed. During the week no army vessel has been lost.
RAW MATERIALS
Protecting Texas Sulphur Mines from Submarines
Without sulphuric acid no form of smokeless powder or high explosive can be made. Sixty per cent of the country’s sulphuric acid supply will be made from sulphur, and nearly half of this sulphur comes from the Freeport Sulphur Company’s property at Bryan Mound, Brazoria County, Texas. It is less than two miles from the seacoast. Submarine fire could destroy the boilers, tanks, and superstructure of the producing wells and set fire to large stocks of sulphur maintained there. Even with no interruption of production, there is danger of a shortage in sulphur. If the Texas plant and stocks are destroyed, the effect upon the explosives program will be disastrous. The protection of this property has been placed in the hands of the Navy. The importance of this protection cannot be overemphasized.
WEEKLY SUMMARY
WAR DEPARTMENT
Page
Ordnance …………. 1
Quartermaster ……. 2
Aircraft …………….. 2
Engineer …………... 3
Medical …………….. 3
Ships ………………. 4
Raw Materials …….. 4
No. 3 Statistics Branch
June 11, 1918 General Staff
ORDNANCE
Divisional Artillery
French deliveries of 75 mm. guns and 155 mm. howitzers to the 15th of May were sufficient to equip American forces overseas. There will be some delay in furnishing guns to new troops as they arrive unless deliveries can be made by the French faster than has been promised.
Corps and Army Artillery
Seventy-two 155 mm. guns have been delivered abroad, but, according to a cable from General Pershing, cannot be effective in action until shells are received from the United States. United States shipments of 155 mm. gun shells can hardly be made before the first of August.
Twenty-four 8” howitzers shipped overseas during May are the first complete equipment for an artillery regiment to be shipped from this country. The shortage of 8” howitzer shell may, however, make it necessary either to curtail the rate of fire or to keep back some guns of this caliber which would otherwise be available for the firing line.
More rapid United States shipment and greater deliveries from England of the heavy caliber howitzers are essential if the desired quota and reserves of heavy artillery are to be secured.
Machine Guns
Production continues satisfactory, with considerable shipments overseas of aircraft types.
Small Arms
Production of rifles is adequate. Pistol production is increasing but is still below requirements.
Small Arms Ammunition
Overseas shipments are adequate
Trench Warfare
Overseas shipment has begun of high capacity drop bombs for use with aircraft.
Explosives and Propellants
Considerable quantities of picric acid and smokeless powder were shipped overseas in May to replace the French stocks used in ammunition delivered to the American forces.
Smokeless powder deliveries are adequate for present needs but if machined shells are delivered as expected, there will not be propellant enough for all of them.
Trucks and Tractors
Ordnance truck deliveries are still inadequate.
During May ninety-four 15 and 20 ton tractors were sent overseas for use in pulling heavy guns. This marks the first shipment of heavy tractors from this country.
QUARTERMASTER
Clothing and Equipage
Stocks of clothing on hand at depots overseas May 15 were adequate. The only items showing less than the desired 90 day reserve were woolen undershirts, summer undershirts, and woolen socks and trousers. Reserves in this country of practically all articles of clothing are low, but no reports of shortages in camps have been received in spite of the large increments of drafted men during May.
Subsistence
On May 15 there was in American supply depots in France a 35 day supply of frozen beef for each American soldier overseas. Of almost every other important article of diet there was more than the desired 90 day reserve.
Fuel and Forage
Overseas shipments in May were adequate for needs. All camps in the United States were well supplied.
Motor Transportation
Quartermaster deliveries of heavy motor trucks are somewhat behind. The past week’s deliveries of Standard B trucks were 432 -- the highest weekly figure yet reached.
Remount
There are 360,000 animals in the possession of the army. Of these, 69,000 are in France. Overseas shipment of animals has ceased since they can be secured in France. Contracts have been placed with the French government for 150,000. The slow deliveries of tractors will make necessary the use of more animals than was intended.
AIRCRAFT
Combat Planes
De Haviland 4 -- deliveries for week ended June 1, 38; for preceding week, 48; average for May, 32. Total deliveries to June 1, 193, of which 81 have been sent overseas.
Bristol Fighter -- no production. Experiments being conducted at flying fields.
Schedule of June 1 calls for production of 4,968 De Haviland 4’s and 1,825 Bristol Fighters between June 1 and the end of December.
Liberty Engines
Deliveries for the week ended June 1 raised the best weekly production record from 171 to 211. Total deliveries to date are 1,321, of which 215 have been assigned to the Allied governments, 577 transferred to the Navy, and 137 sent overseas.
Training Planes and Engines
JN4-H, gunnery training type, deliveries 12; bombing training type, deliveries 45. Production of each type slowly increasing. Observation training and pursuit training types, production not yet begun.
Primary training planes -- JN4-D -- 16 delivered. Engine OX-5 used in this plane, 346 delivered.
Combat and Bombing Planes at Front
An estimate based upon the June 1 production schedule, with allowances for transportation time, etc., shows that if present schedules are carried out, by the first of January there will have reached the front 3,257 planes, of which 1,704 will have been lost, 592 will be needed for reserve and training, and 961 will be available for active service. By April 1, 1919, the corresponding figures will be: total at front, 7,267; lost 4,630; assigned to reserve and training, 1,036; net effective strength 1,601.
ENGINEER
General Engineer Material
No shortages are now apparent. Reservoir locations overseas are being determined and supplies ordered.
Military Railways
Shipment of assembled locomotives and cars continue but only one ship is available for this purpose. United States production is still ahead of shipping capacity.
Gas and Flame
Complete new requirements have just been received by special courier from Europe. New purchase orders are going through.
MEDICAL
Bedding and Garments
Production ample.
Surgical Dressings
Present supply adequate. Large gauze contracts placed.
Surgical Instruments
Sufficient reserves for present. New contracts placed. Factories working day and night.
Ambulances
New contracts placed. Supply adequate.
Gas Masks
Production at government plant expected to increase rapidly. Supply adequate. American mask is protection against any poison gas devised by Germans. Experiments being conducted with oiled clothing as counter measure against mustard gas, a skin irritant, used largely in last German offensive.
Medicines
New contracts placed. Supply adequate.
SHIPS
Transport Operation
Troop transports continue their excellent performances. The index figure for the week remains at 30 days for a complete turnaround. The similar figure for cargo transports is 71 days, which approximates the performances of the last six weeks.
The appearance of German submarines on this side of the ocean has not been allowed to interfere with transport operation. Movement of transports has been pushed forward at full speed. During the week no army vessel has been lost.
RAW MATERIALS
Protecting Texas Sulphur Mines from Submarines
Without sulphuric acid no form of smokeless powder or high explosive can be made. Sixty per cent of the country’s sulphuric acid supply will be made from sulphur, and nearly half of this sulphur comes from the Freeport Sulphur Company’s property at Bryan Mound, Brazoria County, Texas. It is less than two miles from the seacoast. Submarine fire could destroy the boilers, tanks, and superstructure of the producing wells and set fire to large stocks of sulphur maintained there. Even with no interruption of production, there is danger of a shortage in sulphur. If the Texas plant and stocks are destroyed, the effect upon the explosives program will be disastrous. The protection of this property has been placed in the hands of the Navy. The importance of this protection cannot be overemphasized.
Original Format
Report
Files
Collection
Citation
United States. War Department. General staff, “Weekly Summary No. 3,” 1918 June 11, WWP25058, World War I Letters, Woodrow Wilson Presidential Library & Museum, Staunton, Virginia.