Weekly Summary No. 11
Title
Weekly Summary No. 11
Creator
United States. War Department. General staff
Identifier
WWP25105
Date
1918 August 6
Description
Statistical report on US war resources.
Source
Library of Congress, Woodrow Wilson Papers
Publisher
Woodrow Wilson Presidential Library & Museum
Subject
World War, 1914-1918--United States
World War, 1914-1918--Chile
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
Page
Ordnance…………...... 1
Quartermaster……….. 2
Aircraft………………… 2
Engineer………………. 3
Chemical Warfare……. 3
Medical………………… 3
Ships…………………… 4
Raw Materials…………. 4
Personnel……………….4
No. 11 Statistics Branch
August 6, 1918 General Staff
ORDNANCE
Divisional Artillery
75 mm. gun -- About half the present stock of 250 guns and all future production of British Model 1917 will be shipped to France. Shipment of U.S. Model 1916 will begin in August, and will continue later after building up a reserve of about 100 units in the United States.
155 mm. howitzers -- American production delayed by carriages and recuperator machinings.
Purchases abroad -- In view of the shortage of standard types of field artillery which will result from the new army program, General Pershing has been authorized to secure abroad artillery, artillery ammunition, and pyrotechnics for an additional 12 divisions.
Heavy Artillery
Heavy howitzers -- Sixteen 8” howitzers were floated last half of July.
Seacoast gun projects -- Twenty 6” seacoast guns and wheeled mounts were floated during last half of July. It is planned to ship during August three complete 14” gun units including railway mounts.
Artillery Ammunition
A limiting factor in the production of complete rounds continues to be adapters and boosters, about 1,000,000 rounds of 75 mm. shell being otherwise complete. Rate of production of adapters and boosters for 75 mm. shells is now 16,000 daily, and is expected to rise to 30,000 in August.
Recent French requests indicate that any surplus production in this country of standard types of ammunition can be used to great advantage by the French and British.
Machine Guns
Deliveries of heavy Brownings continue at a satisfactory rate. Toward the end of the year it will be possible to replace all other types with the heavy Brownings. At present it is necessary to use the old style Colt and Lewis guns for training purposes in American camps and cantonments. Deliveries of machine rifles are also satisfactory although the need is much greater. The number of Chauchat and Browning rifles on hand at camps is considerably less than desired.
Small Arms
Production of rifles continues satisfactory. New army program necessitates an even larger production. Delivery of pistols and revolvers continues at a normal rate.
Small Arms Ammunition
Ball cartridges, Cal. 30, 300,000,000 rounds, were on hand in depots in France August 1, but 765,000,000 were desired.
Tractors
Forty-two 10-ton tractors and one 5-ton tractor were floated during last half of July. Recent cables from General Pershing have emphasized the great need especially for the 5-ton model.
QUARTERMASTER
Clothing and Subsistence
Stocks in the United States and overseas are adequate.
Animal Drawn Vehicles
The supply of water carts, ambulances, and medical carts at depots overseas July 1 was not nearly sufficient but there is a greater stock at Newport News than can be floated with present tonnage allotments.
Remount
General Pershing’s recommendation that shipment of animals be resumed has been approved by the Chief of Staff, and ships will probably begin loading within a week.
Motor Transport
Overseas shipments of trucks are still far under needs. The difficulty thus far has been in securing shipping space. With an increase in shipping capacity production may be the limiting factor.
AIRCRAFT
Service Planes
Weekly deliveries of De Havilland 4 planes averaged 100 during July. The 1000 mark has now been passed. Overseas shipments to August 2 total 601. Deliveries of SE-5 pursuit planes, of which 1,000 are on order, are expected to begin in November.
Service Engines
Production of Liberty engines during the week ended August 2 has broken all previous records. Deliveries were 543 engines, against a previous high record of 404. Total deliveries of Army type engines to August 2 were 2,754 and of Navy type 1,302, making a grand total of 4,056.
An order for 5,000 Hispano-Suiza 300 H.P. engines has been placed with the Pierce Arrow Corporation. Thirteen Hispano-Suiza 180 H.P. engines have been delivered. According to present plans 250 of these engines are to be shipped overseas for use with the S.E. 5 pursuit plane manufactured by the British.
Training Planes and Engines
Engine production continues to exceed plane production. Total deliveries of advanced training planes to July 26 were 1,421, and of advanced training engines 3,076. A total of 4,680 elementary training planes and 8,590 elementary training engines have been delivered.
Overseas Shipments
July shipments overseas of De Havilland 4 planes were well up to the number requested by General Pershing. The shipment of spare Liberty motors was not so satisfactory.
ENGINEER
A cable from General Pershing on July 31 emphasizes the need for standard gauge cars and locomotives overseas. It requires practically one locomotive and 25 cars for each 1000 men overseas.
Shipments of cars and locomotives during July were larger than in any previous month but on the basis of the new military program a still greater increase is necessary. General Pershing’s estimate calls for 290 locomotives and 8,000 cars per month. Because of limited erecting facilities in France, a considerable proportion must be shipped completely erected.
Provision has already been made for putting more ships on this work. It will also be necessary to place large additional orders for cars and locomotives.
CHEMICAL WARFARE
Production of the more important gases is going on more satisfactorily. Cablegrams have ordered shipment of all gases save chlorine stopped; consequently the amount which was on hand has been sold to the English. Deliveries of gas shell, grenades, and incendiary bombs have begun.
Headquarters of the Gas Defense Division have been moved to New York City.
MEDICAL
Of the total allotment of tonnage for overseas shipment in August, 1.6 per cent is for the Medical Department -- 2,694 tons. Field supplies, surgical instruments and X-ray supplies head the priority list. Red Cross takes 14 per cent of the medical allotment -- 376 tons.
SHIPS
The latest index figures on turnarounds are 31 days for troop transports and 70 days for cargo transports. During the past week the Berwind, a small cargo transport of 3,400 TDW operating in cross channel service for General Pershing, was torpedoed and sunk. The small cargo steamer, Lake Portage, 3,100 TDW, outward bound from this country and destined for cross channel service, was also sunk just off the French coast.
During the past month 536,000 short tons of cargo were shipped overseas, -- 111,000 tons over the amount shipped in June. Included in the July shipment were 160 consolidated locomotives and 2,699 standard gauge freight cars; 114 narrow gauge locomotives, and 400 narrow gauge freight cars; 2,685 trucks; 1,039 automobiles; 196 tractors; 20 road rollers; and 312 airplanes. It is estimated that 700,000 short tons will be shipped this month.
The troop movement continues uninterruptedly, the number shipped in July totalling 306,000.
RAW MATERIALS
Nitrate Situation
The nitrate position has improved through the settlement of the Chilian oil question. The War Trade Board raised its embargo on July 29th, releasing to Chili the oil cargoes held in Peru and has since been licensing oil for direct shipment to Chili. More than 15,000,000 gallons of oil are now on the way to the nitrate fields.
Metals for the New Army Program
Preliminary estimates indicate that the supply of non-ferrous metals will be adequate to meet the needs of the new army program. Further restriction of domestic consumption of lead, copper, and aluminum, and some changes in specifications for nickel in small arms ammunition may be necessary.
PERSONNEL
Men in Service from First Draft
Twenty-six per cent of the 9,587,000 registered in June, 1917, under the Selective Service Act, are now in actual service.
Draft calls to July 30, 1918 ………. 1,971,000 21 per cent
Enlistments, Army, Navy, Marines .. 500,000 5 per cent
Inducted - limited service …………. 11,000 _______
2,482,000 26 per cent
There still remain available 91,000 full service men, 200,000 classified for limited service, and others listed at first in deferred classes. These should bring the total in service up to 30 per cent of the initial registration in the next few weeks.
During the Civil War a registration of 776,829 men yielded for active service a force of only 46,347 -- about 6 per cent.
Overseas Strength
On July 31 there were in our forces overseas 1,195,000 men, of whom 1,036,000 were in American areas, 154,000 with the British, and 5,451 with the Italians.
WEEKLY SUMMARY
Page
Ordnance…………...... 1
Quartermaster……….. 2
Aircraft………………… 2
Engineer………………. 3
Chemical Warfare……. 3
Medical………………… 3
Ships…………………… 4
Raw Materials…………. 4
Personnel……………….4
No. 11 Statistics Branch
August 6, 1918 General Staff
ORDNANCE
Divisional Artillery
75 mm. gun -- About half the present stock of 250 guns and all future production of British Model 1917 will be shipped to France. Shipment of U.S. Model 1916 will begin in August, and will continue later after building up a reserve of about 100 units in the United States.
155 mm. howitzers -- American production delayed by carriages and recuperator machinings.
Purchases abroad -- In view of the shortage of standard types of field artillery which will result from the new army program, General Pershing has been authorized to secure abroad artillery, artillery ammunition, and pyrotechnics for an additional 12 divisions.
Heavy Artillery
Heavy howitzers -- Sixteen 8” howitzers were floated last half of July.
Seacoast gun projects -- Twenty 6” seacoast guns and wheeled mounts were floated during last half of July. It is planned to ship during August three complete 14” gun units including railway mounts.
Artillery Ammunition
A limiting factor in the production of complete rounds continues to be adapters and boosters, about 1,000,000 rounds of 75 mm. shell being otherwise complete. Rate of production of adapters and boosters for 75 mm. shells is now 16,000 daily, and is expected to rise to 30,000 in August.
Recent French requests indicate that any surplus production in this country of standard types of ammunition can be used to great advantage by the French and British.
Machine Guns
Deliveries of heavy Brownings continue at a satisfactory rate. Toward the end of the year it will be possible to replace all other types with the heavy Brownings. At present it is necessary to use the old style Colt and Lewis guns for training purposes in American camps and cantonments. Deliveries of machine rifles are also satisfactory although the need is much greater. The number of Chauchat and Browning rifles on hand at camps is considerably less than desired.
Small Arms
Production of rifles continues satisfactory. New army program necessitates an even larger production. Delivery of pistols and revolvers continues at a normal rate.
Small Arms Ammunition
Ball cartridges, Cal. 30, 300,000,000 rounds, were on hand in depots in France August 1, but 765,000,000 were desired.
Tractors
Forty-two 10-ton tractors and one 5-ton tractor were floated during last half of July. Recent cables from General Pershing have emphasized the great need especially for the 5-ton model.
QUARTERMASTER
Clothing and Subsistence
Stocks in the United States and overseas are adequate.
Animal Drawn Vehicles
The supply of water carts, ambulances, and medical carts at depots overseas July 1 was not nearly sufficient but there is a greater stock at Newport News than can be floated with present tonnage allotments.
Remount
General Pershing’s recommendation that shipment of animals be resumed has been approved by the Chief of Staff, and ships will probably begin loading within a week.
Motor Transport
Overseas shipments of trucks are still far under needs. The difficulty thus far has been in securing shipping space. With an increase in shipping capacity production may be the limiting factor.
AIRCRAFT
Service Planes
Weekly deliveries of De Havilland 4 planes averaged 100 during July. The 1000 mark has now been passed. Overseas shipments to August 2 total 601. Deliveries of SE-5 pursuit planes, of which 1,000 are on order, are expected to begin in November.
Service Engines
Production of Liberty engines during the week ended August 2 has broken all previous records. Deliveries were 543 engines, against a previous high record of 404. Total deliveries of Army type engines to August 2 were 2,754 and of Navy type 1,302, making a grand total of 4,056.
An order for 5,000 Hispano-Suiza 300 H.P. engines has been placed with the Pierce Arrow Corporation. Thirteen Hispano-Suiza 180 H.P. engines have been delivered. According to present plans 250 of these engines are to be shipped overseas for use with the S.E. 5 pursuit plane manufactured by the British.
Training Planes and Engines
Engine production continues to exceed plane production. Total deliveries of advanced training planes to July 26 were 1,421, and of advanced training engines 3,076. A total of 4,680 elementary training planes and 8,590 elementary training engines have been delivered.
Overseas Shipments
July shipments overseas of De Havilland 4 planes were well up to the number requested by General Pershing. The shipment of spare Liberty motors was not so satisfactory.
ENGINEER
A cable from General Pershing on July 31 emphasizes the need for standard gauge cars and locomotives overseas. It requires practically one locomotive and 25 cars for each 1000 men overseas.
Shipments of cars and locomotives during July were larger than in any previous month but on the basis of the new military program a still greater increase is necessary. General Pershing’s estimate calls for 290 locomotives and 8,000 cars per month. Because of limited erecting facilities in France, a considerable proportion must be shipped completely erected.
Provision has already been made for putting more ships on this work. It will also be necessary to place large additional orders for cars and locomotives.
CHEMICAL WARFARE
Production of the more important gases is going on more satisfactorily. Cablegrams have ordered shipment of all gases save chlorine stopped; consequently the amount which was on hand has been sold to the English. Deliveries of gas shell, grenades, and incendiary bombs have begun.
Headquarters of the Gas Defense Division have been moved to New York City.
MEDICAL
Of the total allotment of tonnage for overseas shipment in August, 1.6 per cent is for the Medical Department -- 2,694 tons. Field supplies, surgical instruments and X-ray supplies head the priority list. Red Cross takes 14 per cent of the medical allotment -- 376 tons.
SHIPS
The latest index figures on turnarounds are 31 days for troop transports and 70 days for cargo transports. During the past week the Berwind, a small cargo transport of 3,400 TDW operating in cross channel service for General Pershing, was torpedoed and sunk. The small cargo steamer, Lake Portage, 3,100 TDW, outward bound from this country and destined for cross channel service, was also sunk just off the French coast.
During the past month 536,000 short tons of cargo were shipped overseas, -- 111,000 tons over the amount shipped in June. Included in the July shipment were 160 consolidated locomotives and 2,699 standard gauge freight cars; 114 narrow gauge locomotives, and 400 narrow gauge freight cars; 2,685 trucks; 1,039 automobiles; 196 tractors; 20 road rollers; and 312 airplanes. It is estimated that 700,000 short tons will be shipped this month.
The troop movement continues uninterruptedly, the number shipped in July totalling 306,000.
RAW MATERIALS
Nitrate Situation
The nitrate position has improved through the settlement of the Chilian oil question. The War Trade Board raised its embargo on July 29th, releasing to Chili the oil cargoes held in Peru and has since been licensing oil for direct shipment to Chili. More than 15,000,000 gallons of oil are now on the way to the nitrate fields.
Metals for the New Army Program
Preliminary estimates indicate that the supply of non-ferrous metals will be adequate to meet the needs of the new army program. Further restriction of domestic consumption of lead, copper, and aluminum, and some changes in specifications for nickel in small arms ammunition may be necessary.
PERSONNEL
Men in Service from First Draft
Twenty-six per cent of the 9,587,000 registered in June, 1917, under the Selective Service Act, are now in actual service.
Draft calls to July 30, 1918 ………. 1,971,000 21 per cent
Enlistments, Army, Navy, Marines .. 500,000 5 per cent
Inducted - limited service …………. 11,000 _______
2,482,000 26 per cent
There still remain available 91,000 full service men, 200,000 classified for limited service, and others listed at first in deferred classes. These should bring the total in service up to 30 per cent of the initial registration in the next few weeks.
During the Civil War a registration of 776,829 men yielded for active service a force of only 46,347 -- about 6 per cent.
Overseas Strength
On July 31 there were in our forces overseas 1,195,000 men, of whom 1,036,000 were in American areas, 154,000 with the British, and 5,451 with the Italians.
Original Format
Report
Files
Collection
Citation
United States. War Department. General staff, “Weekly Summary No. 11,” 1918 August 6, WWP25105, World War I Letters, Woodrow Wilson Presidential Library & Museum, Staunton, Virginia.