As early as August 24 Sukhomlinov, the War Minister who had not bothered to build arms factories because he did not believe in firepower, wrote General Yanushkevitch, the beardless Chief of Staff: In God's name, issue orders for gathering up the rifles. We have sent 150,000 to the Serbs, our reserves are nearly used up and factory production is feeble.
Sukhomlinov, the War Minister, exhibited a concerning lack of foresight regarding military preparedness, as he had neglected to establish arms factories due to his disbelief in the necessity of firepower. His communication to General Yanushkevitch highlights the urgent situation by expressing the need to gather rifles, indicating an imminent shortage of weaponry. With 150,000 rifles already sent to the Serbs and dwindling reserves, it became evident that the existing production capabilities were inadequate for the war effort.
This stark revelation underscores the deficiencies in military planning and the reliance on external supplies, which could have dire consequences for the nation’s defense. The situation reflects a failure in leadership and strategy that could critically undermine military operations, emphasizing the importance of having a robust infrastructure for arms production during wartime.
