The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1872-03-14
THE FRENt H ARMS INQUIRY.
4 Pucrile Liuc OF IuvestigatiOn-The Suf-
lciency Of Small Arms-C0lOnel Bcnet
EXAMINED

4 Pucrile Liue OF Investigation-The suf-
ncicncy Of Small Arms-Colonel Bcnet
Examined.
WASHINGTON, D. O.. March 10, 1872.
The Senate Arms Committee to-day examined
Colonel Benet lie was Intercepted by Senator
gin had been put up, sales were not contaminated,
IL appearing that the arms not OF such charac.
ter as was supposed, or for other reasons. On
being asked whether when 1t was discovered that
Remington Il Sons were agents Of the French gov
ernmenr, that fact was not considered important
enough TO cancel the arrangement Tor sale to them,
FOR STATESMEN TO ANSWER;
the same as private parties. When an oficer was
authorized to sell he was 80 informed, and letter
was also sent to that effect to the party proposing to
buy. Tne matter was considered closed so rar as
the Ordnance Oflce was concerned, and then the
oficer and the other party closed the transaction
Crispin did not conclude contract and thus saved
O large sum Of money to the government. He
Crispin was authorized 10 sell, but did not do so
because he could get higher prices. the matter mad
no reference to any particular a individuals but was
In reply to a question by Senator Ames, he said
there was no apprehension whatever That In case
OF difficulty there would not he
SNAIL ARMS ENOUGH TO ARM THE TROOPS.
According to the official statement, made within
new Springfield rnes, caiibre IS, and, with other
arms, an army OF as, 900 men could be supplied
and a. the end OF thirty days. 100 600
could be turned out month. Besides our own
facilities, the private factories could supply large
numbers OF arms without difficulty. The troops
must be got together before they are armed and
they could be armed as soon as mustered. A great
many guns were taken home by the soldiers after
the late war; he could not estimate the number.
In his remarks as to the number of guns on hand
he did not take into the estimate the 80 900 now In
the hands OF the regular army or the militia.
Mr. AMEs asked whether 1t was the opinion OF the
witness that General
GRANT, AT THE HEAD OF AN ARMY
thus armed, would be able to resist any force
brought against the government
The witness replied affirmatively, whether to put
down another rebellion TO resist foreign in asio
Propositions had come IRON Germany to sell us
$50, 600 stand OF arms. Our alarm, II any, would
come from Europe Our danger would be from
iron .clads, as our forts are not properly armed.
The cannon we require are OF immense size and
calibre weighing co. pounds, the ten-lnch being
the smallest Military men have not the slightest
alarm about the deficiency OF small arms. Congress
had not taken proper action In regard to the ortif-
cations. II ought to make an appropriation OF
81 000, 600 annually for experiments and purchas-
ing heavy ordnance for the forts.
Senator CARPENTER asked whether we could not
supply an army as last as the could be got to.
gether, organized and put into the field and would
they not be as well armed from the start as the
average or men were during The late war;
sand much better"
The committee adjourned until tomorrow morn
inR.