The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1909-12-16
II Department Making
Provision for Pos
Sible War.
GENERAL CROZIER
EBEFORE COMMITTEE
Chief of Ordnance Tells of Prepar-
ations to Supply Reserve Sol
diers in Case of War.
By IOHN SNURE.

That the War Department IS making
provision 20 equip enormous armies to
take the field in case Of conflict with
any great foreign power was indicated
In a striking way In some Of the state
ments made by Gen. William Crozier,
ohief Of ordnance. before the House
Committee on Military Affairs.
General Crozier urged on the commit
tee the wisdom OF providing for a re-
serve supply Of 100000 army rifles ~
the latest approved type. He told the
committee he thought It unwise to make
the supply OF rifles held I'm reserve less
man this
He also told thel committee he was
working in the direction Of 2 great
reserve supply Of ammunition for the
army rifles. The tentative program he
has set out upon is to provide for a re-
serve of 800 rounds Of ammunition for
6oo,oo0 rifles. He told the committee
that he believed, I'm view Of the ia
cilities for manufacturing ammunition,
that with this amount on hand the Gov
eminent on entering into war or in case
Of activities for war would be able to
keep up the supply needed.
While It will take some years 10
. reach such an ammunition reserve. Cen
era1 Crozier made Il clear to the COM
mittee that there is already a vast
auluunition reserve supply. BY next
June 80 it will amount to 123,OO0,OOC
rounds
Plenty of Rifles.
Nor is there any poverty OF army RI.
fes, despite the fact General Crozier IS
urging a reserve supply Of 100000 AS
matter Of fact, there is no question
the Government OF the United State.
could put into the field tomorrow ar
army of about million men and equiv
them with modern magazine rifles
though not ali would be the modern
Springfield rife with which the regular
army and National Guard are nov
equipped. This appears from the fac
General Crozier told the Committee OF
Military Affairs that there was a tOta
of 6sSo00 Of the new form OF rifles man
ufsctured or under manufacture. The
regular troops all are equipped with tn
new Springfield rifle, said to be tn
equal OF any army rifle used by am
nation, and so is the National Guard
But aside from these, the War Depart
ment has in the arsenaIs 203O 900 of tn,
krag-JorgensOn service rifles. Thi
gives total Of $4,000 magazine arm.
rifles disable to equip troops.
While the Krag-JOrgensOn rife is no
byesny means the equal of the new riff
which is in the hands Of the regulars
ana the guard, IL is still an excellen
.NfFVDIr WSlnE EliAVhtttEH IUMutls Will
high velocity and long range. IL Is III,
rife with which the troops wer,
equipped In the Spanish war and In tn,
Philippine campaigning, after the OLE
single-shoJ Springfield Of As caliber wa
discarded For that matter, the Gov
erfunent still has on hand some OF tn
oldaSpringfelds and they are not weap
ones to be despised- Many an old arm
sergeant can be found who has doubt
81 a better gun was ever put TO shoulde
than this same old Springfield. whicl
was powerful and accurate and neve
failed TO stop man when Il hit him.
More than this. Of course. there is a
enormous number Of modern magaZin
Yihes in the country IN the hands O
private individuals. General CrOZier di
not speak OF these. But his own figure
chow that IL a million men had TO TAX
the field tomorrow the arms could b
found for them. so Tar as rifles are con
cerned.
In Civil War.
IN the course Of the discussion OF thi
S1atter before the committee. Cen
Franklin Bell, chief Of stan, reminde
the committee that million and a hal