Tulsa daily world. [volume] (Tulsa, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1905-1919, 1914-12-09
declares u. S. we'll
Prepared FOR WAR
HOUSE COMMITTEE HEARS
FROM BOTH THE ARMY
AND NAVY.
DON'T NEED BIG GUNS
Admiral Badger Says Our Navy
Is the Equal
Of Any.

wv ASHINGTON, Dec S-The
w United states is not poorly
prepared for war, according to infor-
nation given today to the house mill
itary and nayay committees by Brig
adler General Crozier, chief Of ordi-
nance of the army, and Rear Admiral
Badger, Of the nayys general STAFF,
General Crozer said the United
States never would have use for guns
similar to the great hoWitZers with
which the Germans demolished Bel
GUMS forts and asserted that the
American field guns were as good as
any in the world.
American Navy Good
Admiral Badger told the naval COM
mittee that ship for ship, the Clilld
States navy is equal to, if not better
than that of Germany or any other
nation"
Answering questions, the admiral
gave his idea of why the British navy
is content to keep tn German fleet
| bottled up instead OF forcing an e.
gagement.
While these committees were at
NoIh lut IlidJplllN lltIlb'lS " tiit
rules committee were deciding not to
grant the request of Representative
Gardner (Massachusetts) for a hear
ing on his resolution to direct a spe-
cial inquiry into the preparedness Of
the United states for war. Chairnal
Henry later addressed 4 letter to Rep
resentative Gardner advising him that
the proper form for a hearing would
be before the regularly constituted
committees of the house, which "aro
now in daily session considering mat
ters pertaining to the military aud
naval strength Of the country.
Gardner to Continue.
Notwithstanding the committees
attitude, Mr.. Gardner tonight reitcr-
ated his determination to keep up the
fight for a special investigation. Dur.
| ing the day Senator Lodge indicated
that he would call up in the senate
later his resolution similar to the one
introduced in the house by Represent
ative Gardner.
Ordnance, from automatic pistols to
16-inch howitzers, was discussed by
General Crozier in connection with his
estimates for the next fiscal year. On
this score the United States "has no
need to feel uncomfortable"
Have you seen models of the new
16-inch field guns which the Germans
are reported to be using in Europe"
Representative Kahn asked.
mo" replied General CrOZier, land
we do not contemplate experimenting
with those big guns. No one knows
what they may come to, but we must
consider the purpose for which these
were used in Europe to demolish
armOred forts. From what | under
stand, it is an engineering feat TO
move these 16-nch field guns and
they can be transported by rail only,
Now, we are not going up against
anything like that and ! can see no
reason why we should need any such
guns as that"
Il have understood" said Mr..
/ Kahn, that this same gun which the
Germans are using or one practically
/ the same was invented by an Amer
/ lean named Gathmann of Chicago,
and that it was offered to the war de-
! partment and the navy department"
Gun Was No Good.
There is no invention about build
/ ing big gum" returned General
/ Crozier; anybody can do that Gath
mann's gun was different affair from
/ this gun His original model en-
/ bodied many new tangled notions. He
/ finally came down to building a sea-
coast defense gun, using a very large
/ projectile with heavy charge of gun
| cotton. We conducted several expert
ments with funds appropriated by
congress. Finally an 1S-inch gun was
built along the lines suggested by
! Gathmann. 1t was tested out side be
side with a 12-inch service model
gun"
He added that the Gathmann gun,
which depended upon a projectle
! bursting on contact, was of much less
efficiency than the service gun with
an armOr piercing projectile.
Discussing field artillery, General
! CroZicr said that the ordnance bureau
was at present experimenting with
field howitzers of seven and a half
and nine and a half inch calibre.
These, he said, would be able to move
with a mobile army.
To Increase supply.
At present. he said, the field artil.
lery is supplied with three and six
inch guns. OF these, he said, there
are now $50 in service or ordered.
He expects to increase the number to
912 during the next year, and he es-
Inmates 1922 guns as the maximum
needed.
I'VE think our field guns are as
good as any In the world" said the
general.
In ammunition for field guns Cen
eral Crozier said the department had
3S per cent of the estimated needed
reserve on hand, for the number OF
guns available. This, no said. he
hoped to increase to 60 per cent
within the year. The department con-
templated supply of 1900 rounds
for each three-inch gun. he said.
Under the present ratio of approprl-
ations, he said, the entire reserve
would be supplied in four years. In
time of war General Crozier estimated
the government plants and private
factories in the country could turn
out 400, 900 rounds In six months and
10000 rounds a month thereafter.
Enlarging Plants.
'If you were In a war would that
be enough?" asked Representative