Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1914-12-09

sion considering matters pertaining to
the military and naval strength of the
country"
Gardner Determines
: Notwithstanding the committees at
titude, Mr. Gardner tonight reiterated
his determination to keep up the fight
for a special investigation. During the
day. Senator Lodge indicated that he
would call up in the Senate later his
resolution similar to the one intro
duced in the House by Rep. Gardner.
Ordnance from automatic pistols to
16-inch howitzers was discussed by
Gen. Crozer with his estimates fer the
next fiscal year. On this score. he said
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 ESrope?"
Rep. Kahn asked.
NO replied Gen. Crozier, land we do
not contemplate experimenting with those
big guns. No one knows what they may
come to, but we must consider the pur-
pose for which these guns were used in
Europe. The French Belgian border was
three and six-inch guns, to meet such
artillery as ordinarily accompany mobile
armies, The Germans knew these guns
were there and those forts were there
and brought UP these special guns to de-
molish them.
From what l understand, 1t is an en-
gineering feat TO move those 16-inch field
guns, and they can only be transported
by rail. Now We are not going up against
anything like that and I can see no rea-
son why we should need any such guns
as that"
Present Experiments
Discussing field artillery. Gen. Crozier
said that the ordnance body was at pres
ent experimenting with field howitzers of
seven and a half and nine and a half inch
calbre. These, he said, would be able
to move with a mobile army.
I'VE think our field guns are as good
as any in the world" said the general.
OF ammunition for field guns Gen. Gro
zier said the department had 3S per cent.
of the estimated needed reserve on hand
for the number of guns available.
This. he said, he hoped to increase to
so per cent. within the year In time of
war, Gen. Crozier estimated the govern
ment plants and private factories in the
country could turn out 100000 rounds in
six months and 10000 rounds a month
thereafter.
IF you were in war, would that be
enough?" asked Rep. Avis of West Vir-
ginia.
Enlarging Plants
We'll, the ammunition plants are being
enlarged right along,P said Gen. Crozier.
They are meeting an increased demand
Are they selling through Canada?'
asked Rep. Kahn.
They are selling to somebody
Gen. Crozier said that automobile man
ufacturers in this country were now turn
ing out armored automobiles which were
being sold to European powers now at
war through Canada.
"what?' suggested Rep. Kahn. I'VE are
asked to pray for peace and yet we fur
nish armored cars to belligerent to fur
Their war;"
Admiral Badger advised the naval COM
mittee that the United States should fol-
low the example of Germany and Great
Britain in creating a naval reserve of of.
icers and men who have served in the
navy. He insisted that battleships should
not be sacrificed to increase the number
of submarines
Explains BottIins Up
Members of the committee were partic-
ularly anxious to know why the German
fleet was permitted to remain bottled
up" in its own harbors. The admiral said
kn< he una
bottled up it was performing no useful
purpose and that therefore it was I'M
necessary for the enemy to bring about
an engagement, He said probably no
commander in command of fleet would
submit his ships 10 the attacks of a great
fort or to the danger of submarine mines
as preliminary fighting with another
battle fleet, as 1t would mean running the
risk of going into an engagement in a
damaged condition.
The influence of the British feet, he
added, was such that without the firing of
a gun it had accomplished it's purpose of
driving German commerce off the seas.
of insuring safe transportation Of the
English army to the Cotinent and OF pro-
tecting neutral trade with England.
The committee listened eagerly to the
admirars recital of tests made with air
craft scouts of the Atlantic fleet. 1t was
demonstrated, he said. in the Caribbean
sea and at Guantanamo that an airshep
could locate submarine mine submerged
to a depth of so feet He declared that
approximately the same results could be
obtained anywhere in the ocean or where
there were no rivers to muddy the water,
The admiral dwelt upon the efficiency
of the American warships.
Rear Admiral Fletcher, who succeeded
Admiral Badger in command of the At
lantic fleet, gave some supplementary tes-
timony. He will be on the stand as a