The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1914-12-09
RULES COMMITTEE
tcoasnu.d Prom FIRST r.x..,

tcontanusd Prom FIRST Paxs,
that his proper forum for a hearing
would be before the regularly consti- |
tuted committees of the House. which
are now in daily session considering /
matters pertaining to the military and
naval strength OF the country"
notwithstanding the committee's at |
tituoe. Mr.. Gardner tonight reiterated
mis- determination to keep up the fight
Tor a special Investigation. During
the day Senator Lodge indicated that
ne would call up in the Senate. later.
mis- resolution. similar TO the one intro |
duced in the House by Representative |
Gardner.
Ordnance. from automatic pistols to |
le-inch howitzers. was discussed by |
General Crozier I'm connection with his
estimates for the next fiscal year. On |
this score the United States has no J
reason TO feel uncomfortable"
Have you seen models OF the new
sixteen-inch field guns which the Ger;
mans are reported TO be using in Eu-
rope? Representative Kahn asked.
Not Needed Here.
No. replied General Crozier "and
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
guns were used in Europe. The French
Belgian border was defended by ar
mored forts. mounting three and six
inch guns. TO meet such artillery as
ordinarily accompany mobile armies
The Germans knew these guns were
there and those forts we're there. and
brought up these special guns to de-
molish them. From what I understand
II is an engineering feat 10 move those
Sixteen-inch field guns. and they can
be transported only by rail. Now we
are not going up against anything like
That and | can see no reason why
we should need any such guns as
that"
Discussing field artillery Genera
Crozier said that the ordinance bu-
reau was at present experimenting !
with field howitizers OF seven and a |
half and nine and a half inch calibre.
These he said would be able TO move
with mobile army. At present he !
said the field artillery is supplied with
three and sixinch guns. OF these he |
said there are now SEQ in service |
or ordered. He expects to increase /
the number TO 912 during the next /
year. and he estimates ,292 guns as
the maximum needed.
Good As Any In World.
I'VE think our field guns are as
rood as any in the world" said the
general
In ammunition for field guns Gen.
eral Crozier said the department had
IS per cent of the estimated needed
reserve on hand. for the number %
guns available. This he said he hoped
I TO increase TO 60 per cent within the
year. The department contemplated
supply of $500 rounds for each three
inch gun, he said. Under the present
ratio OF appropriations he said tbs
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 100000 rounds
IN six month and 10000 rounds a
month thereafter.
IF you were in a war. would that
be enough" asked Representative
Avis. of West Virginia
We'll. the ammunition plants are
being enlarged right along" said Gen
eral Crozier; they are meeting with
an increased demand"
Are they selling through Canada?"
[ asked Representative Kahn.
They are selling to somebody"
General Crozier said that automobile
manufacturers in this country were
now turning out armored automobiles
which were being sold to European
power now at war. through Canada.
Create Naval Reserve.
Admiral Badger advised the naval
committee that the United States
should follow the example OF Germany
and Great Britain in creating a naval
reserve of officers and men who have
served in the navy. lie insisted that
battleships could not be sacrificed TO
increase the number OF submarines
The admiral was piled with ques-
tons. Members OF the committee
were particularly anxious 10 know why
the German feet was permitted to
remain bottled up in its own hRrbors
The admiral said that as long as the
German fleet was bottled up IL was
performing no useful purpose. and that
therefore II was unnecessary for the
enemy TO bring about an engagement.
The influence OF the British fleet. he
added. was such that without the ar
/ ing OF a gun II had accomplished its
purpose OF driving German commerce
OF the seas. ensuring safe transporta-
ton Of the English army TO the CONT
nent and Of protecting neutral trade
with England
Admiral Badger expressed the opin-I
I ion that 10 would be n mistake 10 sta.
ton submarine craft nj any particular
ports along the Atlantic OF Pacific or
/ gulf for coast defense. saying that
handling the submarines as flotillas
rather than as separated coast de-
/ lenses would make for greater eff
I cheney.
One Hundred Submarines.
Ile added that while opinions diff
. fered as to the number Of submarines
necessary for protection Of the insu.
Oar possessions and for coast defense.
+ DO regarded one hundred submarines
altogether az adequate Sc wanted
these TO be- OF different classes. the
sea going a. well as the smaller ones
for shore operation.
The committee listened eagerly tol
the admiralF account OF tests made
. by the air craft scouts Of tho Atlantic
fleet % was demonstrated hc said. in
the Caribbean sea and at Guantanamo