Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1914-12-09
COUNTRY'S ARMAMENT
Is STOUTLY DEFENDED
Admiral Badger and General Gro
zier Discuss Lessons Drawn
From European War.
GARDNER MEETS WITH DEFEAT
Committee Refuses His Request for
Special Inquiry Into State
OF Preparedness.

w beCemDeT o.-LeS-
sons drawn from the European war
were discussed before the House Mill
tary and Naval Committees to-day by
Brigadier- General Crozier. chief of
ordnance OF the army, and Rear-Ad-
miral Badger. of the navys general
STAFF.
General Crozier said the United States
never would need guns similar to the
great German howitzers which de-
molished Belgium's forts. and asserted
that American field guns were as good
as any in the world. Admiral Badger
told the Naval Committee that ship
for ship. the United States Navy is
equal to. II not better. than that Of
Germany or any other nation"
While the committees were at work.
majority members of the Rules Com
mittee were deciding mot to grant the
request of Representative Gardner Of
Massachusetts,. for hearing on his
resolution to direct a special Inquiry
into the Preparedness of the United
states for. war. Chairman Henry later
addressed letter to Representative
Gardner. advising him that his proper
forum for hearing would be before
regularly constituted committees of the
House which are in daily session, con-
l.
tary and naval strength of the
country"
STILL DETERMISED
TO CONTINUE FIGHT
Notwithstanding the committees at
itude, Mr.. Gardner tonight reiterated
his determination to continue his fight
for special investigation. During the
day, Senator Lodge indicated that he
would call up in the Sehate later his
resolution similar to the one introduced
IN the q House ps by Repressntatiye Gard :
5 Ordnance was dfscIsssd by 8 enc ensrai Il
Crozier in connection with his estimates
ior the next fiscal year. On this score,
he said, the United States "has no need
to feel uncomfortable" 4-t
Have you seen models OF the new
sixteen-inch field guns the Germans
are reported to be using in Europe 2"
General Crozier Was asked.
NO" replied the general, "and we do
not contemplate experimenting with
these big guns. No one knows what
they may come to. but we must con-
slider the purpose for which these guns
were used. The French Belgian border
was defended by armored forts, and the
Germans brought up these special guns
10 demolish them. Now. we are not
going up against anything like. that
and ! sec no reason why we should
need any such guns"
General Crozier said the Ordnance
Bureau was experimenting with field
howitzers of seven and half and nine
ana half inch calibre. These. he
said. could move with mobile army
At present, he said, the field artillery
Is supplied with three and six-inch
guns.
We think our field guns are as good
as any in the world" said the general.
HOPES TO INCREASE
AMMUNITION SUPPLY
In ammunition for field guns. Cen
eral Crozier said. the department had
3S per cent of the estimated needed
reserve on hand. This. he said, he
hoped to increase. In time of war,
General Crozier estimated, government
plants and private factories could turn
out 100000 rounds OF ammunition In
SIX months. and 10000 rounds a month
thereafter.
IF you were in a war would that
be enough?" asked Representative Avis.
Wei, the ammunition plants are
being enlarged right along" said GEN
eral Crozier. They are meeting 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
turning out through Canada armored
automobiles for European power at
war.
What" queried Representative
Kahn, I'VE are asked to pray for peace,
and yet we furnish armored cars to
n belligerent to further war?"
SHOULD FOLLOW EXAMPLE
OF GERMANY AND ENGLAND
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. He insisted that
hattleships should not be sacrificed to
increase the number of submarines
The influence Of the British. fleet, he
said, was such that without firing a
gun II had accomplished It's purpose
or driving German commerce off the
seas. of insuring safe transportation OF
the English army to the Continent and
or protecting neutral trade with Eng
land.
Admiral Badger expressed the opin-
ion that it would be mistake to
station submarine craft at any par
ticulnr ports along the Atlantic or Pa
cihc or Gulf for coast defense, saying
that handling the submarines as no.
tillas rather than as separated coast
defenses would make for greater ef-
fciency. He added that he regarded
100 submarines. as adequate.
The admiral recounted tests made by
aircraft scouts OF tho Atlantic Fleet.
II was demonstrated, he said, that an
airship could locate submarine mine
at depth Of fifty 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. He said In
the Atlantic Fleet every gun was fired
twenty times year In target practice.
Parsonally,he advocated devoting more
time to target practice.