Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1916-01-24
Preparedness for Defense
Topic of Gen. Crozier Before
House Military Committee.
EMPHASIZES THE LACK
OF HEAVY HOWITZERS
Capacity Of Ordnance Department
for War Supplies-Gen. Macomb
Discusses Army Reorganization.

The largest mobile howitzer designed
thus far for the American army is of
only 7.6-inch caliber. Brig. Gen.
Crozier, chief of the ordnance depart
ment, today told the House military
committee. Only preliminary plans had
been made, Gen. Crozier said. for IS
inch howitzer.Iand there were no de-
signs for 16-inch howitzers, such as
the German 42-centimeter gun, al
though information from American
military observers abroad indicated
that they were necessary to demolish
field intrenchments.
Gen. Crozier asked that the number Of
officers in his department be more than
doubled to meet the need for designing
new guns and carriages The Trout
board. recently constituted in the War
Department, had recommended. he said,
that troops be equipped with six field
guns per thousand men, with provision
for 5000 rounds of ammunition per gun,
and that eleven-inch field howitzers be
selected. Gen. Crozier had recommended
the 9.5-inch gun for the present instead.
and reduced the ammunition to $500
rounds per gun, bringing the cost of pro-
viding adequate reserves of guns and am
for four years down to S275,-
100000 from the boards estimate Of
$3.50, 10000
The general staff, however, had urged
sixteen-inch guns with increased pro-
visions for aircraft and put the esti-
mated cost up again to S4sO,OOO 900
Reduced to $3.50, OOO, 900.
This he had reduced, Gen. Crozier
said, to $2s0.000,000 and Secretary Gar
rison now has the whole matter in his
hands for decision.
In the event of war Cen Crozier
said. the ordnance department is pre-
pared to fully equip between 100000
and 100000 men. He discussed in detail
the present capacities of government
arsenals and the estimated cost of pre-
pairing these plants to meet war de-
mands. The witness drew what he
termed speculative lessons from the
European war on which he based his
estimates as to probable consumption
of ammunition and wear and tear on
rifles and field guns.
While his figures dealt primarily with
government arsenals, Gen. Crozier did
not favor any attempt at government
monopolization of its own war NUM-
tons. To supply a field army of 9O0,-
900 men. he said, would take fifty
millions just to double the output of
that plant. He would rather, he said.
see the government encourage private
plants.
Discussion of Cost.
To put in the plants to equip this
army of 100000 men," he said, would
cost $4,000. 900. and to put in plants for
a wartime production would cost
100000 900. To equip such a force as
the British army would cost soc, 900. 900.
Nobody is going to appropriate such
sums"
The witness said the government
could and did manufacture cheaper
than private plants, but that this diff
ference would be more than offset by
the interest charges on the sums in
vested. Private plants in the United
States, by the coming autumn, he said
would be able to produce 100000 rounds
of rifle cartridges a day and $4,000
rounds of f1eld-gun charges.
Gen. Macorhb on Reorganization.
Brig Cen NJ. NJ. Macomb, president of
the Army War College. told the Senate
military committee that the Chamberlain
army reorganization bill was the best
measure yet presented for putting the
country into a state or preparedness.
With an amendment to create a reserve
officers training corps. he said, it would
meet the approval of the war college bet
ter than either the Hay bill or the meas
ure offered by the War Department.
Gen. Macomb also approved Senator
Chamberlain's bill to provide that every
citizen should be liable to military
training. The need of recognizing the
liability to compulsory military train
Ing. he said. was essential in times Of
peace. England's recognition of this
liability. coming after the start of the
war. he declared. had come too late
and at the expense of many lives.
The War College now is studying a
means Of developing the nations forces
civil and peaceful pursuits, he said. In
general. 1t would divide the country
into subdivisions, from which only as
many men as were needed would be
drawn for military training. The Swiss
system of universal compulsory service,
he thought. was not needed in the
United States.
Defense Of Right to Exist.
Every nation which expects to con-
tinue to exist" he said. must realize
the need of preparing to defend its
right to existence. The nation which
does not do this. doesn't deserve to
continue to exist"
The head of the War College declared
the National Guard was not now suit
able for use as the first line Of DEFENSE