Fergus County Democrat. [volume] (Lewistown, Mont.) 1904-1919, 1916-01-27
CHIEF OF ORDNANCE
SUBMITS ESTIMATE
What it Would Cost u. S. to Keep Army
of Million Men in Field and Equip
an Additional Million Recruits.

WASHINGTON. Jan. 26.- Estimates
were given the senate military COM
mittee today by Brigadier General
CroHier, chief OF ordnance. showing
that plant costing $40O. 900 900 oper-
ated by force of 100000 workmen,
would be required to manufacture am
mnnition and war materials necessary
to keep an army OF million men In
the field and equip an additional mil
lion recruits.
General Crozier strongly disapprov-
ell any proposal for government mo-
nopoly of the manufacture of war sup
plies, insisting that best results could
be accomplished by relying upon pri-
vate establishments to supplement the
output OF government plants in time
Of war.
The committee received today from
Secretary Garrison draft OF q ten
tative measure suggested by Senator
Chamberlain, chairman OF the com.
mittee. which would provide for the
authorization OF the proposed cont.
mental army IN general terms only.
leaving the details OF the proposed
system to be worked out by war de-
partment regulations. The original
draft OF a bill submitted by the war
department, contained an outline OF
the entire system. Mr.. Garrison
pointed out to the congressional com
mittees. when he appeared before
them. however, that as the plan large
y was an experimental one. II would
be wise to give the president wide
discretionary powers to meet prob
lens which only could be solved In
the light Of experience yet To be
gained.
Senator Chamberlain has prepared
tentative bill dealing only with in
creases for the regular army and 1t
Ia assumed the general authority con
templated in the brief section submit
ted today by the secretary is intended
to be inserted into the Chamberlain
bill. II provides that men OF the con
tinental army shall receive not more
than three months training In any
year, while serving with the colOrs, or
more than six months training In all
during their three years OF active
duty. .,.,, ".
General Crozfer amplified today tes-
timony already presented before the
house committee to show the made
duncy OF present reserve stores for
the army
Ordnance equipment for an army Of
100000 has been assembled and the
country Ia in better position IN this
respect than at any time since the
close of the Civil war. he said, but
even this gives no security, In view
of the time required to produce guns
and ammunition In the quantities the
European war had shown to be neces-
sary
Only powder has been delivered to
the European belligerents In any con-
siderable quantities up to this time
by American plants. General Croziar
explained, although orders for many
kinds of weapons and ammunition
were placed more than a year ago
The largest orders. he said. we're for
| military rifles and while 10000 or so
old pattern weapons already had been
sent abroad none OF the many hun
dreds of thousands OF modern rifles
ordered had yet been delivered. Ar.
tillery ammunition. he added, would
not start abroad in bulk for some time
and the number of small calibre field
batteries already delivered had not
been large.
Pointing out that practically all
the public and large private munition
plants OF the United States arc sit
unted close to the Atlantic seaboard
and within striking distance by any
enemy in case of invasion. the gen
eral urged that some provision be
I made by congress to foster devoIop-
ment OF private plants in future in the
! interior.
! Brigadier General Weaver. chief ol
coast artillery, also reviewed before
the committee statements previously
/ presented to the house committee
While the fixed coast defsnses of the
United States are the best in the
world. he said. they are inadeQuately
manned and some provision Is neces
sary also for protection of the coast
! line between permanent forts by
means Of mobile artillery of heavy
! calibre.
Before the military and naval com
mittees today the condition of the
country as to drugs that would be
necessary In great quantity In war
time was brought out by the surgeon
generals OF the army and navy. Both
agreed that supplies OF quinine and
opium might be completely shut oil
II the United States became involved
in war that that great stores Of theae
drugs should be accumulated In
times Of peace. Surgeon General Cor
gas of the army said certain drug
supplies were being obtained from
Germany and Austria sub rosa" but
he did NOT gO into details He said
the army now was equipped with re
serve medical stores to last a force
Of 100000 men a year.
NAVY'S NEEDS.
WASHINGTON, Jan. 26.-Material
enlargement OF the navy's hospital IA