Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1917-12-17
RESUME INQUIRIES
OVER Gun SUPPLY
Situation Aside From What Are Mill.
tary Secrets Laid Before Senate
Committee After Investigation.

Washington, Dec 17.-Inuuiry into
alleged delays in supplying the army
with guns and the curtailment Of
funds recommended by the ordnance
bureau for that purpose was taken up
again today in open session by the
senate military committee after a two
days examination of Major General
Crozier behind closed doors.
General Crozier, who was still on
the stand today, continued his de-
tailed statement Of the ordnance stu
alton as far as it revealed nothing the
war department considered a military
secret.
General Crozier declared there was
entirely too much red tape" getting
money. While an emergency appro-
/ priation request for a lump appro-
priation Of 1892. 537 900 made BY the
war department April 5--a day be-
fore war was declared, it was June
before the congress made appropria-
tons under the estimates.
( But you had millions OF dollars
left of appropriations made before, "
interrupted Chairman Chamberlain.
Il have not been entirely satisfied
with any explanation made of this
matter. For instance you had money
appropriated for machine guns and
{ you haven't the guns yet. We appro-
priated Tor small arms and you spent
the money for pistols instead of
rifles
/ I'VE were far shorter of pistols than
rifles General Crozier answered,
'and we are not going to be slowed
up in this war in the slightest degree
on account of rifles
Il don't think the country will be
satisfied with that explanation, SEN
ator Chamberlain insisted. We need
rifles for target practice and training
purposes in the field"
How prospective appropriations by
| congress were anticipated was recited
by General Crozier For instance, he
. said, orders were placed for 5000, 600
rounds Of ammunition early last
spring before any funds were avail
able, He detailed how many new fac
tories that had never before made gun
forgings were given large contracts
to increase ordnance production.
We have placed orders of more
than $500, 600 900 since the war be-
gan" General Crozier explained, cit
ing the magnitude of operations
THAT is more than fifty per cent over
the entire governments expenses 70:
any year since the Spanish war
Senator Wadsworth asked whether
the government should have an officer
or department similar to England
minister of munitions
My own belief is that the better
way is to enlarge and strengthen ex-
listing organizations rather than Gre
ate new Ones" General Crozier re-
piled. Quicker results have been OBJ
tanned here than by the British organ
ization"
we think, and I think the country
thinks, that there has been too much
delay, too much red tape, too much
circumlocution in the department,
said Senator Hitchcock. Has any eff.
fort been made to shorten up the pro
fcesses?"
Yes, a great deal of red tape has
been eliminated" said General Gro
zier.
Regarding American coast defenses
Senator Freiinghuysen asked:
THE country wants TO know wheth-
er our coast artillery and defensey
are of the proper type and able tC
cope with any attacking force, sub
marine or otherwise; is 1t as effective
as those of European nations"
YES" replied General Crozier witt
emphasis For the last 10 or 15 years
our coast defenses have been superior
to those of any nation of Europe. Oul
guns are more than adequate"
General Crozier's explanation wa,
finished today and the committe,
unanimously agreed to recommend
confirmation of his disappointment al
chief of ordnance.