The evening herald. [volume] (Albuquerque, New Mexico) 1914-1922, 1917-12-29
Major General Crosier Tells How
He Had, During Previous Years,
Often Asked for Larger Appro-
priations, Without Success.
RELATES DETAILS OF
MACHINE GUN TESTS
Says Prejudice Did Not Keep the
Lewis Weapon Out Of American
Equipment; II damned Free
quently and Parts Failed.
w As,oei.,,a Fr...

washington. Dec. 3l.~Ma1Or Gen.
Crozler. army ordnance chief. today
gave to the senate committee lnvesti-
eating the conduct 81 the war. his
side Of the reasons for artillery short
agc aud of the celebrated c-ontroversv
over the Lewis machine gun. Respon-
sibility Tor artillery shortage. the gem
eral said, lay with the whole country
and he showed how every effort Of his
To get larger appropriations for artii-
lery In time ~ peace was overruied
by the secretary OF war and by con-
gress. The British n French gov
crBments, he showed by official rec
orts. had of themselves offered to
supply Gen Pershiss's forces with ar
tiliery and he gave tateme from
abroad To SHOW that the allies were
able to do II because they had a
surplus.
General Crozier submitted the tests
of the Lewis gun. showing that other
guns performed better. disclaimcd
any personal prejudice ~ claimed by
Col Lewis. the inventor. aud showed
that since the u had been perfect-
ed to use American ammunition. the
war department hui bought q%uanti-
ties % them.
Whole Country Irresponsible,
Il am not attempting 10 excuse
the situation that requires Us 10 de-
! pend on our frienas Tor heavy artii-
iery. said Gen Crezier, hut the re-
sponslbility rests on he whole coun-
try."
How le had. during previous years.
often asked congress FOR larger APP
propriations FOR artillery and hat he
and either army heads had many
times called the country's attention
To the need Tor artillery. was related
by the general
This is a plain statement OF the
ease. said Gen. Crozier. citing one
instance before the war Ia which a
modest program" of artillery nppro-
priations calling Tor si.su0.0oO was
cut In half 10y direction of the secre-
tary Of war aud then further reduced
by congress To- $4,000. No consid-
crahle appropriation. no said. was
made Tor heavy artillery until 1916.
Appropriations In preceding years, he
said. were absolutely Inadequate"
Machin. guns. Gen Crozier said,
were never expected 20 become such
an important weapon
r., Turning To the charges that prcju-
, dice had kept the Lewis out % Amer
lean equipment Cen Crozier detailed
the official records ~ the depart
mcnt
First Offcr i~,ccei,cd.
The first offer. ga his knowledge
was received May 2 igts. whcn the
Automatic Arms company asked Tor
Il special test. The correspondence
800 ~. IL - IAasN AHN
cred "a regular test with Ammunition
furnished by the government No
. test followed but on March .. 1919
J nnuther Lewis gun was offered for 3
\ test. which was held ~ the spring
feld arsenal The Vickers was adopt
ed. however. because the boards re
port showed the Lewis gun iumme'
20G times. had 80 broken part an
~ a. parts required replacement. Will
/, the yickcrs gun lau,med only 81 time
- and had mo- parts broken The boar
)t held the Lewis gun inferior 10 tn
Lewis cor Rcnet- Mercier
80 other Lewis gun. Gen Cruzic
said. was submitted tor "a test unit
Abril 1916. The war departmeu
previously asked Tor a Lewis gun Z
et test. hut the savage Arms compan
90 stated none WAS available. Ia IA
lc test ~ April. 1916. Gen Crozier sai'
re the manufacturers Withdrew IN" guI
us because IL was said they were not :
~ o. condition.
PEI An the boards formed Go test ma
% chine gums Crozier pointed out. WEI
lis not subject 90 hil jurisdiction IN
hoard in April 1915. found the lew
gun had many desirable feutares an
ns offered 10 test Il again when PEI
fected He produced a letter fro
FRS President Forte. of the savage ARA
ms company stating the hoards aeti'
i've hat been entirely impartial"
ate Purchased a0O Lewis Guns.
M In tn summer ~ 1915. Gen. or
ro- zler said. ON his own Initiative al
'as without funds hsyine been apr
ula priated he bought $50 Lewis guns
b use with british ~angounition on Z
Mexican border. Letters from OF
GERS having charge Of the guns err
rising the Lewis guns adversely we
VA prnAuced and Crozier said In !
am border service the Lewis WAS generl
had il proven Inferior Ia the Henet-N'
NET cier and N.C' erS.
Kl- \ report Fast January from !
AI.M NNHA I'D