Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1917-12-13

KleT. tllief OF ordnance, IN con-
tinuing the senate investigation.
From all sides of the committee Ia
BILE questions were fired at the ord
nance chief for information on why
money furnished by congress had not
been more rapidly expended for ord
nance
That time needed for manufacturing
after funds were authorized, was the
principal cause Of delay, was the gist
Of General Crozier's explanations.
In your statement yesterday" said
Chairman Chamberlain, you were dis
posed to place the responsibility for
delays on congress and the labor sit
uation, although your first appropria-
ton was made in June, 1916, and some
Of your appropriations were still I'M
expended when war was declared
Asks About Emergency Fund.
War was declared in April" Sen
ator Hitchcock interjected When
did work actually begin for equipping
/ the army? The president was grant
! ed an emergency fund Of 100000 900.
Why wasn't that used? If we were
at war, why didn't we go TO war?
| Why is it, in the ninth month of the
/ war, that we find our men without
| clothing and equipment or ordnance?
| Why dc our men over there have to
use French artillery"
! General Crozier, turning first to one
4 questioner and then another, replied
/ that work to secure ordnance was be-
gun before war was declared, In antic-
/ ipation Of hostilities.
/ The effect of the war declaration
was TO hasten our preparations, said
the ordnance chief Our first step
was to prepare estimates Of appro-
priations-"
why should that have taken any
great length Of time?" asked Senator
Chamberlain why did it take Sc
long after April to make the esti-
mates? Isn't it fact that most Of
the 1916 appropriations were still un-
| expended when war was declared?"
| Cites Red-Tape Methods.
= Yes" General Crozier replied, "but
many orders against the appropria
tons had been given. The delay was
a necessary accompaniment Of oul
methods Of government. which require
much checking and joint responsible
ity. We had been placing orders al
though actual expenditures were no
made until much later because o
time necessary in making ordnance
! That work takes a long time
Turning to the presidents emery
; ency fund, Senator Hitchcock asked
Congress hastily appropriated
, 500, $1,000 without any restrictions
that was more than ten months ago
and now why do we find it was no
?"
: Il can't tell you that" General Gro
zier answered. Part was reserved 70
= certain particular purposes"
When did you first request TIL
president for any part Of it," askel
Senator Chamberlain,
II think in August"
THAT was four months after wa
: was declared" the chairman observed
What were you doing in the meantime
l. to prepare ordnance?"
General Crozier replied that his Blu
reau had been making estimates, cat
aloguing possible manufacturers ant
placing orders in anticipation of &p
, preparations
Presumably every man in the Unit
ed States thought war likely" Senate
Weeks suggested. What preparation
were made before the actual declara
o tor? %
General Crozier repeated his state
ment regarding advance orders. manu-
facturers, census work and increase
lin designing and drafting work H
, said orders were placed against $50,
100000 to 100000 900 appropriation
previously authorized In the summe
y and fall of 1915 and that some ma
S terials had not yet been delivered.
i Takes Time for Artillery.
e at takes long time to make ar
y tillery." he explained.
Il Does it take foreign countries tina
: llong?" asked Senator Hitchcock.
General Crozier replied in the al
: firmative, saying that from the time q
a new ordnance design in German
Y until It's issuance TO troops there is
d lapse Of seven years.
t But in view of the tremendou
# emergency couldn't we have used Brit
+ ish or French designs?' asked sena
+ tor Hitchcock.
We could, and did" General Gre
y zier answered, ito very great es
IS tent
e Il don't want generalities," sal
It Senator Hitchcock. THE time ha
D come when we ought to know jus
II what has been done There is a fee
y ing and many reports that we hav
a been behind. that there has been a
= awful delay In many things that ougt