davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
New-York tribune., 1917-12-14
Allies Helped Decide
Disposition of Troops

.Chairman: But you could not know
our troops were rot going to operate
with the British troops?
Crozier: Yes. sir; we did know that.
Brady: That was considered by the
General staff. | presume
Crozier: That was considered by the
General staff, By the Administration
that is, the government. There was CON
suitation. =,
Prady: In coordination with the AL
lies?
Crozier: As you gentlemen will re-
member. the British and French mis-
sions were here at the same time, and
that subject was very carefully gone
into.
Senator Wadsworth: May ask
whether this decision with respect TO
the modification of the Lee-Enield and
all its associated problems was de-
cided upon by the General staff and
the War College in conjunction with
you, sir?
Crozier: It was decided upon at
conference with the Secretary of War,
the chief of staff, the commander OF
the American expeditionary force, the
chief of the War College division of
the general staff, commandant Of ma
rine, who had "a force in that expedi-
tion. and myself.
Weeks: Was there objection to it
on the part of the ordnance officers OF
the army, for example?
Crozier: The army at large did not
have opportunity to express an opinion
on il. You speak Of the ordnance Of
ficers of the army. ! represented the
ordnance officers, Of the ordnance de-
partment.
Weeks: Has there been any disap-
proval of the change?
Crozier: There has been some disap-
proval, yes.
Hitchcock: The capacity of the man
ufacture of these rifles continued to
be increased.
Crozier: 1t has been continued TO
be increased.
Beckham: Is it a figure that is am
pie to provide any troops we may have
raised and sent abroad?
Crozier: Yes. sir.
Hitchcock: When will that be?
Crozier: We will reach this capacity
/ have in mind in the early spring. In
the mean time, however. we shall have
had all our troops supplied, and all of
them 10 60 abroad will have been sup
piled very considerable time before
they will 20 abroad. think we coud have
had enough rifes-could have, as far
as the matter of arming our forces is
concerned, if We had been satisfied with
the British rife and ammunition-we
could have armed our forces with il.
Chairman: without any trouble?
Crozier: Without any trouble, yes,
sir That could have been done.
Wadsworth: Were the British hav-
ing machine guns or automatic rifles
made in this country?
Crozier: Yes, sir; they were hav-
ing guns, Lewis guns, made at Utica,
n. Y, by the Savage Arms Company.
Wadsworth: Then this decision on
the part Of the department TO ad-
here to the Springfield ammunition
made it impossible also for us-to use
machine guns being made for the Brit
ish government in this country?
Crozier: Yes, sir; made it neces-
sary to alter those machine guns;
that is to say, in process of manu-
facture a.
New-York tribune., 1917-12-14
Secretary of War
Responsible, Says Crozier

Chairman: And yet between the ap-
propriations Of 1916 and June, 1871,
practically nothing was done toward
construction. ! still am not satlslleo
with the explanation you MADE a0ou'
the delay. -, lava
Crozier: Senator. what | shall nave
to say to you, then, is that l am not
satisfied, either, and | was not sa''s-
fed at the time. ~.
Chairman: WHO was responsl Die
Crozier: The Secretary Of War.
Chairman Somebody is responsible
and want to find out who?
Crozier: The Secretary Of War has
TO be responsible. That is TO say, the
programme of treatment of the subject
of machine guns. coming finally to the
test of May. 1917, was a programme
which was adopted by the War De-
partment; it was prescribed by the
Secretary of War, who took a personal
interest in the subject and was not
the programme of the Ordnance De-
nartment
New-York tribune., 1917-12-14

after weighing all the advantages and
disadvantages. The committee mem
bers told him that officers Of the line
generally disagreed with him and felt
the loss due TO inability 10 drill their
men in target practice was of vital
consequence. The advantages upon
which the general insisted were better
ammunition and interchangeability OF
parts among the rifles made at the
three factories turning out Enhelds.
The committee called his attention to
the fhct that the war was being fought
bv the French and the British with bull
lets Of the type he condemned.
But the general kept insisting that to
get rid of the hange on the bullets IT.
was worth while TO undergo months of
delay. lie conceded that If the Enfield
had been adopted without change the
whole army. in training camps and
abroad, could have been equipped with
them. And thus he weakened his ar
gument for interchangeability OF parts.
As Il is, he will have at the front two
rifles that are not interchangeable-the
Springfield and the Enfield. If the En-
field had been taken as 1t stood, he
New-York tribune., 1917-12-14
Browning Gun Never
Tested in the Field

McKellar: Let me ask you why.
under the peculiar circumstances that
surrounded us in the fall and winter
of 1916-17-that is, after August 20,
after this relatively quite large ap-
preparation for machine guns, why did
the department delay so long in hav-
ing its test to determine as 20 which
gun they should have?
Crozier: That was to give an op-
portunity to some of those who wanted
their guns tested, to get them ready to
present them. 1t was not my recon-
mendation. Asa result Of that test,
hel din May, the Browning gun was
declared to be the gun that we ought
to use.
Wadsworth: Has there ever been
test in the field of the Browning gun?
Crozier: There never has. There
never has been enough of them in ex-
istence for that purpose.
Chairman: Was anything done at
all to get machine guns ready for
use between the declaration of war
and the adoption of the Browning
gun in June? How many ought to
New-York tribune., 1917-12-14
1916 Slips Away;
S1OO,OOO,OOO Untouched

Nineteen sixteen slipped by without "A
stem being taken 10 make machine guns.
The test was being awaited war was
declared. Still the Si0O,0OO,OOO avail,
able in 1916 was untouched. And II VIII
be April next year, nineteen months
after the money was made available by
Congress, before we shall begin TO get
many guns.
The committee insisted on this, as
it insisted yesterday on the failure 10
draw upon the $l0O,OOO,OOO emergency
fund. Congress is weary OF belng
blamed for all our failures IN con-
nection with this war.
There were surprising things IN
General Crozier's revelations. Here
was one. The French are arming US
with machine guns, Hotchkiss guns as
the heavy or fixed position type OF
machine guns are called, and Chan
chat guns, the very light type, some
times called automatic rifles. Machine
guns use the same ammunition as
ordinary rifles, and these guns, OF
course, use French cartridges. But the
French have been able to make over
their guns to fit our cartridges, prac.
ticalIy make new guns for US, and
will arm half million troops for us
with these new special guns next
spring. when we, with an earlier start,
will be only making our first gun. No
one asked General Crozier how or why
this was so, but there it stands on the
face Of his testimony.
There is another puzzling thing
about our allies and their guns. Cen
eral Crozier was careful to explain
that we could not have got the Lewis
guns right away after war broke out
because the factory was busy on or
ders for our ally, England. Yet we
can take guns from our ally, France, for
the arming Of our men. Because we
can't disturb the English supply is
offered as a reason why it was no loss
% time TO change the calibre Of am
munition used, requiring remaking
Of the Lewis gun for such purposes
as we shall finally use it. And yet
in the end this country draws upon
the supply abroad for the arming of
ffq mon
New-York tribune., 1917-12-14

might be said 70 have three rifles in
stead Of two, for the Enhelds being
made here by the three different fac
tories did not wholly correspond and
were not interchangeable IN many OF
their parts, and may be spoken of for
this reason as three different rifles.
II was n fine anc technical question
Of the kind, apparently, which the War
Department delighted in debating while
war preparations stood still.
The practical thing to do was to take
the rife and the machine gun which
were on the market and which had al
ready demonstrated their success
abroad. This the War Department
would not do. In the habit of mind
thus revealed lies the failure ofthe de-
partment to do its utmost to equip the
troops.
During the hearing General Crozier
verged repeatedly upon topics which it
was thought best to have the commit
tee hear privately. Tomorrow secret
session Of the committee will be held.
General Crozier's name went into the
Senate to-day for confirmation of his
reappointment as chief oi ordnance.
New-York tribune., 1917-12-14
corners. no quick decisions. no capacity

corners, no quick decisions. no capacity
20 20 straight at results.
There were endless discussions, eX-
pert opinions, tests by boards, consul
tstions, conferences, but no guns. Al
ways there was the desire for the per
feet gun, which is the dream Of the
ordnance officers life, but never was
there action looking toward the gun
that could be got most quickly ana
would win the war. Everybody followed
the wrath perfection. the perfect bnl-
let, without regard TO the fact the
war is being fought and won with the
imperfect bullet; the perfect machine
gun, without regard 20 the fact that
wonderful results are being got from
machine guns that are available ana
available quickly, even IL not perfect
New-York tribune., 1917-12-14

real reason for the delay in the manu-
fscturo of these machine guns?
Cyozier: That was the occasion OF
some delay. Senator. yes; but there
vas aIao the fact that the gun Wnlch
has been finally adopted for service, as
being the best gun in existence, IS
different gun from either one. 1900.
chairman: What is the name OF that
gun? p;no opn.
We are engaged now in preparation LOT
manufacturing that in two klnds;
heavy gun and light gun, both USING
tho same ammunition. OF course. 20
Chairman: when was that adopted
hitchcock: When will the Browning
gun be ready! -, -. p,ir,,
gun bo ready? A.. a.,
Hitchcock: | viii not ask 'h"' ~
this time.
Wadsworth: ! asked how many ma
chine guns General CgpZier mad IN
mind of these various types and Wnat
the output of our factories or govern
nent arsenals was at the time we went
into the war Of the guns using SPrlhg-
field ammunition for our army.
Crozier: The output of machine guns
using our ampunition at the time we
went into the war, the actuai current
OUTPUT. was nothing.
Weeks: What was their capacity!
Crozier: One factory had a capacity
which was expected and went to the
peak in the early autumn up TO ooO
a month. It.
Weeks: What type OF gun was tha5'
general?
Crozier: The Vickers.
Weeks: That is the Colt factory
Crozier: Yes. Another one had an
output that was expected to reach, |
do not remember the exact month, but
it was expected to get up to something
Iikn 5OO "a month
New-York tribune., 1917-12-14
France Is Supplying
America With Guns

Other questions followed, and Gen
eral Crozier said in answer to one Of
them:
Crozier-I think here is the time to
say something which | have not told
the committee before in reference to
these machine guns. Our numbr is so
small and the possibility of manufact-
ure in this country was so limited, that
when our troops went abroad we made,
and were fortunately able TO make, the
same kind of an arrangement with the
French government with reference to
the machine guns that we had made
with referenc 20 artillery, and we are
getting from them quite a sufficient
number of guns to arm our troops over
there of the heavy Hotchkiss type of
the heavy gun, and Of the Chauchat
type for the light guns.
Wadsworth: Do they use our am
munition?
Crozier: No, they do not.
Wadsworth: They use the French
ammunition
Crozier: We have to use the French
ammunition, and we are getting that
from the French government. Now,
these guns will hereafter be manu-
featured by the French to use our own
ammunition, and the use of French
ammunition will pass out. Some Of
these guns have been sent over here.
The Chauchat guns have been sent
over here; they are in the country
now; we are making ammunition for
them, and they are in the hands OF
our troops for training.
Wadsworth: But it is not the pur-
pose of the War Department to arm
the troops of the line with the Lewis
guns?
Crozier: No, it is the purpose TO
arm the airplanes with the Lewis gun,
New-York tribune., 1917-12-14
1000 New Rifles in Each
National Army Cantonment

Hitchcock: Are there rifles in any Of
the cantonments that could be used?
Crozier: Yes. sir.
Hitchcock: What number?
Crozier: Each one of the canton
ments of the National Army has had
shipped TO it some 1000 of the new
rifles. They have been carrying on
target practice with the new rifles, and
the supply of ammunition and the flow
of it is such now that it seems to me
there is no reason to believe that the
target practice cannot<be had, or there
is no apparent reason why the target
practice should not proceed. There are
no troops being sent to France who
have not had rifles which they have
been using for some time. There has
been shortage of ammunition. They
had some target practice. Not as much
as they wanted, but they have had
some. The reason for that is that the
amount of ammunition simply could
not be got under way in sufficiently
large amounts. 1t is also the case that
the National Guard has not been fully
armed with the 1903 model rife, but
they are more than 70 per cent armed
with it, and that armament IS being
completed quite rapidly.
Chairman: Let me ask you this,
General. Do you think this improve
ment compensates for the loss we sus-
tanned by taking these new modified
Enfield rifles over to Europe without
being able to utilize the ammunition
that the British government is using?
In other words. you have introduced
another ammunition that does not fit
anv Of the guns on the Continent.
Crozier: That point was very sare-
fully considered, Senator. The situa.
tion would have been different and
might have brought about a different
conclusion if the plan had been adopted
sof having our forces operate in con,
junction with the British forces, and
operate in the territory where the Brit
New-York tribune., 1917-12-14
[Stnf Correspondencel

WASHINGTON, Dec. 13.-Following
are extracts from the stenographic rec
ord Of testimony Of General Crozier
before the Senate committee to-day:
Senator Hitchcock: We declared war
early in April, the 5th or 9th of April.
When did work actually begin TO equip
the army for that war2
General Crozier: The work, Senator,
began before the war was declared, IN
that we were then engaged in getting
the equipment for the first increment
of the army which had been authorized
in the act of June 3. 1916. The effect
of the declaration Of war was TO hasten
our preparations, and as a first step
in the work of equipping the army to
prepare estimates of the funds we
would need for that purpose. That
commenced Immediately upon the dec
laration of war. We Immediately com
menced TO get together by the quickest
process We could, a statement OF the
funds we thought would be necessary.
Chairman: You say the national de-
fence act passed in June, 1916. 1t pro-
vided for raising this army in five in
crements, taking five years to organize
the whole army. Didn't you commence
to make your estimates for the first
increment Immediately after the pas
sage of the act of 1916!
Crozier; Yes, sir.
Chairman: Why should it have taken
anv length of time after the declara-
ton of war? Why should it have taken
any time after the declaration OF war
to make estimates if you had the esti-
mate for the first increment? IL you
had the estimate for the first mere
ment YOU would have known what the
estimates would be for the next Tour
increments.
Crozier: Yes, sir.
Chairman: Why did it take so long
TO make the estimates? You say that
YOU did not get your estimates until
practically all the appropriation blils
were ready to be passed.
Crozier: No, sir, Mr.. Chairman, l did
not intend to convey that idea. Mhat
we did Immediately that still re-
CURED some little time-wss to COM
press the estimate for the whole nve
increments into one estimate and send
that 70 Congress.
Chairman: l rather thought that in
your statement yesterday you were dis
posed to place responsibility for de lay
on Congress and on the labor situation.
As a matter of fact, the appropriation
vas made for the first increment for
your department as long ago as June,
1916. Was that money expended?
Crozier: 1t was expended or con-
tracted for. The first appropriation, as
| remember it, at least, in the army
bill, making appropriation in accord
nnce with the scheme of the act OF
June, 1916, was approved August ~,
1916.
Chairman: Is it not a fact, General
Crozier, that most of that approprla-
tion made for your department in the
latter part of 1916, was still uneXpend-
ed when was was declared?
Crozier: Yes, sir; most of it was un-
expended, but a great deal was con
tracted out. IT takes some time. Mr..
Chairman, TO secure deliveries result
ing from expenditure, but contracts had
been made and orders placed for very
considerable portion of the funds
available. / think you misunderstand
me when you say that | placed the re-
sporsbiity for the delay upon Con-
cress. / did not intend TO do anything
of the kind, and / did not intend to
criticise anybody or any agency.
New-York tribune., 1917-12-14

ish forces are operating. That is not
done. Our forces are operating with
the French, in the French part Of the
line. far removed from the British.
Weeks: Is it not just as difficult TO
use French ammunition in our guns Gs
British ammunition, or vice versa!
Crozier: Absolutely; you are quite
New-York tribune., 1917-12-14

as we'll as with the Vickers gun.
Wadsworth: And il is the purpose
of the department to arm the troops of
the line with the light Browningl
Crozier: Yes, and with the heaJy
Browning gun, and to a certain extsn!
with the Vickers gun also. .
The herald., 1917-01-11
SURPRISE PARTY.

Miss Merle Richardson. OF ~ Peli-
can Ave, the bright young daughter
of Mr. and Mrs Tom Richardson was
agreeably surprised last Friday night.
The jolly crowd gathered at the home
of Misses Gladys and lone Rooney and
then proceeded TO the Richardson
home. Dancing and games were en-.
joyed and dainty refreshments we're
served
Those who participated in having
good time were:
Misses Annie Traub. Myrtle Roberts
lrma May Ninet. Mildred McCauly,
Alice RiOrdan, Eula Bonner. Janet
Calvin, Eva Reach, Elizabeth Higgins
Edwina and Mackna Muntz. Carlotta
NJ. Kraft. Louise Koppel. Lillian
Capburn, ElinOr Rooney, Lois GRAY.
OILS. Noble Richards, Renette Kennair.
Elmer Gouner, Orwell McNair, Nor
ma Wheatley, Evelyn COrbett. Gladys
and lone Rooney. Merle Richardson,
y. FLOYD Mailer. O'Neal Barrett.
Francis Sadler. Thomas Riordan, En-
nett Hardy. Eldred Drumm, Landry
Adams, John Forrest, Nolan Richards.
Willie Nolan. Gaines Glider. Lemley
Huebener and Tisdale Daniels, Mr..
and Mrs. Tom Richardson and Mrs.
T. Rooney.
The herald., 1917-01-11

pers say that he has forever wiped
out the Mason and DiXon's line.
In order to do his work Conshienti-
Ously. Griffith employed a whole corps
of history experts TO ransaCk thou
sands OF printed volumes. pamphlets.
bound files of old newspapers and
manuscripts From their researches,
he built up his scenario. Not one OF
the historical incidents shown on the
screen can be successfully disputed.
Those who have seen The Birth
of a Nation" no more wonder that it
cost 100000 to produce. They only
marvel that it did not cost more
Take the battle of PETERSBURG, for in
stance. The reproduction OF that
alone cost a small fortune. Then the
burning of Atlanta and reproduction
in replica of Ford's Theater, Washing
ton. and of the legislative hall in
South Carolina. all cost large sums.
The herald., 1917-01-11
SURPRISE PARTY.

Mrs. R. ]. Allen entertained at a
dance last Thursday night in honor
of her son, Richard. Music and
dancing were the main features of
the evening. Dainty refreshments
were served in abundance. Every
one present had a most enjoyable
time.
Those present were: Misses Err
mine Hopper. Claire Finley, Alder
tine Lecourt, Alva Salathe, Camille
Nelson, Orlean. Mable and Maud
Allen, Messrs. Mike Bonner, Kirby
and Gus Barrett. Richard Nichols,
Aubrey Gaiennie, Will Ford, Dwight
Salathe, Richard Allen. Mr.. and Mrs.
Irwin Salathe, Mr.. and Mrs. w. +.
Salathe. Jr., Mrs. w. P. Salathe, ST.,
Mr.. and Mrs. A. J. Rantz and Mrs.
John r. Allen.
The herald., 1917-01-11
CRESCENT THEATsR

,.s- a run of weeks at Boston IN
= ~ S,.tle Square Theater' where II
= ~, rs'a sensation owing to the wide
0'lII1 discussion regarding its theme
e. p Hour of Temptation" picked up
~ .Iginal route on the international
Pa and will be the offering at the
u ,.a.s,t Theater for the entire week
u.-nspcing Sunday matinee. rms
a-- .S,bIe play was written by Lee
- Who is best known as the
-n,fssr of Three Week3 and
= 1 Iady's Garter"
=. ,,oduction is quite in contrast
- n Of the new dramatic offerings
!, date in that it is strikingly orig
I'm its theme. In a prologue and
:. ats il tells how Claudia, scorn-
! I her youth by the man she loves
-. home rather than bear the jibeS
y, friends and relatives. The
49, shows how in after years, gOad-
n the evil spirit, she seeks to re-
-, = herself BY the undoing of the
inter Of the man who scOrned her
HhOOd.
n. scenes shift rapidly from her
The herald., 1917-01-11

NE Southern home to New York.
Enes TO Europe and back to New
iai one scene being aboard an
San gong yacht, this being the cen
z q the tensest situation of the
H.
ne dominant character is that of
Avn Won der Teufel, one of those
aasHe personages whose evil infiu-
sa telt by Claudia and the peo-
= s'oul her without their conscious
s'sFance Of him. This character is
Wy portrayed by William Morris,
~ an actor far above the aver
= ven at the Crescent, and he ne
s /, no line point to make the most
An that exactly fits him. Mr..
aA'H VIII be remembered for his
~ sOrk here several seasons ago
Il ia associated with Blanche Walsh.
- ~ ~ portraya; Of the Chinaman in
~ .ue classic "Suey Lou" Miss
! - !. rosell, who interprets the role
e4aaa Carter, is charming
! ~as actress Of great emotional all.
~ ~ N this play has found a We.
-. snlch brings out all her latent
,s - O,aers in the cast besides the
go ais include: C. B. Sage, John
y. .le' John Martin, Charles Hibb.
j y, .aIri' Marguerite Won Reese,
The herald., 1917-01-11
TULANE THEATER.

s.h , DfiA Of a Nation" will posi-.
IN :, s . its farewell engage
j y ne Tulane on Saturday night
/. y, The audiences this week
Z, ,,s' a with those of last year in
=. .s and enthusiasm and the ad.
/ n, .'s Is the heaviest recorded
ass '''action at the Tulane this
sse IN A.nee and night perform.
IA q. - De given next week and
rass,Ssa vale at the box office after
Is.psoS, morning. 1t is hoped that
Ia : - Who desires to feel the
v ss,, sse mighty film opera again
ass i M seats without delay he.
ss ,,',a ~ not be seen in New Or.
Ia a. - II is to be withdrawn
'saiss,10 sa to make way for the
n nsa, nm Masterpiece, Intolerance"
AYrt AZ the Liberty Theater.
y r,, ', Griffith. whose fame has
N y !, Tie globe, chose sAf for mas ths
Aaa s,s ~ thrilling spectacle The
g Ut q s laval of over fifty years
"a va mi alch new and united
SA ~ !, A southerner him.
sa q VI u Gen. Thunder jake
how e Confederate Army.
NO n s me heart of the South
D. .sS a.a.a pictorial story
sS out 40 south suffered he has
a. Vi h,s motherhood of the
saAhje ;, a :. more to cement
: ltsar.s, That have been U vns4
N Northern newspa.