The evening herald. [volume] (Albuquerque, New Mexico) 1914-1922, 1917-12-31
Major General crozier 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; 1t Jammed Fre-
quently and Parts Failed.

'roNicf, artn5 ordnance chief today
gave to the senate committee investi-
eating the conduct of the war, his
side Of the reasons for artillery short
age and Of the celebrated controversy
over the Lewis machine gun. Rsspon-
sibility for artillery shortage. the gem
eral said, lay with the whole country
and he showed how every effort OF his
10 get larger appropriations for artil.
lery IN time ~ peace was ovcrruled
by the secretary ps war and by con-
| gress. The British and French gov
crnmeats. he showed by official rec
orrs. had of themselves offered to
supply Gen. Pcrshings forces with ar
tillery and he give statements from
abroad to show that the allies were
able 10 do Il beenusc they had a
| surplus.
General Crozier submitted the tests
| Of the LHwis gun, showing that other
guns performed better discIaimed
any personal prejudice as claimed by
| Col Lewis. the inventor and showed
that since the gun had been perfect-
ed to use American ammunition. the
war department had bought auantl-
| ties of them.
I Nttft' ''UhSft IttNIt0ft~tNtWs
| - am not attempting to excuse
the situation that requires Us to de-
| pend on our frienSs Tor heavy artil-
lery." said Gen Crozier. hut the re-
| sponsihiiity rests on the whole coun-
| Try"
How he had. durlng previous years.
often asked congress for larger ap-
preparations for artillery and that he
and other army heads hn& many
times called the country's attention
To the need Tor artillery. WIS related
by the general
This h a plain statement of the
ease said Gen. Crozier. citing one
instance before the war IN which a
modest program" OF artillery appro-
priations calling for 81 eDa. 900 was
cut In half 10y direction OF the secre-
tary OF war and then further rednced
by congress a. s3i0.009. No consid-
erahe appropriation. he said. was
made Tor heavy artillery until 1916.
: Appropriations In preceding y.rs. he
said were absolutely Inadequate"
Machine guns Gen. Crozier said.
were never expected Ia become such
ban important weapon.
Turning to the charges that prcju-
dice had Kept the Lewis oBt of Amer
lean equipment. Gen Crozier Detailed
the official records of the depart
ment.
First OfIcr iicceivcd.
The first offer ca his knowledge,
was received May . 1919 when the
Automatic Arms company asked for
a special test The correspondence
showed that the ordnance board off
cred q regular test with ammunition
| Furnished hy the government. No
test followed but on March :, isla
another Lewis gun was offered fof
\ test. which was held az the spring
J field arsenal The Nickers was adopt
ed however because the boards re-
port showed the Lewis gun iammed
. zoe times. had gs broken part and
r. parts required replacement while
the Vickors sun iammed only gs timex
and had no parts broken. The board
L held the Lewis gun inferior 10 the
Lewis or Benet- Mercier
Nn nthor Lewis gun. Gen. Cruzicr
said was submitted for a test until
Abrn 1916 The war department
previously askrd for "a Lewis gun 20
~ test hut the Savage Arnss company
u stated none was available. In the
e. test of April 1918. GEN Cro1ier said.
e the manufacturers Withdrew the guns
II because IL was said they were not In
condition.
o. An tho boards formed to test ma
chine guns rrozier pointed out, were
is not snbiect 60 his jurisdiction. The
board in April 1910. found the Lewis
gun had many desirable fentutes ana
~ offered 10 test it again when per-
'e fected He produced letter from
~ President Forte. of the savage Arms
~ COMPANY stating tho board's action
- haH been "entireN impartial
ie Purchased 500 Lewis Guns.
i In tn summer of l9l6, Gen Nro-
> zier said on his own initiative and
~ without funds having been appro-
N printed. hc bought sse Lewis guns for
use with British amInUniuon on tbs
Mexican border. Letters from off.
GERS having charge of the guns eriti-
cising the Lewis guns adversely were
A. produced and rrozier said IN thu
D.. ,order service the Lewis war general
~ Is proven Inferior 20 tine henet- Mer
e( cier amt Nickers
H. report last January from ih'