Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1917-12-14
DELAY IN SUPPLYING
MACHINE GUNS IS
CHARGED To BAKER
General Crozier Tells Commit
tee That Weapon Was Not
Adopted Until June of This
Year

WASHINGTON. Dec. 13.-Secretary
of War Baker was flatly charged with
responsibility for delay in providing
machine guns for the American army.
by Chief OF Ordnance Crozier in testi-
mony before the senate military affairs
committee today
The war department did not officially
adopt a machine gun until June, 1917,
when the Browning gun was adopted.
1t has never been given field test
under actual war conditions, General
Crozier admitted.
General Crozier had reluctantly told,
under stress of cross examination, how
disputes over the type of machine guns
had prevented manufacture of any for
the American forces for a year before
we got into the war in spite of the
fact that large appropriation had been
made for these weapons
Who is responsible for this situa-
tion?' demanded Senator Chamberlain.
"The secretary of war" replied
Crozier, almost in a whisper
General Crozier said that, although the
Browning gun was officially adopted in
June as the best type of machine gun,
the weapon is not yet being manufac-
tured at all.
He disclosed that, although the Eu-
ropean war disclosed the value of the
machine gun, this government had to
buy $50 Lewis guns from England, with
English ammunition. for use in the
Mexican trouble. because the United
States didn't have as many machine
guns as the Mexicans.
After grilling General Crozier thrAeI
hours in open session, the COMMITTEES
TINS afternoon went into a meeting with
him behind barred doors They will
demand to be shown all secret facts
and figures on the rifle machine gun
and artillery situation as :. affects the
American army.
Rifle Output Cut
Eight months after the United States
entered the war rifle factories in this
country are only making half as many
rifles today as they were making for
the allies before we got into the war
The machine gun officially adopted
Tor the American army has never been
given a test under actual war condi-
tions
These disclosures were made TODAY
TO the senate military affairs commit
tee, under a grilling cross-examination
Of Major General William Crozier, chief
of ordnance.
President Wilson, however, showed
his faith in General Crozier by reap
pointing him today.
Supplied by France
Pershing's forces have been supplied
with machine guns and ammunition by
the French government, General Crozier
said. The French are continuing maxi
ing machine guns for the United States
Some French machine guns are now
being used in training camps in this
country.
large number of factories are pre-
pairing" to manufacture Browning guns
General Crozier stated. But until they
actually begin deliveries the American
army will have to depend for most of
its machine guns on French aid
Senator Wadsworth inquired whether
I'VE are not taking a chance by plan
ming to equip our army with guns never
tested in the field
General Crozier didn't see any danger.
Senator Wadsworth brought out thei
fact that more than 10000 light machine
guns will be needed to equip the forty
five divisions of the army.
And none of these has yet been de-
llNGTSo. dShtu OClLdlOL w aus WI III
None" said General Crozier.
when will they begin to be-
Next April"
why don't we use the Lewis as the
English do?" insisted Senator Wads-
worth
1--WE are getting enough guns from the
French" answered General Crozler.
Wen use Lewis guns if we cant get
any other. But we are certain that all
intn the9ter of
war before next April will be equipped
with these light French machine guns
"These guns shoot French ammuni-
ton" General Crozier said, but are
later to be made in this country so they
will shoot American ammunition
Output Practically Nothing
throughout this summer the Ameri-
can output of machine guns for our
forces was practically nothing" Crozier
said.
"The delay wasn't due to lack of
money, not to labor condition and have
never been entirely satisfied what it
was due to-
Isn't the real reason for the delay
to be found in the quarreling in the
war department over the Lewis gum"
demanded Senator Chamberlain.
THAT caused some delay" admitted
General CroZier "At the outbreak OF
the war we had very few machine guns
on hand Nobody ever thought they
would play such an important part in
the war. Our actual output of mahine
guns when we declared war on Ger
many was nothing. Some Lewis guns
were being made in this country for
England, but before we could use these
guns we had to change them to make
our ammunition availab
Senator Mcclellan asked why no part
ra.,l.s.
guns in 1916 had been used in providing
them.
Part of it was allotted in contracts