Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1917-12-14

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aviation service" said General Crozier.
But no guns had been obtained?'
asked Mcclellan
None" replied Crozier.
Well, what has the war department
done to get machine guns between the
making Of that very considerable ap-
preparation in 1916 and our entrance
into the war;"
Decision in june
The chief step answered General
Crozier was setting of time for COM
petltive test for several machine guns.
The time was set for May, 1917, and the
test was held then"
so that it was not until We had been
in the war month that we decided
which machine gun we were going to
use?"
THE decision was made this June"
replied General Crozier.
Questioning by committee members
brought out the fact that when the
United States entered the war the rifle
factories were making 10000 rifles
for the allies. Now they are making a
little better than 5000 daily for the
American army.
Committeeman as one voice demand
ed he eplain the cutting in half of
this production of vital weapon.
grafton of the organizations in the fac
tories" said General Crozier. Their
men drifted away from them, and then,
too, they had some questions of lack OF
steel and other materials"
WAS not some one grossly negligent
in allowing these organizations to dis
integrate?" asked Senator Weeks.
Keeping them intact would have
meant keeping thousands of men on
llead
no work for" said General Crozier.
Two Types of Rifles
I'VE did keep many after manufacture
of allied rifles had practically ceased
and before making our rifles was 60
ing full swing"
General Crozier explained that much
of the delay in getting rifles was due
to alteration of the British Lee-Enfield
models so they would fire American
ammunition. 1t was either change
the Enfields or throw away 100000
Springfield rifles and great deal of
ammunition, General Crozier said.
General Crozier said the location of
American troops on the firing line was
decided by the president in conjunc-
ton with the British and French mis-
sions, and not by the war department.
"Our knowledge that our troops would
be on the French front was part of the
data on which we based our rifle maxi
ing calculations" he said. I'VE could
not make our ammunition interchange
able with the British because we knew
we would be far removed from the Brit
ish front. We made two types of rifles
take the same ammunition"
This change also delayed the machine
gun manufacture because the Lewis
gun, twice rejected by the American
affa &c
government free by it's American in
ventor. was being made for British am
munition.
Senator Hitchcock, Nebraska, told
General Croziar that many high army
officers have told senators there has
been needless delay in providing rifles
and artillery for the army.
1--WE want something specific" said
Senator Hitchcock when General CrozieI
resumed his statement at the opening
of today's session of the war probe.
1--WE want to know exactly what you
have done toward getting ready for
war We don't want generalities. Let's
get down to cases." said Mr.. Hitchcock
Pelted by a machine gun fire from ev-
cry member of the committee, General
Crozier fioundered from rifles to can
non, from guns to congressional delay
and then finally took refuge behind the
statement that to give the committee
publicly the information it demanded
would reveal military information tC
the enemy.
Senator'S Hitchcock, Weeks and Cham.
berlain bombarded Crozer with blunt
demands why he waited from April
1917, until August before asking for ar
allotment from the presidents 500, 900,
900 emergency fund.
This was because General Crozier yes
ter day blamed congress- delay in appro
Rating moneys for the delay in obtain
ing ordnance.
You put the responsibility for delay
on congress and the labor situation yes
terday," said Senator Chamberlain. GAS
a matter of fact you had not spent al
the money that had been appropriated
for you when war was declared, hat
you?"
I'VE declared war in April; when did
you actually begin equipping the army
for war;" asked Senator Hitchcock.
General Crozier replied: Before the
war, in that we were then getting the
! quipment for the first increment of the
army authorized by the act of June
| 3, 1916"
Senator Chamberlain demanded why
| took General Crozier so long aftgr
| war was declared to submit estimates
If needed funds to congress, if he hao
started work on the first increment OF
he army authorized in 1916.
Checking Up Caused Delay
| General Crozier said the many check
ng up operations required by law caused
| The delay.
I'VE appropriated 500, 900, 900 as an
emergency fund before the war was de-
clared," said Senator Hitchcock. why
wasn't it used?"
Senator Chamberlain prevented an
answer by asking: when did you
| first ask for share of this sum-"
1.-THE first formal request was made
| in August" said General Crozier. II
remember speaking about it once or
| vice before that time"
You got it as soon as you asked
| FOR it, didn't you" asked Senator Cham
| aerlain.
YES, we got $S5 5000, OOO." replied Cen
| aral Crozier.
Senator Weeks returned to the SUP
ject of pre-war preparations for war.
Every man in the country antici-
! 'ated war long before it came" said
| Senator Weeks. What preparations did
| you make before the war declaration?'
Some of it was unspent. but most OF
| it was needed TO cover contracts thai
had been made replied General Crozier
| Il didn't intend to criticise congress
| The fact is that no appropriation tina
| congress could have made when wal