The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1917-12-14
War Secretary Declines to Go
Into Details as 1t Would Give
Enemy Valuable information
NO SHORTAGE OF ARMS
FOR MEN COVER THERE"
American FACTORIES Are In
creasing Output and Their
Facilities Rapidly for Max
ingRspid Firers

wa htngton. Dec. t2.--Newton b.
Baker. secretary of war. tonight re-
Piled To Major General William Gro
zisr chief OF ordnance, who TO-DAY
placed upon the secretary of war re-
spousibility for the shortage in mo
chine guns experienced hv the Ameri-
can army
The secretary made no attempt TO
excuse entirely the xelays that have
occurred, but declared that the situa-
ton is now much improved.
Pending the outcome of the probe
into the war department affairs the
senate probably will refrain from con-
frmtns the reconciliation OF General
C'rozier az chief of ordnance.
His denomination was sent 10 the
xerata today by President Wilson
while the general was being griiied
nv the senate military affairs COM
rnittes on shortages OF ordnance gen
orally
The action OF General Croxier In
ma ddhne the responsibility on Score
tsry Baker was a specta cular climax
In today's hearing before the senate
committee It came thus:
Senator Chamheriain--I am not
satisfied with your explanation OF the
delay In getting the machine guns
General Croxier-'T am not satisn =
ed myself
Senator Cham eeriatn-- Who is re-
sponsible7"
General Crozier-'The secretary OF
war The responsibility is with him
Il had to he upon some ose and he
IN RESPONSIBLE for the machine gun
te.sts. The program was not that OF
the ordnance department
secretary Bakers Reply.
Desigrtsg that he could not go into
detail in public, Secretary Baker IN
sisted this afternoon that the supply
Of small arms machine guns, machine
rifles and cannon will be adequate
tor the N an by the time they reach
France He further intimated that
the supplies are adequate AT the tram
ing camps for training purposes
Il have not seen General Croziers
testimony he said, therefore can
Etl4> discuss ii. II Is perssssfy- ttisss'
however. that am responsible every
thing that goes on in the war depart
n1snt. II also is true that ! have
pa rticular personal interest In ths
plans FOR machine guns.
II will say this. that every man u
featuring facility in the United States
capable OF making machine guns Is
now turning them out at its full
capacity. Wa are turning out az
many types as pass our requirements
and in q number as large AS possi'
BILE"
MFR Baker was asked whether this
capacity was sufficient TO meet the re-
auirements OF the army. He did no'
answer this question. but said
Facilities Rapidly Increasing
The facilities are being rapidly in
creased
There was no disposition on the par
Of Secretary Baker to take exception
to the testimony Of General Crczier Al
II was shown to him, or to the efforts
of the congressional committee Hs
sa Id the information would give more
details when behind closed doors.
THE committee very properly Il
trying to get all the information j
can" Mr. Baker said. General Gro
Fer has been very frank with them
and will be more so when the hear
.ngs are held behind closed doors"
Mr. Baker said fhere il nothing TIL,
tContinusd on Second Page.)