The Washington times., 1917-12-13
BAKER ISACCUSED
Of CAUSING DELAY
| lin RIFLE MAKING
Coontinued from First Page)


81 4 was needed to cover contracts
that had been made" replied Croker.
81 didn't intend to criticise Congress.
Fhet fact Is, that no appropriation
that Congress could have made when
war; was declared would have made
possible the provision of artillery
now for our forces. Congress should
have appropriated the money three
6OGrB ago to get US ready"
BEGAN Plans Before War.
I'VE declared war in April; when
nd you actually begin eQuipping the
armi for war;" asked Hitchcock.
Crozier replied: Before the war, in
1Aat.ws were then getting the equip
spent for the first increment Of the
army authorized by the act OF June
q 1s16"
Chamberlain demanded why it took
SroSer so long after war was de-
blar0d to submit estimates OF needed
9unds to Congress, IL he had started
worf on the first increment OF the
army authorized in 1915.
cr2ier said the many checking Up
speT 3uons required by law caused the
delay
Emergency Fund query.
We appropriated S1Oo,OOo-OoO a. an
Snerfency fund before the war was de-
elAreh." said Hitchcock. Why wasn't.
4 u4d?"
Chamberlain prevented an answer BY
aslilg: when did you first ask for a
Gharp Of this sum-"
The first formal request was made IN
AuEtst," said Croker. Il remember
speaking about it once or twice before
thatftime."
you got It as soon as you asked for
4, didn't yOu?" asked Chamberlain
Eyes, we got $35,00o,0O0," replied
Croker.
Senator Weeks returned to the sub
1ect of pre-war preparations for war.
Every man in the country antici-
pated war long before 1t came" said
Weeks. what preparations did you
make before the war declsrationsT
PerHhInE Provided For.
we listed people we could get to
work for us and made estimates OF
needed material" replied CroLier.
Crozier declared every American
soldier abroad has a modern Ameri-
zan rife.
He anEriIy denied a statement by
Senator Hitchcock that hundreds or
thousands of men in cantonments are
without rifles. and therefore are I'M
able to complete their training.
thousands OF men are without
rtnes," admitted Crozier, "but not
Hundreds OF thousands. Rifles are
now on the way to the cantonments
which need them most"
CfoEier said rifles were sent to can
tonments in the ratio OF one rifle TO
Svery three men, early in September.
Considerably more than one man
San use one rifle" said Croker. Iii
SGn't convenient, of course, but it ii
possible"
Crozier admitted that some canton.
snents didn't get any rifles until
October. The first rifles sent to can.
comments were not the modern type
ne army will use in France, but ar
obsolete type for which there was nc
ammunition. This, he said, made
hece5sary postponement of target
practice until modern rifles could be
obtained
French Supplied PershInE.
Pershing's forces have been sup
pdied with machine guns and ammu'
milton by the French government
Crozier said The French are con
ninuinE making machine guns for th'
United States. Some French machine
guns are now being used in training
Hamps in this country. "A,
A large number Of factories arr
preparing" to manufacture Brown
ing guns, CroZier stated. but unit
they actually begin deliveries. th'
American army will have 10 depend
Cor most OF its machine guns OF
French aid
Senator Wadsworth inquired