Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1917-12-14
CROz|ER PLACES
BLAME ON BAKER
Secretary Of Wars Hesitancy in
Selecting Maehine-Gun Type,
Responsible for Delay.
DEMANDS SPECIFIC DETAILS
Senate Committee Pelts Ord
nance Chief With Questions
Concerning Shortages.
DEMANDS SPECIFIC DETAILS
LBy Associated rres..l


w \ S II I y G TO \, December ia
Members OF the Senate Military Com
mittce to-day subjected Major G .ncral
Crozier. chief OF ordnance. to three
hours OF sharp cross examination.
seeking explanation of delays in pro-
vidins the war army with weapons.
Tomorrow at the executive session
they will press questions which tho
general objected to answering in open
hearing.
Throughout the examination General
CroSier insisted that there had been
and would be no delay in cauippns
soldiers sent abroad. lie admitted
that. because OF shortage Of machine
guns. the American troops in France
were supplied with weapons OF French
make, and that there was lack OF
10th machine guns and rifles in the
training cantonments. but declared
that the training Of troops would not
be seriously retarded
Responsibility. for the machine gun
situation was placed by the general
sGuarely upon Secretary Baker. who,
he said. had taken personal interest
/ in the matter and ordered an investi-
Ection which resulted in the adoption
IN June os new gun known as the
browning type. This statement came
when Chairman Chamberlain said he
wa. not satiEied with the explanation
that the delay had been caused by
Investigations.
Neither am ! satisfied" responded
the witness, but l am not personally
responsible" Nearly every member OF
the committee Joined in the examina
tion and questions were fred across
the table as rapidly as the general
could answer.
LARGE APPROPRIATION
NOT YET EXPENDED
Chairman Chamberlain took excep-
tions to the conclusions drawn from
General Crozier's testimony yesterday
that Congress. by falling TO make
prompt appropriations. and labor
troubles. were largely resphpsibIs fe,
the delay. General Crozier said iis
had not intended such an interpreta.
ton, and that millions Of dollars ap.
propriated had not been expended.
Delay in supplying rifles. the gen.
eral explained In great detail, was due
TO the factory changes incident 10
modification Of the British Enfield type
which large private plants In thi:
country are equipped to make 10 use
American ammunition. Better rifle:
are result. he insisted. He also sait
Krag and other types are now being
sent to National Army cantonments
and that other production is increas.
ing. Detailed statements regarding
! prospective deliveries OF rifles he re.
Garded as confidential, |, and were post.
/ poned until to-morrow's executive scs
sion
While General CroZier was testify.
! ing, his nominati tion for another tern
as ordnance chief was received from
President Wilson by the Senate
F. When told OF General Crozier's tes
! timony, Secretary Baker said the Sen
ate committee was properly seeking
ali information as to what was beins
done by the War Department He de
c!ined to comment on the statement a.
| TO machine guns further than to sa,
that tho browning gun was new
weapon approved by the special boar,
le appointed TO consider the question
OF light ma:h.re guns for troops ant
that tho entire capacity of the countr,
! for producing satisfactory weapons l.
I under contract.
DEMAND TO KNOW WHAT
CnOZIER HAD BEEN DOING
Senator's OF the committee presse.
General Crozier vigorously for expla
nations OF what he had been doirs
when it was almost certain war wou!,
be declared and after il actually wa
declared. The Senators declared the,
wanted specific informat ton and no
generalities on the reported shortage
of rifles. General Crozler explaine,
that there WAS n delay In changing th
type, but contended it had been a bene
fetal one, and declared that any troop
the government was prepared to sen,
10 France could be equipped with rife
Immediately.
From all sides questions were fire.
at the ordnance chief for informa Ito,
on why money furnished by Congress
had not been more rapidly expende
for ordnance.
Time needed for manufacturing af.e
funds were authorized was the princi
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