Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1917-12-20
Says Government Has Dis
criminated Against Ameri-
can Manufacturer.
MOST OF ORDERS
COME FROM ABROAD
Witnesses Criticize Government Pee
Attitude Toward Domestic Concerns
--invsstisators Turn Attention TO
Cause Of Delay in Furnishing Cloth.
ing For soIdiers-conditions in
Camps improved.

Washington. Dec. 20.--With the In
quiry into the reasons for the delay in
the failure to supply the army with
arms and ammunition virtually com
pleted, the senate committee turned its
attention to the failure to supply cloth
Ing for the soldiers.
Fred A. Colvin. editor Of the Ameri-
can Machinist. criticized the ordnance
department for too exact contracts for
arms. Government arsenal methods he
also criticized, saying the Springfield
arsenal has some machinery Afty years
old.
Additional testimony regarding delay
in machine gun production was given
by Vice President b. NJ. w. Hanson.
OF the Colt Arms Company, Hartford,
Conn. The new Browning type was
adopted last May. he said. but no con-
tract was made until July. He ex-
planned the delay as due in part to de-
liberations by the joint civilian army
board appointed by Secretary Baker to
test the new weapon.
Not Behind Times.
Regarding government arsenal pro-
duction Mr. Hanson said the Impression
that they are away behind the umos'
was wrong. The arsenals compared
very favorably. he said, with those sof
foreign countries and private plants
in America. Americas machine run
manufacturers, he declared. navc had
practically no encouragement from this
government. most Of their orders come
inp from abroad
Tomorrow Quartermaster Sharpe -
to be examined.
Camp Health Improves.
The war department had complied
with all but one Of Surgeon General
Gorgas' recommendations for the bet
terment or training camp conditions.
Secretary Baker has announced, and
better conditions OF health aru already
noted.
Woolen uniforms for all troops have
been provided, and are either at the
camps or are enroute there. The only
suggestion remaining to be acted upon
Is that for the establishment OF OBJ
servation camps.
To Direct Training Camps.
Maj. Gen. John F.. Morrison has been
appointed director Of military training
with headquarters at the war college
in this city. He will have charge OF
the coordination OF the war training
work thruout the United States, in Or
der to produce uniform result, and
will be aided by the general stan train
ing committee of which he becomesNtho
head. t
Shipping Board Probe Friday.
Investigation OF the governments
shipping board and emergency fleet
corporation operations. under the reso-
lutions OF Senator Harding and adopt-
ed by the senate, the senate commerce
committee decided today will begin to-
morrow afternoon, with Chairman Hur-'
ley as the first witness. $
First Ship Completed.
An Atlantic Port. Dec. 20.-Tha
actual beginning Of production OF
stan darlized 5000 ton steel cargo ships
for the United States government was
marked today when John Hunter, FOR
the United States shipping board to-
I'day drove the last rivet In the frs,t
vessel at a large ship building yard
here. which has been rushed to- COM
pletion in seventy-six days.
Maj. Gen. Hugh L. Scott, u. s, A.,
who Is to be assigned as chief con-
struction officer OF the new national
army. returned from Europe today on
an American steamship. He has been
at the front In France, studying con-
ditions there.