The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1917-12-14
FRENCH GUNS N
SANM|ES' HANDS
CROKER ADMITS
DECLARES LACK OF MACHINE
WEAPONS HAS FORCED A
DRAIN ON ALLIES
SUPPLY.
DELAY IN EQUiPPlNG TO
BE EXPLAINED IN SECRET
CHIEF OF ORDNANCE AFTER
SHARP cRoss.ExAMINATIoN
ASKS PRIVATE HEARING.
DELAY IN EQUiPPlNG TO
BE EXPLAINED IN SECRET

Washington, Dec. 14-Members OF
the senate military committee today
subjected Major-General CrOzier, chief
of ordnance, to three hours of sharp
cross examination, seeking eXplana.
ton of the delays in providing the war
army with weapons. Tomorrow in eX-
ecutive session they will press ques-
tons which the general objective to
answering in the open hearing.
French Arms for Sammies.
Throughout the examination Cen
eral Crozer insisted that there had
been and would be no delay in equip
ping soldiers sent abroad He admit
ted that because of a shortage of ma
chine guns the American troops in
France were supplied With weapons
of French make, and that there was
a lack of both machine guns and rifles
in the training environments, but de-
clared that the training Of troops
would not be seriously retarded.
Holds Baker Responsible.
Responsibility for the machine gun
situation was placed by the general
squarely upon Secretary Baker, who,
he said, had taken personal inter-
est in the matter and ordered an in
vestigation which resulted in the
adoption in June of new gun known
as the Browning type. This statement
came when Chairman Chamberlain
said he was not satisfied with the eX-
PLANTATION that the delay had been
caused by Investigations.
Neither am | satisfied" responded
the witness, "but | am not personally
responsible.
Nearly every member of the COM
mittee joined in the examination and
questions were fired across the table
as rapidly as the general could
answer.
Millions Vet Unspent.
Chairman Chamberlain took eXcep.
tons to conclusions drawn from Gen.
eral Groziers testimony yesterday,
that charges by failing to make
prompt appropriations and labor
troubles were largely responsible for
the delay. General Crozier said he
had not intended such an interpreter
ton and that millions of dollars ap-
proprated had not been expended.
Delay in supplying rifles, the gener.
al explained in great detail, was due
to the factory changes incident to
modification of the British Enfield
type, which large private plants in this
country are equipped to make, to use
American ammunition. Better rifles
are result, he insisted. He also said
Krag and other types are now being
sent to National army environments
and that other production is increas.
ing.
Learns of denomination.
While General Crozier was testify.
ing his nomination for another term
IS ordnance chief was received from
President Wilson by the senate.
When told of General Crozier's tes.
timony, Secretary Baker said the sen
ate committee was properly seeking
all information as to what was being
done by the war department. He de-
clined to comment on the statement
as to machine guns further than to
say that the Browning gun was a new
weapon approved by the special board
he appointed to consider the question
of light machine guns for the troops,
and that the entire capacity of the
country for producing satisfactory
weapons is under contract.