Evening journal., 1917-12-18
CROZ Err SAYS BIC
Guns LACK Shells
Chief Of Ordnance Reports
Less Than 8 P. c. Ordered
Have Been Delivered
SOME SENATOR'S
BECOME CAUSTIC

Chief OF OfOuaucts tiN 'hi'
During the two days of the session zen
Crozier had made known TO tne com
mittee a vast amount Of detall oil llc
nlans Of the Bureau Of Ordnance ior
mo supply Of the tools Of war 10 llc
soldiers OF the American overseas FORCES.
Niaior-Gen Crozier's explanation VI
fhe delays incident to the ordnance
nrogram Of the government mas laiieu
"a satisfy the senators. chairman
chamberlain was exceedingly frank III
his criticism. He told Gen. Urozier WIN
emphasis that the American puDho
would not be satisfied with the excuses
nroduced by the War Department.
Less than 3 per cent OF the shells TOT
mobile artillery necessary 10 cohipiet,
the supply authorized in Congresslohai
appropriations for the current iscal
wear were ready. Gen Crozier iolu the
committee. lie said that the total num-
her Of such shells authorized under tae
bureau of Ordnance program was %
100000 Less than 100000 nave Deen
sThe public thinks that there Is too
much system and not enough actlon
Have YOU done anything to correct u
asked Senator Chamberlain.
I'VE have engaged an etnclency eA
merit to straighten out the kinks Gen
Crozier admitted. Then he sroVe 10
shift tho responsibility for the delays
m Congress. He said that owing 10
congressional delays in passing the ma
ion appropriations for war materia'
souehl by the War Department 10 lls
estimate aled April 3, 1917, the money
40 carry on the program was not ID
hand until June.
Cen Crozier declared there was zen
tirely too much red tape gettins
money. When an emergency approprl
stion request for a lump appropriation
of 80 932, 537. 900 made by the War De
nartment April 5, a day before war Was
declared. IL was June before congress
made appropriations under the esll
SRnt YOU had millions Of dollars lefl
Of appropriations made a year before,
lnierrupted Chairman chamberlain ]
nave not been entirely satisfied VIII
snv explanation made OF this mslter
For instance. you had money appro
priated for machine guns, ana YOU
haven't the guns yet. We appropriate
Tor small arms and you spent the money
for pistols instead Of rines.
We were far shorter OF pistols thah
rifles" Gen. Ctozier answered, ana W.
are not going to be slowed up IN lllls
war in the slightest degree on account
IF rifles .,,.,
and training purposes and IN the neiu'
senator Chamberlain Insisted.
HOW prospective appropriations by
Congress were anticipated was recited
nv cen. Crozler. For instance, he said,
orders were placed for 100000 rounds
Of ammunition early last spring Refore
any funds were available. He detailed
how many new factories that had never
before made gun forglngs were given
large contracts to increase ordnance
production.
eve have placed orders for more than
si5OOOOOOOO since the war began
GER. Crozier explained, citing the mag
nitude of operations THAT Is more
than 80 Der cent. over the entire Gov
srnments expenses for any year since
the Spanish war"
senator Wadsworth asked whether
the Government should have an oucer
or department similar to England
Minister Of Munitions.
MY own belief is that the better way
Is 60 enlarge and strengthen existing
organizations rather than create new
ones" Gen. Crozier replied. quicker
results have been obtained here than
BY the British organization
Senator Hitchcock said that Il seemed
there was an unusual length OF time
between appropriations and deliveries
and asked whether the War Depart
nent had considered any speeding up
plans.
we think and think, the country
thinks. that there has been too much
DELAY: too much red tape; too much
circumlocution in the department. said
senator Hitchcock Has any enoi
been made to shorten up the pro-
eesses o.
yes. a great deal Of red tape has
been eliminated" said Gen. Crozier.
Our requirements for high explosives
N France will be met; our supply Is
satisfactory, and vigorous steps are be-
ing taken TO increase production OF eA-
plosives. said Gen. Crozier
He disclosed that steps have been
taken TO equip American forces with
tanks similar DO the new British ma
chimes, but smilngly refused TO go into
detail.
Have we taken steps for equipping
with bombs. hand grenades and other
new tangled things?' asked Senator
chamberlain.
The ordinance chief again answered
aiilrmatlyely.
"Win there be sufficient as compared
with those furnished the British anC
French troops?' asked Senator Weeks
Yes, and l don't anticipate am,
shortage, although a good deal OF th
4Unilod STATES supply will come fron
outside where they have been alread
under manufacture said Gen. Croziel
Regarding American coast .acfencc
senator Frelinghuysen asked: 9Th
country wants TO know whether on
coast artillery and defcnces arc Of Oh
proper type and able TO cope with an
attacking force, submarine Or Qthe
wise; is it as effective as those
European nationsy
YES, replied Gen. Crozier with en-
phasis. For the last ten or fiftee
years and now our coast defences han
been superior 10 tiiOsc Of any hattie
Of Europe. our guns are more ina
adequate
Appropriations were not USED TO Du
a reserve or tools Tor ordnance nakrr7
Gen. CrOzier said. because there wa
not sufficient time before war bega
and afterward it was unnecessary. De
lay in negotiations over fixing Of stee
prices. he added, had caused del6y, an
the prices fixed, lower than Commercial
rates, still were causing some tr0ubl
on Government contracts. Alanufac