davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1917-12-20
GUN MERCHANT
.SA Us CROZIER
DELAYED WORK
Louis Stoddard Claims Ord,
nance Chief Lost Time
in Making Contracts.

But for the fat refusal Of the
Ordnance Department. 10000 machine
guns would now be in the service OF
the nation.
This was the testimony given yes.
terday before the Senate Military AT,
fairs Committee. which is investigat,
ing the War Department.
Gen. William Crozie-, chief oil
ordnance. has said the army will need
34.000 guns. Not one of those ordered
will be ready before April.
Gunmakers Testify.
Armed with the charges made BY
Surg. Gen. Gorgas that sickness in
the cantonments was caused largely
by overcrowding and lack of clothing
the committee is prepared to grill
Quartermaster Gen. sharpe today
Every effort is being made to hurry
the testimony so that any Congress.
sional action may be taken as soor
as the House and Senate reconvene
January 3.
1t was Louis z. Stoddard, vice
president OF the Marlin Rifle Cor.
poration. who told yesterday how hi:
OFFER for preparedness met with 9
rude rebuff at the War Department.
The day after relations were broker
with Germany. Stoddard said, ht
came to Washington to see Gen
Crozier. In corridor of the War De,
partment. said Stoddard, he met Col
John H. Rice, In charge of machine.
guns.
II introduced myself and told hin
what We had done in the way oi
preparation" declared Stoddard.
What did You do that for?' ht
asked me-" testified Stoddard.
1--WE anticipated trouble ant
thought 1t best to be ready tolc
him.
There won't be any trouble-we're
not interested he said to me-"
BIames Ordnance Department.
1T was no use at the time" h,
said, "in trying to make the ordnanc,
Department understand. We JUS
went ahead and manufactured with
out orders or contracts or anything
else.''
How many guns could you have
oull ny InlS time since FeOruary
81" asked Senator Wadsworth.
forty thousand" replied Stoddard
Two officials of the Remington Arml
Company, Henry S. Kimball and c
C. Tyler. said that the War De-
partment did not take the production
Of their factory until July.
Stiil another witness, ]. Z. Otter.
son. president OF the Winchester Re.
peating Arms Company, showed that
American manufacturers were fore,
sighted and made the guns before con
tracts were signed.
Gen. Crozier had said the change ir
chambering the rife delayed produc,
ton very much. but Otterson said
this took but thirty days.
Stoddard. whose factory is making
the new Browning gun adopted for the
American army, said the first delivery
would not be until May, 1913. instead
of a month earlier, as Gen. CrozIel
had declared.
The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1917-12-20
DISCUSS PLANS FOR
new DRAFT Army
Secretary of War Baker and Gen
Crowder Confer.

Preliminary arrangements looking
to the caiiing out of the next contin-
gent Of the draft army were discussed
last night at a conference at the War
Department between Secretary of
War Baker and Provost Marshal Gen.
eral Enoch H. crowder..
Reclassification OF all drafted men,
not now with the colors. in accord
ance with the extent to which their
present occupations are essential to
the conduct Of the war, is expected
to be completed before February 1.
Regarding reports that plans have
been completed to call out $4,000 men
on that date, Secretary Baker, fol-
lowing his conference with Gen. Crow
der last night authorized the Inter-
national News Service to say:
There is no justification for any
report concerning definite date for
the next call, nor as to the number
to be called out"
II Is understood that the confer
ence last night dealt particularly
with the problem of establishing
camps where drafted men can fret
be gathered for medical observation
before being sent to the training cam
tonments.
The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1917-12-20
BRITISH SHIP
RETURNS WITH
WOUNDED MEN
Canadians Brought
Back Home-All Want
to Fight Again.

An Atlantic Port. Dee. 1e.-The de-
barkation from a British transport
here today of 1905 Canadian ofiicers
and soldiers. many Of whom were be-
ing invaded to their far Off homes,
was transformed from an expected
scene of solemnIty to a scene OF gay
ETY., Of laughter and of inspiration
owing to the indomitabIe spirit Of the
men.
Although their natural landing place
would have been Halifax and they
were brought here because that port
was not yet sufficiently recovered
since the Mont Blanc explosion 10 re-
ceiye large numbers of men, they
treated their arrival here as a home
coming. Men on crutches steadied
themselves to wave their supports in
the air. Men so weakened by the loss
Of blood that they wo5bled ON their
feet when standing, looked level-eyed
in retrospection at the scenes they
had left and expressed hope that they
may soon be back in the fight.
1t was an inspiring revelation OF the
spirit Of Canada and it did not fail
of deep effect upon those who saw
the wounded men smile at tbs
thought that they might be home for
Christmas and noted the determina-
tion in their voices when they spoke
Of wishing to get back ''over there
to help smash Prussianism.
Some of the soldiers were furlough
men, enroute for a home holiday.
These were as eager as school boys
over the approaching festival, and as
eager to return to the battlehelds OF
France. Nearly every soldier on
board the ship carried scars from
wounds received on the field. But
only one groan was heard.
That was when, in response to a
question as to where beer could be
bought. an American shouted from
the dock: Beer? huh: this country's s
getting so dry its liable to catch fire" s.
In addition to the wounded and
furloughed soldiers. the vessel bore
SOS women and children. Many of
these had traversed the ocean hoping
to meet husbands or men relatives,
only to be sent back by the au-
thorities in conformity with Britain's
rule that wounded mems families
must remain at home henceforth.
Capt NJ. r. Taylor. OF Macon, Ga,
a member of the Canadian Royal Fly
ing Corps, whose spine was injured
while on patrol duty on the coast Of
Bitain when his plane. the Sparrow.
fell into the sea, was one OF those
on the ship. With him were his wife
and Leah Helene. born in Paris in
October during a German air raid.
Mrs Taylor's relatives reside in
Toronto. Her husband, underterred
by his injury. expressed hope that he
may be back in an aeroplane over the
European battle field ere long.
The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1917-12-20
Is SOLDIERS HURT ):
IN ". B. & A. WRECK
Two Electric Trans in Senous
Crash Near Baltimore.

Baltimore. Nd, Dec. ls.-Thirteeu
eoldiers, six of whom are Philadel-
phians, three from other parts OF
Pennsylvania and the others whose
addresses could not be learned, were
injured shortly after midnight in .
collision between two washington,
Baltimore and Annapolis Electric
Railway cars near Baltimore High.
lands. The injured were brought TO
Baltimore on a special car and hur-
ried to the University Hospital
Those who remained at the hospital
for further treatment were: NJ 3,
Squires. broken leg; John Bel, spraiR-
ed back: Earl Frazer. lacera ted head
and back. Their addresses could not
be learned early this morning.
Those who received treatment and
were sent on a special car 20 Camp
Meade were: J. S. KeontE. OF Phil
adelphia. sprained back; John Nc
CURE. Pittstown. Pa, bruised foot;
Daniel A. Coyle. ClarksvIlIe, Pa,
bruised foot: Michael Hogan. Phil
gdelphia. Pa. cut forehead and
sprained shoulder; s. X. wtnterGrass,
Alden Station. Pa. abrasion OF ear;
Edward Casey. Philadelphia. Pa,
lacerated check; Rodney J. Cornelius,
Philadelphia. Pa. sprained shoulder:
Louis Fury. Philadelphia. lscerated
cheek; James Boles, Phfladelphia,
sprsined shoulder, and J. r. Donahue,
Northampton. Mass. lscerated cheek.
According TO the soldiers, two cars.
each crowded with soldiers, were
bound for Camp Meade. the lrst car
hsitins at the scene Of be accident
for several minuteA
The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1917-12-20
Theft of Baseball Leads
To Murder; Boy on Trial
Timothy Moynahan, 16 Years Old, Charged
with Shooting Henry Ayres; Alleged
Confession Read to Court

looked for the kid with the money.
He was gone.
I'VE started an argument and We
says never mind about the money
now. As long as its gone. we'll play
for the ball. Then they sent one of
their fellows away with the ball and
they beat it. A few fellows told me
it was Ayres that took the bail.
Then they told me-some of the
fellows-that they had agreed to
give the ball to me. but that
Ayres had said he wouldn't So I
went up TO the house and got a gun
I had in my drawer. had told
the gang after the game that We
would go down and beat UP the st.
Cecelias Uae opposing team on
Thursday night and was waiting
until we got enough fellows.
"Ayres was sitting in front OF the
Star Ia motion picture house,. I
knew him all right, but one Of our
fellows walked over and asked which
one was Ayres. Then We all went
over and fired one shot. / fired it,
Then i walked away. hung around
q little while and then went home."N
The confession stated Moynahan
had been arrested a year ago for
stabbing another youth. He vas hal
ed to Children's Court. but the lad
recovered and his mother wouldn't
prosecute.
After the shooting of Ayres, Aioy-
nahan threw his fevorver into an
artavay.
The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1917-12-20
FEELING TENSE
AS WAR AIMS
DEBATE OPENS
Members of House Of Com.
mons Determined to
Force Showdown.

London, Dec. 1s.-In an exceedingly
tense atmosphere. both sides deter
mined to force a showdown, the de-
bate on war aims began in the house
OF commons today. From the outset
it was apparent that the controversy
that was famed into its present fer
vor by the Marquis OF Lansdowne's s
recent letter has nothing TO do with
peace overtures, but it revolves solely
around the question: What and
when is victory
George found himself the central
figure in an inquisitorial storm in
which both sides looked to him for
a clear cut statement. One camp,
led by himself. represents the maxi
mum victory first, everything else
later" The other wants victory de-
fined now because it feels that would
speed success
Balfour Speaks.
Foreign Minister Balfour spoke in
behalf of the government he re-
iterated what the premier said the
other day. that President Wilson in
his speech TO Congress, December 4.
fully expressed the policy and the
aims Of Britain's leaders.
II Nas evident, however, thai the
House viii net content stssff n1til
the prime ministsr hinsrS has
spoken once more This e Y
pected TO DO tomorrow.
The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1917-12-20
PERSHING'S TROOPS
IN EXCELLENT SHAPE
Food Administrator Party Enthusi.
astic Over Camps Abroad.

Paris. Dec. 19.-Six members of a
special mission sent to look over
the American front by the Amer
lean Food Administrator returned to
Paris from a visit among Pershing S
troops today afire with enthusiasm
over their trip.
"It was a revelation" said Ever
EFT Colby. one of the six members.
1T has been an inspiration to US
and the unfolding of a miracle i'll
the way the army is being organized
ard whipped into shape"
The commissioners said they found
the men in splendid physical condi-
tion and with a morale not to be
excelled. Every man was fed abun-
dantly. and American white bread
was on their regular diet.
The mission, which includes Ev-
e.ett Colby. Roscoe Mitchell, Bryce
Lord, julius Lincoln, Edward Kretz
and Dan Reed, will shortly visit the
French and perhaps the Italian
front.
The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1917-12-20
DENIES DELAY
OF MATERIALS
FOR US. SHIPS
Rear Admiral MCGOWAN
Says Admiral Sims Re-
quests Were Granted.

Vigorous denial that Admiral Sims.
in charge of the American fleet
abroad. met with constant delays in
his requests for materials was made
yesterday afternoon by Rear Admiral
MCGOWAN, the navy's chief purchas-
ing officer.
1T has been a rule" he declared
before the House Naval Committee
investigation. ito fill each of Admiral
Sims requirements the day it was
received at our department Where
heavy materials were asked, We en-
tered the order that day"
Admiral MCGOWAN had whole
squadron of naval officers in support
when he went on the stand When
asked questions he turned quickly to
one or the other of his aids with a
You tell them about that. you
know about it," and the aide general
ly was able to pipe up with the in
formation the committee wanted in
exact form.
Daniels Witness.
Representative Britten. Of Illinois.
tried hard all day long to obtain an
admission of friction between Ad-
miral Sims and the department. Sec
retary Daniels, earlier in the day ad-
mitted:
He has asked for the particular
officer who could not be sent him
because he had other work here"
but denied friction. He declined to
discuss the matter further on
strategic grounds"
Secretary Daniels. the first witness,
read long statement detailing the
facts and growth of the navy Since
the war started. He denied the SUBJ
marine chasers were failures and
others must be built on new plans
that there was friction between him.
self and Admiral Sims; or that the
activities of his purchasing officel .
had opened a controversy with the
war trades board or Department Of
War.
When Representative Britten start
ed close cross-examination, Secretary
Daniels said he could not discuss
naval matters openly.
Il hope" said Britten pointedly, 4"
it is not the purpose of this investi-
CATION tc present only the favorable
side of the Navy Department"
The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1917-12-20

prille Hill and Monte Pertica, and the
adjoining positions. and captured forty
eight officers and 1900 men, the Ber-
lin war Office reports tonight Rome.
while admitting the loss OF ground. to
the enemy at Monte Asolone, asserts
that everywhere else the invaders
sledge-hammer blows broke down un-
der the griiling fire of the Italian bat
teries and the heroic resistance Of Gen.
Dlaz's troops.
The sanguinary fighting that re-
suited from the Teuton thrust last
ed without moments pause
throughout the day. and was re-
fiected in some measure by violent
artillery duels extending along the
length of the Piave and terminating
in savage combats at the mouth OF
the stream. The losses on both sides
are believed to have been extremely
severe. though naturally heavier on
the attackers side.
The struggle for Monte Asolone
VIII rank in history with those fu-
rious battles for Badenecche and
Castel Gomberto. which character
lied the fighting north of Asiago
two weeks ago. Won Bellows latest
stroke was as much a determined
attempt to pierce the Italian line
and drive forward to the plains of
Venetia near Bassano as it was an
effort to wear down the enemy's
whole power of resistance under
concerted blows with overwhelm-
ingly superior forces.
The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1917-12-20
Valuable War Patterns
Burned in Albany Fire

Albany. Dec. 1S.-Valuable patterns
for the manufacture Of special equip
ment for British. French and Italian
submarine chasers were destroyed
early today in the fire. OF undetermin-
ed origin, which ruined much of the
manufacturing plant of the George
II. Thatcher Company.
The loss is estimated at 800. 900. The
owners will ask an investigation by
Federal authorities.
Besides the contracts for the allies,
the plant was turning out work for
the United States Emergency Fleet
Corporation and other government
agencies.
The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1917-12-20

miral Sims for the duty on which he
was serving at the time of his death. 3"
Young Page was a graduate of Har-
ward University, 1903, and worked for
two years as reporter on the Bos-
ton Herald. While on this paper. he
had charge of all aviation news.
In the summer of 1911 he. went into
aviation work seriously. and trained
with the Wright Brothers, later GO
Ing with the Burgess Aviation Com
pany as an instructor. Here he. test
ed planes for the government at both
Marblehead, Mass, ard Daytona,
Fla.
His last assignment before enlist
ing was at jamestown. Va. which
he left the middle of October. He
last visited his mother and sister
in November, when he spent three
days in Washington.
The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1917-12-20
10 KILLED, 70
HURT IN RAID
German Aircraft Drop
Bombs on London and
Vicinity.

London. Dec. 19-Ten persons were
killed and seventy injured in London
during last nights air raid. Outside
o. London five persons were injured.
The statement issued today by Lord
Trench. commander OF the British
home forces, reads:
The latest reports indicate that
from sixteen to twenty enemy air.
planes took part in last nights air
raid. Three groups of raiders crossed
he Kent Coast between 615 and 6:25
p. M. Three other groups made to-
ANards London. Most of the raiders
rere turned back Oy gunfire at
various places. only about five ma
chimes actually reaching and bomb
ing the capital between Z and S
p. m.
After the main attack on Lon
don had terminated a single airplane
made its way over the capital about
3 p. m.
Raider Fell Into Sea.
"One raider. hit by gunfire, finally
came down in the sea of the Kentish
coast. two of its crew of three men
being captured alive by an armed
trawler. There is reason to suppose
that another enemy airplane came
down in the Channel, bat this has not
been confirmed up to the present.
"One OF our pilots attacked and
fired two drums of ammunition into a
raider as the latter was in the act of
dropping bombs on London from a
height of 1900 feet. Another of our
pilots also engaged the enemy over
London, and a third in the vicinity of
the capital at 11,0OO feet. All our ma
chimes returned safely.
Full reports of the casualties and
damage in London have not yet been
received.
Bombs also were dropped at Vari-
BUS places in Kent and Essex.
All British machines which went I'D
to engage the raiders returned safely.
The successful bombing by British
naval aircraft of the Engel airdrome,
behind the German lines in Flanders,
IS announced in today's admiralty
statement
German Version.
Berlin, Dec. 10. (via London)-Ger-
man aviators last night dropped
bombs on London, Ramsgate and
Margate, the German war ofice an
nounced in its official statement is
sued today.
The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1917-12-20

New York. Dec. 19.-Timothy Moy-
nahan. is only Is years old. Twice
he had attempted to take human life.
Once, it is alleged. he succeeded. He
is now on trial before Supreme Court
Justice Gofr accused of Staying
Henry Ayres, also a youth.
And the boy with the electric chair
facing him smiled today, when the
prosecution read into the record a
confession Of the staying made by
the youthful defendant soon after he
was arrested for the crime. His
counsel fought hard to bar the con-
fession. They claimed it was OBJ
tanned after the youth had been tor
tured and beaten under the third
degree"
Text Of CenfessIen.
The confession opened with a warn
ing from Assistant District Attorney
Fitzpatrick that he need not answer
any question unless he pleased.
II will tell the whole truth" replied
the youth to the warning.
The killing of Ayres came over a
row at a ball game.
1--WE was playing a ball game on
Sunday" the confession began. 81 was
first baseman for one team. We played
for A65 and SIS ball We gave
the money to somebody standing near
'Tf we was ahead an the end Of the
fifth inning we got the money. II they
was ahead they got II. At the end
ef the fifth they was ahead. We
The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1917-12-20

Artillery Battle RACES.
In Lorraine and in the Champa sne
the artillery battle likewise attained
big proportions, but the only infan-
try action recorded in the oficial
statements wos q raid by French
patrols in the former sector, which
resulted in the capture of several
German prisoners.
Along the entire front held by Field
Marshal Haig's troops there was un-
usual activity last night and today,
though the general situation under
went little change. Both southeast
and northeast of Passchendaele, on
the Ypres salient, the Germans at
tempted last night to raid the British
trenches. Their efforts were Of no
avail, the defenders repelIing the
thrusts and capturing prisoners.
Last night German airmen again at
tackled Dunkirk, throwing down fifty
bombs over the region but causing no
casualties and little damage, accord
ing to Paris. British naval aircraft
raided with success the enemy's am
munition depots and railroad COM
munications in Flanders. Two Ger
man machines were brought to earth,
one in flames.
1000 Italians Captured.
In a continuation of their powerful
offensive west of the Brenta River in
Italy, the Austro-Germans yesterday
stormed Monte Asolone. between Ca
The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1917-12-20
CLASHES MARK
SUGAR PROBE
IN CONGRESS
Senator Reed and E. D.
Babst in Tilt-Blame
Food Administration.

The inability OF Senator James
Reed to ask questions that Earl D.
Babst could answer was eQualled yes
terday only by the inability Of the
American Sugar Refining Company's s
president to answer questions that
the Senator could ask. Consequent
ly. the Senate's sugar probe got no.
where. Continual clashes between
Senator Reed and Babst kept the
Manufactures Subcommittee and its
audience on edge, but few new de-
velopments were recorded
Senator Reed last night, however,
declared that two important facts
had been verified by the maze Of
testimony.
1T has been established by Mr..
Babst's testimony before the COM
mittee." Senator Reed said. that
there would have been no sugar
shortage except for two things for
which the Food Administration is re-
sponsible.
"In the first place. it has been
shown that refiners were kept out
of the Cuban market until such time
as the Food Administration deemed
it wise to enter it. Meantime. re-
finers' supplies of raw sugar were
depleted.
Planters Diseusted.
''In the second place, so much
quiboling was entailed by the policy
of naming one fixed price for Louisi-
ana sugars that the planters have
finally in disgust begun using their
raw sugars in the production of cheap
grades which they attempt to get
to the market themselves. The re-
suit is that of 1850 tons available
some weeks ago. only about $500
tons has reached the refiners, and,
Through them, the public markets.
If competition and the old law
of supply and demand had been per-
mitted to prevail, Cuban and Louisi-
ana sugars would have been bought
by the refiners and put on the mar
ketf And there would have been
no shortage such as We have ex-
perienced."
Mr.. Hoover visited the committee
third time yesterday. but it was no
charm. He was asked once more
to wait until the committee was
ready to hear him. He left the Cap
itol and went to New York. The
committee will finish with Babst to-
day. and after hearing some Lou
isiana and Texas sugar men. may
get to Hoover and Rolph by Friday.
A statement by ]. H. W. Lamp
kau, New York sugar importer,
was read into the record last night.
Mr.. Babst tried to block it, say
ing 1t might contain some insinua-
ton against his company. Senator
Reed waved him aside, saying his
company was not on trial. Lamp
kaus statement demanded represent
alton for importers on the Food Ad-
ministration's sugar committee.
The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1917-12-20
Would Organize Bureau
To Acquire Railroads

In lieu of either government or
operation. former Senator Bristow, of
Kansas. now representing the National
Association of Railway Commissioners.
proposed to the Newlands Committee
that a national bureau be organized to
acquire the railroads and act as a
trustee.
The President would appoint the di-
rectors and the Interstate Commerce
Commission would prescribe rates suf-
ficient to guarantee a dividend of 4
to s per cent.
The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1917-12-20
Perfect Army War Council.

Complete organization OF the Army
War Council was perfected last
night at conference at the War De-
pnrtment. Secretary OF War Baker
who presided, announced that he
would leave the actual working out
ef the progress of the council to the
members themselves. The first formal
meeting OF the body will be held to-
aay.