Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1917-12-24
SECRETARY BAKER
PREPARING ANSWUR
70 THE COMMITTEE
VIII Discuss Lewis Charges
Says They Are Due to
Personal Spleen

Washington, Dec. 24.-Secretary Ba-
ker is preparing to answer critics of the
war department before the senate mill
tary probe committee.
His testimony will show, administra-
tion officials declare, remarkable pro-
gress in all the war work on the face
of unusual conditions.
Despite vigorous criticism of Chief of
Ordnance Crozier, Quartermaster Gen.
eral Sharpe and Baker himself by wit
nesses before the committee, President
Wilson and heads of the war, navy and
shipping departments are optimistic at
the developments in the different con-
gressional Investigations, it was Off
cially stated today. Baker will appear
in person probably late this week when
the military probers resume operations.
Secretary Baker is to discuss Colonel
Lewis charges against General Crozier,
ordnance chief, and the system Lewis
called "Crozierism
The department attitude, which prob
ably will reveal itself in Baker s tes.
timony follows:
Plenty Of Machine Guns.
when needed. 1t is not true that the
Browning machine gun has never had a
test, as Lewis claimed. 1t was tested in
Springfield last spring and found to
work better than other guns because of
greater play in mechanism.
Lewis statements are regarded as the
outgrowth of a personal fued.
While the senate investigation has
made it appear this government is bor-
rowing from the depleted French supply,
the fact is the United States is sending
over gun castings and parts for use in
the French factories.
The main lack in the ordnance situa-
tion is that of heavy artillery. Colonel
Lewis claim that Pershing's s men are
short Of rifles is untrue. The Pershing
force is supplied with five rifles per
man.
AS for claims of red tape hampering
work, the department IS answer is that
it has been for some time trying to elm
mate delays and that it IS new war coun-
ell is striving to coordinate relations
between the department and the forces
in the field.
Will Answer Lewis.
Moreover, it points out that much OF
The senate testimony, dealing with past
conditions, overlooks the enormous re-
adjustments in the industrial machinery
If the country.
When the senate military affairs com
nittee resumes it's inquiry Wednesday, |
luartermaster General Sharpe will again
estify.
Colonel Isaac Lewis charges will be
aiken up when Secretary Baker is call
ID. 1t is likely Bakers testimony will
,e saved practically until the last.
One phase of the working of General
'harpe's department, which is to be
.one into this week is the spending of
large sum to build houses for work
RS in munition factories. Most of this
money has been spent in a small district
within a radius of 200 or 300 miles from
committeeman said today.
hey want to know why the war depart
lent did not use some of it in manufae-
uring centers farther inland, through
Dhio, Illinois, and western Pennsylvania
They pointed out that congestion Of
lunitions workers along the Atlantic
eaboard has complicated difficulties
f the shipping board in furnishing
laces for their workmen to live.
Senator Chamberlain today stated the
ommittee will hear three major gener-
Is who have been in France regarding !
onditions at the front. They will be !
sked to tell whether the American !
oops there are well equipped, and if
OF what they lack.