Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1916-1918, 1917-12-14

Turning to the presidents emery
ncy fund, Senator Hitchcock asked
Congress hastily appropriatet
;lOO. 900 without any restrictions
hat was more than ten months ago
md now why do we find it was moi
lsed?"
"wHAT WERE YOU DoING?"
T can't tell you that" Genera
,rozier answered. Part was reserved
br certain particular purposes.
when did you first request the
PRESIDENT for any part of it,
II think in August"
"That was four months after wal
cas declared the chairman OBJ
ierved. What were you doing in the
meantime to prepare ordnance?
ESTIMATING TOOK MONTHS.
General Crozier replied that his
,ureau had been making estimates
.ataloguing possible manufacturers
ind placing orders in anticipation OF
appropriations.
PRESUMABLY every man in the
United. States thought war likely,
Senator Weeks suggested. What pre-.
sarations were made before the actual
Ieclaration?'
General Crozier repeated his state
nent regarding advance orders, manu-
lecturers census work and increases
n designing and drafting forces He
raid orders were placed against $780,
10000 to 100000 900 appropriations
previously authorized in the summer
md fall OF 1916 and that some mate
hals had not yet been delivered.
DELIVERY TAKES LONG TIME.
1T takes long time to make ar
Mlery," he explained.
Does 1t take foreign countries that
ong?" asked Senator Hitchcock.
General Crozier replied in the at
irmative, saying that from the time OF
new ordnance design in Germany
mtil its issuance to troops there is
apse of seven years.
~But in view of the tremendous
emergency couldn't we have used
British or French designs?' asked
Senator Hitchcock.
I'VE could and did," General Gro
der answered, ITO a very great ex-
nnt."
HITCHCOCK rs INsisTEkT.
Il don't want generalities," said
Senator Hitchcock. '"The time has
come whens we ought to know just
What has been done. There is feel
ing and many reports that we have
BEEN behind, that there has been an
lwful delay in many things that ought
10 have been provided in advance"
They have been provided, but not
Ia time in some cases. General Gro
gier responded. 'T think when you
have all the facts you will have diff
terent impression. Ordnance manu-
acture takes time. Some Of the work
sught to have been started two years
before"
ARMY RIFLE CHANGED.
Didn't you change the type of r.
Ne used?" asked Senator Chamber
lain. Wasn't that the cause Of de-
iay?"
Eyes. we did" was the answer.
He added that it was extremely I'M
desirable to have ammunition Of two
kinds for. AM army and to modify the
guns of different makes so that they
IAN use the same kind Of ammunition
required some delay.
IT will say that none Of the Amerf
san troops will be delayed five min
utes in reaching the theater Of war
because Of lack Of modern rifles" Gen
.ral Crozier added.
cRozIER coNTRADtcTs CRITIC.
But there have been hundreds of
without rifles in canton
ments." interrupted Senator Hitch
sock.
There are not, sir" contradicted !
General Croxier.
But there are thousands who are |
without rifles" persisted Senator |
Hitchcock.
General Crozier admitted there |
vas some delay in shipping guns to
environments for training purposes |
sarfy, but said the environments were !,
nnk then completed.
ADMITS MUNITloN LACK.
no troops are being sent to France
Who have not been carrying gun for
some time" he continued, but added
Ehat because of ammunition shortage,
ejce All the national guard regi-
ments have not been equipped with
modern rifles" he said, 'but over rs
PER cent are
The ordnance department had ready
% ship to each cantonment when the
rational army was called, 5000 Krag
.ifles for training purposes, and these
we're followed by $500 more and the
same number the following week. so
hat there are now about 10000 Krag j,
-ifles at each cantonment, he said
There are also about 1000 Enfield
-ides now at cantonments or on their
way there, he declared.
Questioning drew from the ord
rance chief that the war department
las selected machine gun known as
he Browning, which has been ex-
tested but never has had a
ield trial. 1t is now being manufac-
ured but none has been delivered +.
nd none is expected before April.
CAN'T EXPLAIN CHOICE. 4
French guns are being issued to the
american forces in France, General
,rozier said, and the United states is
making Vickers guns for the British.
The much discussed Lewis gun,
sed SO successfully by the British, l.,
anne up and questions drew from the