Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1917-12-13

WAS. declared, the chairman observed
What were YOU doing in the meantime
|to prepare ordnance
flaming for Appropriations.
Gen. CreEicr replied that his bureau
had been making estimates, cataioguing
possible manufacturers and pIecinS
orders i'm anticipation OF appropria-
t /. n.
Sauates Hitchcock. ..5ust what was
done in March. April and May. What
start was made?'
Z There was a tremendous start
made" Gen. Croz!e. vigorously replied.
"a great meny things were done.'
Presumably every man in the
United States thought war likely" Sem
etor Weeks suggested. What prepara-
tions were made before the actual dec
laration?''
Gen. Crp5ier repeated his statements
regarding advance orders. manufactur-
ers census work and increases in de-
signing and drafting forces. He said
orders were placed against $4,000, 900
~ zoe .oou.ov Appropriations prsyioas-
y authorized in the summer and fall OF
when Senator Weeks inquired when
deliveries were made upon those orders,
Gen. Crozier said some materials had
not yet been delivered.
'It takes long time to make artil-
lcry." he explained,
DOCS 1t take foreign COUNTRIES lHdt
long" asked senator Hitchcock.
Long Time to Make ARTILLERY.
Gen. Crozier replied in the Affirmative.
saying that from the tirss of new
ordnance design in Germany until its
issuance to troops there is lapse of
seven years.
But in view OF the tremendous emer-
Rency couldn't We have used British
Hitchcock.
1--WE could and did," Gen Crozier an
swered. ito very considerable ex-
tent"
Il don't want generalities," Senator
Hitchcock pressed.
1.-THE time has come when we ought
to know just what has been done. There
Is feeling and many reports that we
have been behind. unduly delayed AL
though Congress provided ample mon
ey promptly, there are many officers,
some in high command, who have told
not only one senator but many senators
that there has been an awful delay in
many things that ought to have been
provided in advance"
Manufacture Takes Time.
"They have been provided for, but not
In time in some cases" Gen. Crozier
responded Il think when you have all
the facts you will have q different i'm
preston. Ordnance manufacture takes
time. Some Of the work ought to have
been started two years before"
Didn't you change the type of rifle
used?" asked Senator Chamberlain;
wasn't that a cause OF deiay2"
Yes. we did, was the answer He
added that 1t was extremely undesir-
able to have ammunition of two kinds
for any army and to modify the guns of
different makes SO that they can use
the same kind of ammunition required
some delay.
Il will say that none of the American
troops Will be delayed five minutes in
reaching the theater of war because
Of the lack of modern .rifes,s' Gen.
Croker added. III
Thousands Without Rifles.
But there have been hundreds of
thousands without rifles ID canton
ments." Interrupted Senator Hitch
cock.
There are not, SIR" contradicted Gen.
Croker. -. --22. L. go.
But there are thousands who are with
out rifles" persisted Senator Hitchcock
Gen. Crozier admitted there was Some
delay in shipping guns to environments
for training purposes, but said the can
were not then completed.
NO troops are being sent to France
some time. he continued. bur added.
that because OF afnnaunifior shortage ali
have not had sufficient target practice"
Ready to Ship Rifles.
All the National Guard regiments
have not been equipped with the mod
ern rifles. he said. but over 70 per cent
are
The ordnance department had ready
to ship to each cantonment when the
Army was called 5000 Krag
rifies for training purposes and these
were followed by $500 more and the
same number the following week, so
there are now about 10000 Krag rifles
at each cantonment he said There
are also about IL. 900 Enfield rifles now
1t cantonment or on their way there.
he declared.