New-York tribune., 1917-12-13
u. S. Forced to
Borrow Big Guns
From the Allies
Continued from page ]

that for a man personally liberal ne
was most penurious with the peoples
money" .
II Congress really means to go oyer
The tod" it will ask him about ms
troubles with contractors to when ne
alluded repeatedly yesterday. Manu-
facturers." he said in explaining thc
DELAY. wouldn't spend money or Sc
cure loans until actual appropriation
for gun construction were made.
But then there remains the uneN-
plained failure TO use some Of the 500
coo 600 emergency fund As n persuader
in lust such cases. "Some manufact-
urers." he said, wouldn't take fixed
price contracts at all"
The witness preferred fixed price
contracts. How much time was lost
in this way mas not yet been developed.
II does not take much imagination TO
see the man who was most penurious
with the peoples money in this testl-
mony.
Crozier Tells Of Obstacle
In the hearing before the committee
General Crozier said an obstacle in the
early work was that the military policy
defined in the national defence act OF
1910 a lOitt VI Ouf hAAt'
ION men TO be raised in five years.
at is apparent" he said. that the
original programme for one million
men did not contemplate our participa-
tion in the war. We compressed the
fve-year programme into one year
when it Immediately became apparent
that the one million programme would
not do"
Preparation Of estimates and actual
appropriation by Congress, the general
said, caused further delay.
Referring 10 the cost plus 10 per
cent" contracts. General Crozier said
the system "worked out fairly well.'
But it is not as good as when prices
are definitely fixed" he said. "lt is
better to use that only in case Of emer-
gency"
"Some manufacturers would not take
fixed price contracts at ALL General
Crozer said. "They would not take
the risk except with a profit on "A per-
centsge basis. They had had their fin
gers burned. No orders for rifles we're
made at a fixed price manufacturers
wouldn't take the orders"
Upon inquiry By Senator Wadsworth,
General Crozicr said that the S35,000,
900 allotted to the War Department
from the Presidents 100000, 900 emer-
gency fund was returned when war ap-
preparations became available 20 the
department
Senator Wadsworth asked il any pre-
cautionary steps we're taken before the
war declaration.
There was a good deal of thinking
and discussion done" said the general.
I'VE prepared for sudden expansion and
did all we could. We have been kept
back by shifting of labor, by men
changing employment so often, at
tracted by higher wages or living con-
ditions. England has law prohibiting
men from leaving munition work with
out permission. We would require
legislation to accomplish that. I do
not find an actual shortage of munition
labor in this country. We haven't taken
men into the military service TO create
a shortage
viii Catch Up BY Next Summer
"Will the American army be able 10
supply itself with sufficient artillery"
asked Senator Reed.
'fThe indications are that We will be
able, with the assistance of England
and France" General Crozier replied.
I'VE are short OF artillery for training
purposes, but ve are not short on the
other side, and will not be-"
"How long will It take TO catch up
on this side" Senator Reed queIied.
ave will be fairly well caught up on
the most important things by next sum
ner.'
Tha. he has a plan prepared 70 sub
nit TO Congress. with Secretary Bakers
consent. to deal with the munitions
labor question was stated by General
Crozier, but he declined to reveal its
scope.
Investigation Of the nayy's war prepa-
rGtions and plans also is planned within
a few weeks. Senator Swanson, who
acts as chairman of the Senate Naval
Affairs Committee in Senator 1illman's
absence. said day that after the holi-
days his committee planned to begin
the naval inquiry.
I'VE propose to find out if every
thing is going right and how the money
is being and is TO be spent he said.
Adding, however, that there had not
been so many reports regarding diff
entities affecting the naval branch.