Bisbee daily review., 1917-12-14
BAKER HELD
RESPONSIBLE
FOR MACHINE
GUNS STATUS.
Chief of Ordnance, Before
Senate Military Committee,
Says Secretary of w ar
Caused Delay In Manufac-
turing.
(By Review Leased Wire)

RVYASHINGTON, Dec. 13. - Mem
wv bers of the senate military. COM
" mittee today subjected Major
General Crozier, chief OF ord
nance. to three hours of sharp cross
examination, seeking explanation OF
delays in providing the war army with
weapons Tomorrow in executive ses-
sion, they will press questions which
the general objected to answering In
the open hearing.
Throughout the examination Gener-
al Crozier insisted that there had been
and would be no delay in equipping
soldiers sent abroad. He admitted
that because of a shortage OF machine
guns the American troops in France
were supplied with weapons OF French
make and that there was lack OF
both machine guns and rifles in the
training camps, but declared that the
training of troops would not be seri-
ously retarded.
Baker Blamed.
Responsibility for the machine gun
situation was placed by the general
squarely upon Secretary Baker, who,
he said, had taken personal interest
in the matter and ordered an investi-
CATION which resulted in the adoption
in June of a new gun known as the
Browning type" This statement
came when Chairman Chamberlain
said he was not satisfied with the ex-
PLANTATION that the delay had been
caused by investigation.
Neither am ] satisfied" responded
the witness, "but | am not personally
responsible"
Nearly every member of the COM
mittee joined in the examination and
questions we're fired across the table
as rapidly as the general could an
swer
Plenty Of Money.
Chairman Chamberlain took excep-
ton 20 conclusions drawn from Gen.
eral Crozier's testimony yesterday
that congress, by failing to make
prompt appropriations and labor
troubles were largely responsible for
the delay General Crozier said he
had not intended such an interpret
ton and that millions of dollars ap-
propriated had not been expended.
Rifle Situation.
Delay in supplying rifles, the gen.
eral explained in great detail, was due
to the factory changes incident to
modification of the British Enfield
type, which large private plants in
this country are equipped to make,
to use American ammunition. Better
rifles are result. he insisted. He
also said Krag and other types arej
now being sent to national army can
tonments and that other production
is increasing Detailed statements re-
garding prospective deliveries of
rifles he regarded as confidential and
were postponed until tomorrow's exc
cutive session.
Crozier Renominated.
While General Crozier was testify
ing his nomination for another term
as ordnance chief was received from
President Wilson by the senate.
WheDtold of General Crozier's tes-
timony, Secretary Baker said the
senate committee was properly seek
ing all information as to what was be-
ing done by the war department He
declined to comment on the statement |
as to machine guns further than to say
that the Browning gun was a new
weapon approved by the special board |
he appointed to consider the question |
of light machine guns. and that the |
entire capacity of the country for pro- !
ducing satisfactory weapons is under |
contract