New-York tribune., 1917-12-26
Les. Camounage-More Truth

To the Editor Of The Tribune.
Sir. I have read the account OF General
CrozIer'. testimony before the Senate COM
nittee and also the speeches OF Secretaries
Raker and Daniels at the annual dinner OF
tn, Southern Society. Is it not time that
some voice of authority should be raised
AGAINST this species of official camoufage?
Almost at the same moment that the Cher
of Ordnance. L. s. A., is telling his sorry
tale of procrastnation and the Secretaries
arc boastine Of their feats Of skill the Presi-
don. announces that of the hundred millions
placed Mt his disposal he has spent about one
Gftb. and asks that similar sum be voted IN
replacement. Yet We are not told how some
s21 900 600 was got rid Of, nor why the bal
ance was not devoted TO ante-bellum pre-
paredness, for which the appropriation was
granted. ,...,.
General Crozer admits having done little
or nothing toward the equpping OF our new
forces prior to September last, owing TO lack
Of funds. Yet 6S000000 would have been
more than sufficient at least to have closed
contracts for all the small arms and artll-
lery needed by such Of our men as have al
ready gone abroad to join Pershing. Since
the declaration Of war Congress has been
more than liberal in its appropriations for
lay. procrastination, indecision! insufficient
ships; not enough clothing; no field guns
President Wilson has more than once pub
lclv enunciated the doctrine Of "Pitiless Pub
Iicitv." Is il impertinent 10 ask that the
American public which is called upon patriot
ically to pay the bills in blood and money.
be enlightened upon the following subjects?
The age limits Of the draft
The scarcity Of rifles, pistols, clothing
equipment.
The adoption of the American calibre (.3OO)
for the tish-designed Enfield rife and the
British adopted Lewis gun, when at least four
large plants were turning out both products
of 1903 calbre for our allies. This change
has caused enormous delays, and has, in the
case Of the rifles at least, cut production by
about one-half.
The utter want of fell guns.
The months of q1ibbling over wooden
versus steel merchant ships and the ousting
Of General Goethals.
The delay in signing contracts for steel
ships and the certainty that very few of the
boards contracted vessels will be commits
stoned in 1918.
The delay in completing tae scores Of de-
stroyets. This is a fact known to the writer
one Of the six authorized just prior to the
fifty on the three-year programme OF 1916 is
not yet ready 10 go into commssion.)
The retention Of the twelve units Of the
dreadnoUght force on this side of the At
lantie.
The exile of Major General Wood to Kan
shz..
The failure Of the Navy Department to
make use Of the supreme abilities Of Ameri-
cas- foremost naval strategist, Rear Admiral
Bradley A. Fiske (retiredl.
For three and a quarter years France and
England have fought our battles; let's get
busy now TO fight our own and theirs. France
has passed her zenith, still gamely holding
on, though. Britain has now about reached
hers; Italy is sore distressed, but still in the
ring. Russia has yielded to unhoy pressure
from within and without. Let America now
adopt the twofold slogan, "Deeds, not words, :"
and Fewer but better Germans" and By ex-
: erting all her enormous latent energy finally
earn for herself and her loyal allies the peace
we all so truly desire. II. ID. B.
New York, Dec. 90 1917.