Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1916-1918, 1917-12-14
Cash READY
FOR MON THS..
UNExPENDED
Ordnance Chief Says Secre-
tary of War Held Up Ma
chine Guns; Admits Mon
ey Hasily Appropriated
Untouched for Months.
RED TAPE IS BLAMED
IN CROZIER'S REPLIES

Washington, D. c., Dec. 13.-
Major General Crozier, chief of
army ordnance, testifying today
before the senate committee in
vestigating war preparations,
declared the responsibility for
delay in getting machine guns
lies personally with Secretary
Baker, who took charge of the
tests between the different
types. Because of the machine
gun shortage, General Crozier
testified, foreign guns were fur
nished to the American troops
abroad and to troops in training
at home.
CALLS BAKER RESPONSIBLE.
Responsibility for delays in secur.
ing machine guns was laid directly
upon Secretary Baker by General Gro
zier, after giving detailed explana-
ton of long consideration of various
types.
When Chairman Chamberlain said
he was not satisfied with the explana.
ton, General Crozier replied:
Neither am satisfied, but am not
responsible for the delay"
swell, who is?" demanded Senator
Chamberlain.
s11ir secretary Of sar. General
Crozier replied. He has to be. He
had direct charge OF the tests of types
He took personal interest In 1t. The
ordnance department is in no way re-
sponsible for the delay"
QUESTIONS ARE POINTED.
Senator's Of the committee pressed
General Crozier vigorously for explana.
tions Of what he had been doing when
It was almost certain that war would
be declared and after 1t actually was
declared. The senators declared they
wanted specific Information and not
generalities on the reported shortages
of supplies, particularly rifles. General
Croker explained that there was de.
lay in changing the type of rifle, but
contended it had been beneficial one
and edclared that any troops the gov
ernment Is prepared to send to France
can be squipped with rifles immedf
ately.
MONEY WAS AVAILABLE.
From all sides Of the COMMITTEES
table questions were fred at tho ord
nance chief for information on why
money furnished by congress had not
been more rapidly expended for
ordnance.
That time was needed for mAnufac-
turing after funds were used, was the
principal cause of delay. was the giSt
of General Croziers explanations.
cRoZIER ON GRILL.
Tn your statement yesterday said
Chairman Chamberlain, you were
disposed to place the responsibility
for delays on congress and the labor
situation. although your first appro-
priation was made in June. 1916, and
and some of your appropriations stun
were unexpended when war was do
fclared."
HITCHCOCK FIRES QUESTIONS.
'War was declared in April" Sena-
tor Hitchcock interjected. When did
work actually begin for equipping the
army? The president was granted an
emergency fund of 100000, 900. Why
wasn't that used? II we were at war
why didn't we go to war? Why is
! It, in the ninth month Of the war that
we find our men without clothing ana
| equipment or ordnance? Why do OF
men over there have to use French
artillery?
| General Crozier. turning frst to one
,ouestioner and then another, replied
that work to secure ordnance was be-
gun before war was declared. in an
! ticipation OF hostilitles,
APPROPRIATIONS NOT SPENT.
"The effect of the war declaration
was to hasten our preparations. said
the ordnance chief Our first ster
| was to prepare estimates of appropri
ations"
"Whv should that have taken any
great length of time7" asked Senator
Chamberlain .'Why did it take go
long after April 20 make the estt
mates Isn't it fact that most oi
the 1916 appropriations were still un'
depended when war was declared!
RED TAPE BLAMED.
Yes" General Crozier replied, but
many orders against the appropria.
tions had been given. The delay was
a necessary accompaniment OF cur
methods of government which require
much checking and joint responsible
ity. We had ben placing orders al
Though actual expenditures were not
lmade until much later because q