The Daily Missoulian. [volume] (Missoula, Mont.) 1904-1961, 1917-12-19
Representative Mccormick
Tells Committee of OBJ
servatiOns Abroad.
HAS JUST RETURNED
FROM BATTLE FRONT
Statement COntradicts Testi-
mony Submitted by Major
General Cr0zier.

Washington, Dec. 1S.-The congress
sional inquiry into army war prepara-
tions broadened today with the SEN
ate military committees decision to
hear private manufacturers of ordnance
and ammunition tomorrow and to delve
into the clothing. cantonment building.
food and transportation situation Fri
day by examining Major General
Sharpe. quartermaster general.
From Representative Mccormick of
Illinois, who recently visited the Euro
pean battle front. the committee heard
statements in executive session today
tending to contradict testimony of
Major General CroZier, chief of ord
nance. regarding adequacy of General
Pershing's equipment. especially heavy
artillery. Mr.. Mccormick said neither
the British or French had enough ar
tillery and that they were supplying
Pershing only because the Americans
were still worse off.
Paueity Of Artillery.
In a statement issued tonight par
TALLY summarizing his testimony be-
fore the committee. Representative Nc
Cormick said neither France nor Italy
has any artillery to spare.
"The British said Mr.. Mccormick
who in proportion to their front. have
more guns by far than either of their
western allies, according to their chief
military authorities, will not have
guns enough until next spring. The
guns which the French gave us, they
gave us because the immediate neces-
stiles Of our little army in France are
even greater than their own.
General Petain said to me, Make
guns. Send us guns and ammunitions
rather than steel billets. we are-grate-
full for the little force you have sent
us. The echo of it's footballs carried
hope to every heart in France, but as
1t grows there must be a period when
we shall be taxed to supply it, While
it's numbers slowly increase you Amer
leans, who are n great people. must
see that this war is an industry of
destruction. You will understand how
urgent it is to send us guns, middle
heavies. and shells. in order that we
may be armed to win victories and to
defend ourselves SO that some of us
may be alive to fight by your side when
at last America Is ready"
"The Italian army" Mr.. Mccormick
continued. had something less than
one qua as many guns as the Brit :
ish and French armies combined, al
though there was no great difference in
the length of the fronts. In Italy they
suffered from a shortage of ammuni- :
tion.
Will BE Life Savers.
The middle heavy gun is to this
what the steam shovel was to Panama.
II We make guns enough and transport
them to Europe before the spring of
1919. we ought to win this war with
out terrible losses. Without the guns,
we shall lose the men and, maybe, lose
the war.
We must build for ourselves and the
allies $1,000 cannon. This is the esti-
mate of the best military opinion in
Europe. But apparently we shall have
produced practically no guns within a
year after our declaration Of war.
1T seems evident enough that we
must create a department of munitions
just as the French and English have
done. The problem of gun and muni-
ton making is so big that even the
will find he Is taxed to the ultimate in
directing their production. Time is the
| essence of victory and cannon are the
weapons by which it must be won. We
| must make guns in time to win