The sun., 1917-09-21
CROZIER EXPLAINS
FASC0 ON PRIMERS
Says Arsenal Commandant's
Report Never Got to
Him.
SUBORDINATE SHELvED Ir
Asserts Montgomery Failed to
Press Matter-Broad In.
quiry Threatened.
SUBORDINATE sHELvED 1r

WASHINGTON. Sept. 90 - Brig Gan.
William Crozier. Chief OF Ordnan'e. az
to-day that while he knew Col George
Montgomery. Commander at the Frank.
ford arsenal. prior to last November rad
recommended officially a change tn ths
formula for making small arms armu.
milton primers this recommendatiou had
never been brought to him for action.
II Col. Montgomery had been sui.
hciently impressed with the value = no
recommendation. Gen. Crozier said. no
could have forced the matter 20 zen,
Crozier's attention after the recommen,
dation had been acted upon unfayorlblt
By the srnai, arms division.
Gen. Crozier did not recall when tha
recommendation was made or what ac<
ton was taken upon his recommenda' n
by the chief OF the small arms division.
For two years prior to the outbreak ot
the war Col. E. d. Babbitt was chief NJ.
the small arms division. Col Babtn:
was not in Washington tonight,
Always Opposed sulphur Primers
Col. Montgomery in his testimony be.
fore the House committee Investigating
the ordnance bureau did not say he rad
made formal recommendation for .
change in the sulphur formula prio~ -
the discovery Of its defects last spring
He did say he always had opposed
the use OF sulphur in small arms primers
From another and wholly reliable source
IL was learned that Col. Montgomery lad
made formal recommendation and Rad
been turned down at Washington.
"As I understand IT," Gen Croker said
tonight. Col Montgomery recommends
ed that some formula which did not conS
1rlh hA uttb bst AL .ha
formula In use at Frankford Arseaa.
He did not specifically recommend that
illuminate of mercury be adopted
That recommendation must have sors
In the normal course to the chief Of tae
small arms division Of the ordranes
bureau. Normally 1t would rot come
to me for action unless through the in.
sistence of Col. Montgomery. From the
fact that IT was not brought to my A..
tention ofiicially for action take IT that
Col Montgomery determined 10 abida
by whatever action the small arms s,vi-
sion took upon it. II Col Montgomery
had not been satisfied with this action
he could have returned his rososnme ,da-
ton for my personal consideration"
Gen. Crozier told THE SUN CORES pom.
dent Tonight that one Of the rea sons
Tor resisting any attempt for chaug.;s
the formula at a time when it's defects
use OF free sulphur. giving a broader.
evener nre to the primer, has alHay,
been particularly popular FOR target
work.
General InGuiry Sought.
Informal discussion among uefrrsrs
OF the Investigating committee TO-DAY
OF the programme 20 I've followed n'.h
respect to the future work Of the cum-
S$r
part of at least four OF the nine rer-
hers that the committee should not "a
its work without going into a re.o~t,
investigation OF the work Of the D~'-
nance Department in recent ,,,ss.
While he has made no formal statement
to that effect, it is generally believed
that Chairman Dent would like ~ ter.
inmate the activities of the COMMITTEES
with the investigation of the small ms
primer situation
This Investigation was fni.lsd 1es.
terday and the committee adjo.ruet
subject to the call Of the chairman 7.
Is understood that those who believed
the Investigation should GO further w
resist vigorously any attempt - eri
the work at this stage They vin urss
that partial report Of the comm '.as
he made Of the findings uf the commits
tee and conclusions with respect ~ no
primer defects, and that the comm re.
then proceed either immediately or a,
the December session to d,lvo dep irto
the work Of the Ordnance Bureau
IT is questionable II the coUru''es
will be able TO reach specific conclusions
as to the responsibility for the USE y
defective primers. There prohahlH vii
be general asrsemeUt thai If. I'D
nance Bureau was at fault .a r'uS0s
to the free sulphur formula contrary
to the expert opinion of the void