The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1917-12-22
THE ARMY INQUIRY.
PRIVATE ORDNANCE siANUFAC-
TURERS TO BE HEARD.
QuartcrmaSter General Will HIVE
Much to Tell-.McCormick Takes Is
sue With CPOZicr.

tions broadened today with the SEN
ate military committees decision to
hear private manufacturers of ord.
nance and ammunition tomorrow and
ment building, food and transporta-
ton situation Friday by examining
Maj. Gen. Henry Sharpe, quartermas-
ter general
From Representative Mccormick Of
Illinois, who recently visited the Eu-
ropean battletields, the committee
heard statements in executive session
tending to contradict testimony of
Maj. Gen. William Crozier, chief of
ordnance regarding the extra supply
| OF General Pcrshing's equipment, cs-
pecially heavy artillery Mccormick
said neither the British nor the
French had enough artillery; that
they were supplying Pershing only be-
cause the Americans were still worse
off,
1
lays and shortages in the ordna nee
Quitting, the senate before adjourn
ing, for the holidays, indefinitely
postponed action on the nomination
Of Gen. Crozier for reappointment.
The nomination was brought up by
Chairman Chamberlain Of the mill
tary committee which had unan.-
mously recommended his confirma-
ton. Several senator's including
committee members objected to i'm
mediate action. sharply criticising
Gen. Crozier, and Senator Chamber
lain agreed that it was advisable to
postpone action until the results of
the investigation were fixed.
Evidence supporting General Cro-
:ier's statement regarding prospects
of increased production of ordnance
was given to the committee today by
Samuel Vauclain. vice president Of
the Baldwin Locomotive Company, a
rsrember of the civilian advisory com.
iaittee of the war Industries board IN
charge Of munition work. He stated
that with equipment Of many factor
les which had never before engaged
In making ordnance the supply would
be adequate in the future to eouip the
American forces. He cited compara-
tive production figures Of American
ard British factories in making rifles
and small and heavy artillery and de-
clared American production is greatly
on the increase.
Continuation of the inquiry thi;
week was arranged by the committee
but next week a recess over Christmas
may be taken.
Representatives of the Colt, REM
ington and other munitions manu-.
facturers are to be examined tomor-
row and Thursday, Gen. Sharpe on
Friday and Col. Isaac Lewis. inven.
tor Of the Lewis machine gun. on
Saturday
Committee members say it is prob
able that, in addition to inuuiriny
into contracts and past and future
ammunition deliveries the committee
will seek causes for recent explosions
in ammunition plants, reported To be
due in some cases 10 neglect Of safety
precautions and awarding contracts
TO inexperienced contractors.
In a statement tonight partially
summarizing his testimony before .he !
committee representative McCor- /
mick said neither France nor Italy |
has any artillery to spare. The Brit
ish," 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 give us
use of. they give because the imme-
diate necessities Of our little army i'm
F.ance are even greater than their
own
General Petain said to me, Make
guns. Send us guns and ammunition
rather than steel bullets We are
grateful for the little force you have
sent us. The echo of its footballs
carried hope to every heart in France
but as it grows there must be q pc
riod wher we shall be taxed to supply 4;
it. While it's numbers slowly increase i
you Americans, who are a greater in
dustral people, must see that this
war is an industry of destruction You ,
VIII understand how urgent IL is to
send us guns, middle heayies and !
shells, in order that we may be arm I
ed to win victories and to defend I