The sun., 1917-09-06
BAKER ADMITS
DELAY ON POOR
POWDER REPORT
War Secretary Waited 60
Days to Notify Pershing Of
Defective Ammunition.
PLAN GENERAL INQUIRY
Extent Of Defects Minimized
by Gen. Crozier-Discovery
Made Before June I.
SDecioi DespdtcA TO THs Sun.

WASHINGTON. Sept. 5.-Secretary OF
War Baker to-day admitted TO the SEN
ate Committee on Military Affairs that
he had permitted sixty-seven days to
elapse between the discovery Of the fact
that small arms ammunition OF the
United States Army WAS defective and
his own notification to Major-Gen. Per-
shing that such condition existed. Tho
Secretary of War told the Senators that
the discovery had been made on May rs.
The notice to Major-Gen Pershing was
delivered August 4.
The statement was made with a frank
ness that for the moment disarmed the
Senate committee. The Secretary Of
War told all the facts relating to the
discovery that one-third OF the cartridges
in the ammunition boxes of the overseas
force had reached such a stage OF de-
terioration that their use was OF greater
danger to the American troops ana their
allies near by than to the Boches across
''no mans land"
Secretary Baker admitted that the
discovery of the defective ammunition
was made at the Frankford Arsenal some
time between January l and June or
this year. Brighten. Crozier. Chief of
Ordnance. who sat with Mr.. Baker be-
fore the committee. estimated that only
about onc-hundredth Of the army en-
tire supply Of small arms ammunition Is
actually defective, but admitted that
progressive deterioration might render
as much as one-tenth Of 1t useless.
For Sweeping Inquiry.
In the House there were signs that a
sweeping investigation would be under
taken; also that It would not he confined
simply to the defective supply that found
its way to Pershing. but would include
all ordnance matters Affecting the war
! Department.
Chairman Dent Of the Military Affairs
COMMITTEES announced that he had with
him In support OF such programme Ma
, tority Leader kitchin and Acting Mi
nority Leader Gillette. Mr.. Dents reso-
luton calling for the investigation took
in only the Pershing small arms am
munition when Il was introduced yes
| terday, but when 1t was reported out by
his committee to-day amendments had
been applied which extended the In
oulsitorial powers to all ordnance mat
ters
/ Tomorrow Mr.. Dent will ask unani-
I nous consent for immediate consdera-
tion of the resolution. lf consent IL
denied he will ask a special rule to
nut the resolution through. He said to-
| night the Investigation would begin MS
soon as authorized and as soon as the
committee was named
Secretary Baker explained to the Sen
ate Committee that large quantities oi
the suspected ammunition were shipped
to the expeditionary force in France, bu'
said that thus far no complaints have
been received by the commanding ori
GERS. Gen. Crozier stated that the eN
pedltionary forces were so well supplied
with other ammunition II was proha b!'
they had not yet used any of the sus
pected class. The defective ammunition
was plainly marked. he said. and coult
easily be segregated so that no harm
could result
Secretary Baker was questioned closel!
by Chairman Chamberlain and Senators
Hitchcock and Fletcher with a view y
ascertaining whether treachery OF tn
employees at the Frankford Arsenal @
the Vaccinations of German agent
were suspected as the cause OF the de
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