The Weston leader. [volume] (Weston, Umatilla County, Or.) 189?-1946, 1917-12-28
CROzIER BLAMED FOR
ORDNANCE SHORTAGE
Inventor Of Lewis Gun Tells Of
Controversy With Chief
Of Ordnance.

washington.--Res for ora
nance and rifle shortage in the Amsri-
icsn army was laid on General Gro
Eier. chief OF ordnance. by Colonel
Isaac Lewis. inventor Of the Lewis ma
chine gun. in testimony before the
senate military affairs committee.
Colonel Lewis repeatedly stated -
the committee that General crosisy's
attitude toward him and his inventssa
was the result OF prejudice and per
sonal animosity. He declared General
Crozier was autscratic. responsisis
for alleged failure 10 properly equfD
the American armies and for alleged
lack of progress in American ora
nance.
Supporting Colonel Lewis testi-
mony, President A. =. Borie, Of the
Savage Arms company. which has the
exclusive American license right 70
make the Lewis gun. also told Of the
refusal OF the war department. %
adopt the Lewis gun and the achieve
ments Of that weapon. Both he ama
Colonel Lewis predicted that suffiei-
ent numbers Of the new BrowniAs
gun. adopted by the war department..
would not be available for the AmsFi-
can forces Other manufacturers have
testified that the production would be
sufficient
Developments Of Investigation.
Investigating committee members.
asked to sum up their impFessioas -
the several inquiries, gave their visws
of what had been developed thus:
The military investigation has
shown beyond question that the war
department did not avail itself OF from
10000 to $4,000 machine guns II might
have had, because the Browning guH
had been purchased for more than
Loco. 900. This gun has never had .
field test. All the machine guns Per
shing's army has were furnished by
France. and cantonments in this couH-
try have a few French guns WIN tNc
makes of American guns.
Foresight OF riflemakers who saw
the war coming before the war depart
ment did, has resulted in insuring the
rapid and continuous rifle production
from now on. although there was much
delay because of official hesitation 70
decide on minor changes in rifle de-
sign. This official hesitation. coupled
with departmental red tape, caueed .
long delay in furnishing initial ship
ments of rifles, so that thousands ef
men in cantonments are still without
arms.
Artillery Delivery Delayed.
Artillery delivery has not yet bsgus
and there is no assurance when twill
begin in quantity. For many mensAs
to come the American army abreaA
must depend on France for artillery.
Thousands OF troops in eantonmsats
have been given shoes and overccaas
too small for them and months passed
before the department took steps -
correct the condition.
The council of national defense has
virtually taken over the purchasing
power of the qusrtermaster depart
ment and has delayed some deliveries
In the interest of getting lower priese.
Eeud Amonu Sugar Reflnsre.
Sugar inquiry has disclosed that .
bitter feud Of long years staAdiAk
among sugar refiners has been ecA-
tinued since the food administrators
took over the regulation of the sugar
business last October.
The beet sugar farmers OF the west
are refusing to plant bsets because
they declare they are not being given
living price" for their beets.
The shipping investigation revealed
that Chairman Hurley Of the shipping
board has discarded bylaws uRdsR
which the board and the emergency
fleet corporation operated indepeaa.
entity as to authority and responsibai
ity, and centered In himself complete
control over both bodies with the re-
sponsibility for construction and op-
Grafton Of ships.
The work of shipbuilding has gene
on steadily. In the opinion Of Chair
man Hurley and his aides, progress
from now on will be steady and sasis-
factory.