Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1916-1918, 1917-12-18

pared with those furnished the Brit
ish and French tfoops?' asked Sena
tor Weeks.
Yves. and I don't anticipate any
shortage, although good deal Of the
| United States supply will come from
outside where they have been already
; under manufacture" said General
Crozier.
Appropriations were not used to
buy reserve of tools for ordnance
makers. General Crozier said, because
there was not sufficient time before
the war began and atterward 1t was
unnecessary.
cRoziER TO HOLD JOB.
Delay in negotiations over fixing OF
steel prices. he added, had caused de-
lay and the prices fixed. lower than
commercial rates. still were causing
some trouble on government con-
tracts. Manufacturers. he said were
disposed to sell higher to private plr-
chasers.
General CroGier's examination was
finished today ana the committee
unanimously agreed TO reconmeno
confirmation Of his reappointnent as
chief of ordnance.
BAKER CREATES BOARD.
A war council within the war de-
partment to Oversee and coordinate
all matters of Army supply and to
have general supervision over the
armies in the field created.
With congressional investigation OF
the activities of the department just
begun, in the face of demands, that
extreme action be taken to enliven the
departments war activities, and with
the suggestion pending that a su'
preme supply bureau be created with
efficient civilian heads, the announce
ment by Secretary Baker that SUI
preme council within the war depart.
ment has been formed is regarded as
significant.
HOPE TO FoREsTALL ACTION.
Leaders in congress. aroused by rev.
Citations Of inefficient management IN
the supply bureaus, serious delays IN
the ordering and obtaining OF arms,
clothing and other equipment, and
chickering's between officials which
were responsible for lack of rifles
and machine guns, saw IN the action
Of the government an indication that
congressional disclosures already had
been effective.
Some members were inclined to the
view that the new council, to have
supervision over supplies and military
matters IN general, was announced at
this time to forestall the growing
movement in congress to create civ
ilian purchasing bureau with high
business men at its head.
War department officials insisted
that the organization Of this council
had been in contemplation for several
weeks.
MAKEUP OF NEW COUNCIL.
The new council consists Of the fol.
lowing:
Newton D. Baker, secretary of war
Benedict Crowell, assistant secre'
tary OF war.
Gen. Tasker H. Bliss, chief of staff.
Mai. Gen. Henry G. Sharpe, quar-
termaster general.
Mai Gen. William Crozier, chief OF
ordnance
Maj. Gen. Erasmus M. Weaver,
chief of coast artillery.
Mai. Gen. Enoch H. Crowder, pro
vost marshal and Judge advocate gen
eral.
COMMANDS RE.ARRANeEp.
Re-arrangement of some Of the high
commands in the war department was
indicated today by the detachment of
officers designated by Secretary Ba-
ker to sit in the departments war
council
It became definitely known today
that Major General Goethals. builder
of the Panama canal, has been or
fered the place Of quartermaster gen.
eral to succeed Major General Sharpe.
Provost Marshal General Crowder
is the only officer assigned to the war
council who will not be detached from
his present Office.
OTHER CHANGES TO COME.
Brig. Gen. John D. Barrette of the
coast artillery corps. recently at Camp
Upton, has been selected for chief OF
coast artillery succeeding General
Weaver.
The two remaining officers are Ma
jor General Crozier, chief Of ordnance,
who has been under fire in the senate
and Major General
Bliss, chief of staff, who has inst re-
turned from abroad. where - par
ticipated in the war council at Paris
with Colonel House and the other
American delegates.
What officers will act for them at
the heads of their bureaus is not yet
known and probably has not been de-
cided.