Honolulu star-bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1912-2010, 1917-12-29
GUNS ARE NEEDED
MOST SAYS SOLON
BACK FROM front
Gen. Crozier's Reappointment
Held Up as Result of
Many Charges

WASHINGTON. - The Congress,
sional inquiry into army war prepare
tons broadened today with the Sen.
ate military committees decision to
hear private manufacturers OF ord
nance and ammunition to delye into
the clothing, cantonment building,
food and transportation situation by
Examining Major General Sharpe,
quartermaster general.
From Representative Mccormick Of
Illinois. who recently visited the Eu-
ropean battle front, the committee
heard statements in executive session
tending to contradict testimony of
Major General Crozier, chief of ord
nance. regarding adequacy Of Gen
eral Pershing's equipment, especially
heavy artillery. Mccormick said mel.
Their the British nor the French had
enough artillery, and that they we're
supplying Pershing only because the
Americans were still worse off
As result of the charges Of de
lays and shortages in the ordnance
QUILTING. the Senate just before adj
journment for the holidays, indefin-
itely postponed action on the nomina-
ton of General Crozier for reappoint.
ment. The nomination was brought
up by Chairman Chamberlain of the
military committee. which had unani,
mously recommended his confirma.
ton. Several senators. including com.
mittee members. objected to imme-
diate action, sharply criticizing Gen.
eral Crozier, and Senator Chamber.
lain agreed that 1t was advisable to
postpone action until the results of
the investigation were fixed
In O. statement issued recently Rep
resentatiye Mccormick said neither
France nor Italy had any artillery to
spare.
The British" said Mccormick,
who in proportion to their require
ments have more guns by far than
either of their western allies, accord.
ing to their chief military authorities.
viii not have guns enough until next
spring. The guns which the French
give>us. they give us because the i'm.
mediate necessities of our little army
in France are even greater than their
own.
General Petain said to me: Make
guns. Send US guns and ammunition,
rather than steel billets We are
grateful for the little force you have
sent us. The echo of its footballs car
ried hope to every hearth in France.
but as It grows there must be period
when we shall be taxed to supply it.
While its numbers slowly increase,
you Americans, who are a great In
dustrial people, must see that this war
is an industry of destruction. You
will understand how urgent it is to
send US guns, middle heavies, and
shells, In order that we may be armed
to win victories and to defend our
selves so that some of us may be
alive to fight by your side when at
last America is ready
The Italian army" Mr.. Mccormick
continued, had something less than
one-quarter as many guns as the
British and French armies combined,
although there was no great differ
ence in the length of the fronts. In
Italy they suffered from q shortage
Of ammunition.
TT seems evident enough that we
must create department of MUM
tons just as the French and the Eng.
fish have done. The problem Of gun
and munition making is so big that
even the ablest Industrial executive
in America viii find he is taxed to
the ultimate in directing their pro-
duction. Time is the essence of VIC
tory and cannon are the weapons by
which It must be won. We must
make guns enough In time to win"