The weekly times-record. (Valley City, N.D.) 1912-1922, 1918-01-17


satisfaction with the work OF the
navy's ordinance bureau and It's pre-
paredAess for was is expressed by
Representative Oliver Of Alabama,
chairman OF the house naval investi-
cation b-committee, in statement
tonight summarizing for his colleagues
results Of the ordinance phase of the
inquiry.
1.-The testimony showed the commit
tees" says the statement. that the
prevalent belief and opinion as to the
navy's readiness are well founded"
Many interesting factors brough out
in secret session are disclosed by the
chairman. Among other things he
says that more than LOO merchant
ships have been equipped with guns
and ammunition by the navy since the
steamer Camrana was fitted out
March IA last and that appreciable
quantities of guns, large and small,
with ammunition for them have been
furnished to England, France and
italy. Many merchantmen Of the al
lies in addition to virtually the whole
American merchant fleet have been
armed TO fight submarines.
"The committee was Sc Impressed,
after exhaustive inquiry, by the eff
licient manner in -hicA the bureau
led il every way performed the ex-
traor,linary duty which war impos-
ed,' said Mr.. Oliver, that the COM
nlittee directed me to make q sum-
mary Of '5ha5 was ascertained in the
hearing and investigation.
Fully Satisfied
"The bureau so far as could be
learned, has fuIly satisfied the de-
mands made upon it by the vessels
operating in European waters.
'As a preliminary to it's hearings,
the committee visited the offices Of the
bureau and personally examined de-
tails. The committee was most fav-
crably impressed with the business
organization.
Working Smoothly
".rhe organization Of the bureau in
time Of peace had been developed so
as to make an organization for war
with the result that it is working
smoothly and efficient " notWithstand-
ing the fact that -ne expenditures
have increased from about 50 5000 900
to more than $3.50 100000.
"Dcspite the pressure placed upon
the bureau by the demands for more
ordnance, materials CT standard types,
it has been able 70 develop much new
material including large depth charg-
es, new submarine bombs, bomb
dropping sights, hoWitzers, guns for
throwing depth charges, smoke screen
apparatus, heavier ordnance for air
craft, and many ether important de-
signs which we feel it unWise to dis
clC&,A.
"Vhere there were SHORTAGES in the
markc1 OF various materials, the
bureau took steps Immediately TO de-
vclop new sources of supply. 1t
placed contracts rapidly and the COM
nlittee is confident that the navys
needs of ordnance during this war are
fully covered By existing contracts
and with the capacity now under it's
control.
Reserves at Ha!1d
Preserves Of ammunition and shells
have been acquired and money placed
al the disposal Of the bureau we find
has been spent wisely.
"Deliveries under war time con-
tracts Of guns, mounts and accessories
are now being received; little or no
delays have been experienced; and the
Industrial capacity Of the country has
responded in most satisfactory man
ncr.
"The navy's industrial ordnance
plants have been and are being eX
panded as rapidly as practicable
without interfering with their produc
ton The results Of much of this eX-
pansion were felt this spring in in
creased deliveries.
anticipating the needs Of the ma
val service and marine corps for addi-
tional machine guns, the bureau wise
ly conducted test of the Lewis ma
chine gun early in April, 1917, with a
view to definitely determining it's ser
viceability when using the United
States small arms ammunition and as
a result an order for the manufac
ture of several thousand of these
guns. Recent reports from the war
zone indicate that the gun is giving
entire satisfaction.
Made New Designs
ut was especially gratifying to note
that the skill, ingenuity and inventive