Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1918-01-18

The defense which Secretary Baker
has sought to build up for the army
bureau of ordnance has been SUI
marned without warning by a report
made public concerning work accom-
pNshed by the bureau of ordnance Of
the navy Whether Intentional or not,
the navy report riddles one by one,
every essential excuse or defense made
by the army, and shows by contrast
how it is possible TO get results under
precisely the same difficulties which
swampcd efficiency at the war departs
ment.
representative William g. Oliver. Of
Alabama, chairman of the sub-Commit-
tee of the house on naval affairs. made
public the report concerning the navy
ordnance bureau after extensive hear =
.ngs III which Rear admiral Ralph
Earle. L. s. y. chief OF the naval hu-
rcau of ordnance, and Commander
Thomas \. Kearney, l.. :. ". assistant
chief of the bureau. explained in detail
how the war problems had been han
died.
II MIR. Oliver has sought tor contrast
navy and army methods under similar
circumstances. he has done so admir-
ably, from the naval viewpoint. and has
Championed the cause of the senate
military affairs committee against Sec
rotary Bakers bureau. If the COM
parison is the result of accident. it pre-
sonts a unique series of condolences.
for wherever he particularly empha-
Slzrs navy progress. there has been ef-
fort to excuse delay on the part of the
army.
FIRST Mr.. Oliver states that the com
m!ttcc was so impressed after eX-
haustivc inquiry. by the efficient man
nor in which the ordnance bureau had
in every way performed the extraor-
binary duty which war imposed that
it requested that a summary OF re-
suits achieved be given to the public.
This is the exact reverse of the army
method which was initiated when Sec
rotary Baker gave out in advance %
the hearings an announcement of re-
suits achieved by his department.
Mr. Oliver then refers to the bust
ness organization" and expeditions
handling of its ordnance work the
speedy procurements Of guns. mounts.
shells powder fire control instruments.
etc. This at once begins to touch upon
nerves acutely sensitive at the army
ordnance bureau for the lack of bust
ness organization. and DELAYS in pro-
curing guns and similar supplies have
been daily features of the military
hearings Then. as If TO rub it in Mr..
Oliver makes the apparently insight
iCant statement that practically all
letters are answered on the day Of
their receipt" This again cuts the
army bureau TO the quick for delay
in getting answers to inquiries and
confusion in dealing with outside mat
ters have been excused on the Grounl
thai there were so many inventors and
others ;hat the army system could not
handle this work expeditiOusly.
The organization OF the bureau in
time Of peace" Mr.. Oliver proceeds,
had been developed so as to make II
an organization for war. with th/ r"-
suit that, notwithstanding the enor-
mously Increased demands and respon-
sib!l!ties recently placed upon It. that
organization is working smoothly and
efficiently Notwithstanding the fact
that the expenditures have increased
from about 100000 TO more than
$3.50 oHO 900"
Here again. perfectly good army ord
nance excuses are sent below par.
main point in Secretary Bakers test-
mony has been that a bureau prepared