Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1918-01-25

sive works i'll the rear.
SEN. CHAMBERLAIN
/ Continued from Page One)
that ne was discussing only tn, policy
or lack of policy" OF the military es-
adjustment After stating his eXper-
! fence in the military affairs committee
| and testimony. in the committees in
! vestigations. the letter continued; 4
! believe I know something about the
deficiencies in the military establish
ments. deficiencies which are clearly
! recognized and proven in sys-
/ TEN that ought. to he remodeiled for
/ the proper prosecution Of the war :. *
and KaVe these disjointed ahfuh-.
coordinated defects weeded out
! In the letter the senator also offered
to go over the whole situation with the
President bue he SAID rlle received no
reply and on lie next day the Presi-
! dents statement ,criticiZing him was
published. ~.
France. bled white" he continued, lis
| furnishing America. today, and the
troops going abroad. with heavy ord
nance. machinery guns app airplanes.
If We relied on the ordnance depart
ment in this emergency (and this is a
war Of artillery thes. war. would he
completed before we.sSer got enough
| to the 'front.' =:
improper to GIVE Details
/ II was improper he said. to give details
of American purchases of ordnance from
the Allies, but he referred senators to
the confidential testimony before the COM
nittet by Major General Crozer, chief of
ordnance.
! IF the administration had wanted to be
/ fair to the American people. he shout
ed, why didn't the distinguished secreta
ry Of war-and I have the highest regard
for hm-let the people know 50 that the
people could assist in getting ready for
this terrible calamity that confronts not
only America but the whole world?"
! Senator Chamberlain charged that 4 the
pare for war when it seemed certain
Il am not blaming anybody IN particu-
! lar" he continued. "I have high regard
for General Crozier But We haven't been
able to do what England, France and Az
our other allies have done. and that is to
retire these gentlemen who have nor
proven themselves up to the mark We
ought not to dismiss them in disgrace, but
| In other countries they have gone into
innocuous desuetude.
/ This isn't a question Of personalities
| This is not question between the Pres
ident and myself. It's a question of Amer
lea, and every man ought to make II his
whole purpose to see that America is
saved"
/ Referring 20 the machine gun contr,-
versy he said:
! Maybe the Browning gun is good
weapon, but the Lewis gun is doing good
work. Why not manufacture the Eewis
gun"
+ He denounced the cry that investigat ton
gives information to the enemy
! Germany knows more about America
To-Day than the men connected with the
departments, Senator Chamberlain Dc
ciared. II the government would be
frank with the people then we could rely
upon the people to rally TO the support oc
the President and the prosecution or m.
war"
"' WINE lHe house DurnS, he shout
co. america determines through the ord
nance bureau what Observation-Disclosures are
to be adopted"
! Some people in the West. he said, be-
iieved America had all it needed.
| ii they only knew the aetna! coDdi-
IONS, he continued. they would give
| their lives, their ante protect Ameri-
I ca. Casual reading of the secretary az
! wars statement gives the impression
/ mat we have everything. But when VIC
| get the testimony of tho men on ths
! ground different iDforma ton is obtain
( ed,
! Clfng the testimony If an army otii-
! Ger from Camp Bowie. Tex, who de-
ciared there was not Il single trench
I mortar there, and that other necessary
\ equipment was lacking, Senator Cham
I berlain declared:
That is true of every camp in the
| United States. If il had rot been for
the civilian people who have come here
! and given their time and service we
wouldn't have been anywhere"
Turning To the Guartermas ter eener-
I ais department. Sentor Chamberlain
! declared that from Secretary Bakers
b
! believe that everything was lovely and
: the goose hung high. so far as clothing
I was concerned"
| Says Baker ignorant of Condition.
! iut when YOU talk to the men that
. command these boys you find it ism t
! there lie continued.
/ Senator Chamberlain said he pro
! posed to show by Secretary Baker,
! own testimony that the secretary did
not know OF actual clothing conditions.
/ That's why | say" he continued.
! that the President didn't know the
truth, and | did. He must have gotten
| his facts from the secretary, who. in
! turn got them from somebody else and
! somebody must have lied
| Striding out into the center aisle
! with an attitude OF defiance, he shout
! ed: Il feel it my duty TO my country
! and my conscience to tell the truth.
! have no fear of God, man or the devil
! when my conscience prompts. And no
man in the country can keep me from
/ telling the truth. The only fear l have
! is that this discussion may have a bad
| effect on the country. But if the condi-