Evening star., 1918-01-10

doubt, difference Of opinion and disap-
provaL The War Department has-spent
eight months hearing similar express
sions. analyzing them, correcting the
conditions out of which they grew. per-
fecting it's organization to prevent their
recurrence, and all the while driving
ION TO the accomplishment Of the main
task
MY military associates and I appre-
ciate the work which this committee
has done, and will value suggestions
from the committee as a whole, from its
individual members. and from every
other patriotic citizen which will en-
able us to carry on this work more ef-
fectively and more rapidly.
In the foregoing statement there are
two exceedingly significant figures:
namely. that on the 1st day of April
the ordnance department consisted of
master generals department of 347
officers, while they now. respectively
comprise 3,0O4 and 6.431 officers. There
was no ready trained body of men in the
country who could have been selected
suddenly to assume the highly technical
and specialized work of these two di-
visions Men of somewhat similar train
ing had to be chosen. AS the work pro-
ceeded. subdivision and resUbdivision
became possible.
Reorganization Announced.
"On December IS was, therefore, in
9 position to announce d general reor-
ganization. accomplishing the follow
ing results:
4. Created a war council. upon which
Gen. Croker, Gen. Sharpe, Gen Wea-
yer. Gen. Croyvder and the chief of
stan have been designated to sit with
the Secretary Of War and the assistant
secretary OF war, and to which council
will he
time to time. The purpose of the
council is that its members, being free
from the burdens of detail administra
eion. can take large supervisory view
supply and give to the government the
highest value of their talents and ex-
perierce.
"2. Under Gen. Wheeler. with the ad-
industrial experts, the machinery of
the ordnance department is being thor
oughly reorganized In preparation for
the new phase of its work upon which
II Is now entering. Its several opera
tions will be conducted under the di-
rection either of officers already in the
service who are now in a position to
give their entire energies to the admin
lstration. or by men specially chosen
from civil life because Of their exneri-
ence and capacity.
.. Ine quartermaster generals de-
parfmenf Is in process of similar re-
orsanl1ation and subdivfsioning under
zen. Goetha1s. who enjoys the UNIQUE
experience OF having worked out at the
fanama canal problems of transporta-
ton and supply of a magnitude never
until now approached in the history OF
our government. Here also the effici-
ency OF the department is being strength
eneo Dy the calling from civil life of
men ,n OF .ne highest capacity to admin
lister certain of Its great subdivisions.
New View Of Work Now Possible.
"A new view of the work of the
Council Of National Defense and of
the war industries board is now DOS
stble. '0'
The Council of National Defense is
OF course, an advisory body without
executive power. The members hava
severally the powers of their resnec-
tive departments. The purpose Of the
council. however, was n reconciliation
OF co1hicts and a survey of the ma
ttonal needs and resources. This pmr-
pose IT has served and is serving The
general munitions board and its suc-
cessor. 6he war industries board. with
! their committees. were organized bv the
council for the following purposes:
Il. Assign priorities as among
the several departments of the gov.
ernment and the allied governments
industries
Of the country. $50
Advise as to supplies of ma.
teTials and labor
3 Advise on questions of price
cooperation,
IS: Avoid enhancement of prices
CONFUSION or industry, exhaustion of
iabor and generally to prevent all
avoidaole evils which might result
! from the speed and magnitude Of
| the new operations.
!: ITO these objects it was Admirably,
great work.
I'VE can now see the entire situa.
ton. The initial rush needs are sub
stantially supplied The techntca,
corps have been expanded and reor.
lines.
The coordination Of ally needs with
| our own purchases has been effected
An agency exists to prevent confiicts
and TO adjust those which cannot be
prevented"
Mr.. Baker Approved Delay.
| Secretary Baker was not interrunted
in reading his prepared statement and
afterward said be would be "very
happy to answer questions
Chairman Chamberlain took up the
subject Of rifles. Abandonment of the
springfield ride and adoption Of ths
modified Enfield. he said. has been much
criticised.
'I think the delay was due to the
| action Of the ordnance bureau in chang
ing the type" said Secretary Baker
'I personally approved that delay.
think the ordnance bureau acted
night adding that the delay operated
TO furnish q larger supply later Of an
improxed aran..
-it isn't ineftcieney to change youa
mind II a greater supply OF &. bette,
l article Is secured" said he, addina
that all men sent to Europe had ample
rifles and now all men in training ar
we'll supplied.
Several senators joined In question.
ling to show that rifle production wa.
permitted to lag when 1t was certaiz
that tho coaatry was about ia 60 Il
lwaF, but SecrstAry Eaker persistes
Ithet the delay 3a chensinE models has
4 IN the end produced a much -desiret