New-York tribune., 1918-01-01
Staff Correspondence


WASHINGTON. Dec 31.-The blum
der Of the Ordnance Department of
the army in ordering men sent to the
Imaginary ordnance depot at Raritan,
N. j., was officially "explained" by
Secretary of WaE Baker Tonight.
The explanation first definitely To-
Gates the barracks at Raritan. In the
final paragraph Of the Secretary's an
nouncement the barracks are declared
to be not at Rar;tan. but "near Rari-
tam The Secretary qualities this last
admission by adding that the "post-
master and people of that place had
not had their attention called to them
so AS to be able to advise the men who
came of their exact location"
Secretary Bakers statement follows:
"By arrangements made with the
Provost Marshal General. men volun-
teeling for service in the ordnance
supply service. or selected for that ser
vice out of the drafted men, were to
report at Rartan. where additional
facilities for their accommodation were
under contract and in process of con-
structon These additional facilities
were rendered necessary by the large
number of volunteers for this service,
which outran the anticipated number.
Barracks Not Ready
The Ordnance Department in Wash
ington. relying upon the reports from
the contractor for the barracks at Rari-
tan. assumed that they would be ready
for the receipt OF the men. The cold
weather relayed the work and the bar
racks We're not ready. When the first
two men reported at Raritan the Ord
nance Department was notified and
seft an officer there to take charge and
furnish them accommodations and
transportation to Camp Upton, where
they and others subsequently reporting
have been provided for.
THE barracks at Raritan will be
completed as soon as possible. Mean
time, the men who have reported and
those who subsequently report will be
provided for at Camp Upton. Instruc-
tons were issued some days ago to
all district boards suspendinr the dis
patch Of further men.
ne proposed barracks are near
Karltan, but not having been formally
| opened the postmaster and people Of
that place had not had their attention
called TO them. so as to be able to
ADVISE the men who came of their
exact location''
Reports Confused
While Secretary Bakers statement
does not definitely place the blame with
the ordnance departments it developed
to-day that a Captain Rodgers, Of the
from the builders Of the depot and or
dered Provost Marshal Crowder to senc
the men to the New Jersey town. Pro
vost Marshal Crowder explained thai
ne simply was carrying out the drec
tlons or the ordnance corps, and addet
that the order for the men had beer
dispatched to the Secretary Of War
Secretary Baker had great difficult,
conceallng his irritation at this lates
mlstake' of the Ordnance Depart
ment when asked earlier in the day TO
an explanation. He said he was await
ing reports from his subordinates o.
the matter. adding, with feeling: "Onl,
a few men had gone there and the
nave been taken care Of. No NOR
men are being sent there Only fiftee1
, or SO were lnconvenienced."
Senator Demands Explanation
Senator Frelinghuysen insisted on a
explanation of the Raritan blundc
I from General Crozier, chief of ord
, nance, while the general was on tn
< stand before the Senate Military Al
fairs Committee to-day.
"Thc people Of my home town." sal
] MIR. Frelingh,rtsen, care most hospi,
able and We're glad to do what the
could for the drafted men who cam
:. down there the other day looking fo
$ an ordnance depot. But they hay
d heard that 700 more are coming, an
y have become alarmed"
j eve have acquired tract of land o
n the Raritan River, not at Raritan, o
II which is being erected an embarkat;o
base for munitions" General Croze
y explained, Zone Of the younger Of tn
s 700 officers who have been added t
e my staff, looking over the contract
II and taking it for granted that the cor
tractors would do as they ha
n promised saw that the barracks the,
n should be completed, and ordered SON
e men there. Some Of these men e,
1t there. but when we hard of it, "
p promptly sent an officer to take the
away