The Washington herald., 1918-05-07
ORDNANCE AND AIR
PROGRAMS ARE BOTH
TO BE INVESTIGATED
CONTINUED FROM PAGE ONE.


through its labor department, to mo-
bilize skilled workmen from lesser es
sential Industrial plants.
Unoficially it was said about TWEEN
ty-five heavy type Browning machine
guns were being produced each week.
Some officials had hoped that by this
time the production would be near the
300 mark each week.
Reports Of the ordnance failure are
already under inquiry by the Senate.
Five members OF the Senate Milits ry
Committee will recommend in the next
day or so whether the situation shall
be- thrown open. The subcommittee
consists of Senators Hitchcock,
FLntcher, Beckham, Wadsworth and
Weeks.
Orders Aircraft Probe.
President Wilson yesterday order
ed a complete investigation by the
Department OF Justice of the charges
that Americas program of aircraft
construction has fallen down. Attor-
ney General Gregory was formally re-
quested to take immediate steps to
study and get to the bottom Of all
hRve come to the public through the
Gutzon Borglum report and by means
OF statements on the floor of the SEN
ate.
These accusations include the
charges that pro-Gcrman influence
upon the part OF the officials entrust-
ed by the War Department with car
rying out the aircraft program had
operated to impede construction and
to place contracts in the hands of
persons by whom they could not possi-
bly, be filled.
Other charges relate to sabotage in
the spruce forests practiced, IL is al
legged, with the knowledge Of aircraft
officials. and the drafting of specifica-
tions which tended to impair rather
than build up the nations power in
the air. Criminal conspiracy, graft
and protiteering are among the specI-
fic accusations which have been hint
ed at by the Borglum report and by
members of the Senate.
Investigators for Task.
Attorney General Gregory intends to
place the matter in the hands OF one
or his assistants and to give him the
help OF the force Of investigators now
in the employ OF the department.
In making known to the Attorney
General his desire for a full inyestiea-
ton of the aircraft matter, the Presi-
dent allowed certain letters to Gutzon
Borglum TO be made public. In these
letters 1t appears that Borglum did not
have an official commission from the
President to look into the progress of
airplane construction.
Borglum was given n letter from the
President which gave him permission
to make certain inquiries among those
charged with the carrying out of the
aircraft program, but the letters given
out at the White House make IL nIain
that Borglum was not constituted an
tofficial Investigator.
Committee May Wait.
The notification sent bv the Pras,-
dent 10 Attorney General Gregory had
the enect OF causing the Senate Mill
tary Affairs Committee to pause in the
inquiry which it has been prosecuting
into the same situation. The mem
oers OF the committe were In con-
ference for long time yesterday
morning, and agreed to hold a meeting
OF the full committee this morning to
NS~iNO "hCAhCE lilc committee 4hntIlH
go on with its inquiry or allow the
Attorney General to take entire charge
of the matter
chairman Chamberlain and Senator
hitchcock. next in rank, are strongly
or the opinion that the COMMITTEES
should do nothing further in the mat
.er until after the Attorney General
mas peen given chance to proceed
far enough to determine whether or
not all the evidence hinted at by wit
hesses who have appeared before the
committee has been brought out
Senator Chamberlain said the COM
mittee would cooperate in every way
with the Attorney General and would
turn over to the department ali ev,-
dence in its possession, which NAV Aid
IN the investigation. This will in
clude much testimony taken in secre,
by the committee.
Eat nnfaf1A.