Evening star., 1918-02-14
Discussion of Items for Army,
Navy and Other Branches
May Begin Tomorrow.
S81, 900, 900 ASKED FOR
BIG ARRAY OF ARTILLERY
Testimony of Department Chiefs
Given to Committee Made Public
by Chairman Hurley.

| billion dollar urgent deficiency ap-
preparation bill, the largest of its kind
in the history of Congress, although cut
half billion from original estimates,
was favorably reported to the House
today by Chairman Sherley of the ap-
preparations committee.
Discussion of the bill. which provides
| for the immediate needs of the War.
Navy and other departments, is expected
| to begin in the House tomorrow.
| In presenting the measure Chairma
| Sherley made public testimony gwen
| to the committee by department chie1s
vestigation. Huge amounts were ask
ed for various military activities.
Among these was total OF aiuiosl
sS1, 100000 for mountain, field and siege
artillery, in addition to more than 81
600. 000.0 already spent and contract
authorizations of s7T9.060,000 addition
al The testimony of Col. Ames OF tne
ordnance department said that tne
since the beginning of the war under
direct appropriations and contract
authorizations was Sl6.0O0.0oO, OF
which amount orders have been placed
25s. 600 900. leaving still available for
contracts $564,000.000.
He said the 81 81 1000 900 was intend
ed to supply ammunition. upon revised
estimates of the quantities needed. 1or
:, ,0o0, 600 men. including the ammuni-
ton needed for the light trench NOR
tars. He said the sS1 100000 addition
al is asked as the result of change IN
the military program, including new
requirements for a larger number OF
shells. for ammunition for guns mount. .
ed on tanks and s7.000.0 900 for a plant
designed for the filing of projectiles
with gases and s2.000,000 for plant
for the same purpose to be erected IN
France.
Maj. Gen. Pershing cabled., strongly urg-
ing this appropriation TO enable MN 20 20
handle these toxic materials properly II
is planned. ordnance officers explained, 70
dispatch a complete organization and
equipment to France to enable the Amerl-
can expeditionary forces to meet the sud
den shift in gas warfare.
There is probably no phase Of trench
warfare" said Col. Ragsdale. that is open
TO such sudden shifts as gas warfare" !"
The mustard gas. or blister gas, used by
the Germans simply changed the whole
program The plant is to enable the use
Of trained personnel in handling these
gases in loading shells and bombs and to
enable the change Of the character OF
gases to keep abreast of the developing
phase of warfare II is our intention to
ship in. large quantities certain toxic ma
containers and put into shells or cylinders
for making these wave attacks, or into
| bombs, or whatever they want These
cylinders are about the same size as the
soda water carb9n dioxide tanks
For Raw Material.
Then we have the construction and
operation of chemical plant for rpan-
ufacture Of raw ma terial. one of the
raw materials can be shipped as harm
less stuff no more dangerous than lime.
which by relatively simple operation
can be converted into one of the most
| poisonous materials known. This is a
| patented process. The French were
purchasing this material and we are
| obligated to the French for 100 tons a
month after July /.
AT his examination before the COM
| mittee Chairman Sherley's report said.
Gen Wheeler of the ordnance bureau
| brought out that the government had
| an arrangement with the French to
supply artillery and ammunition to a
| certain number of American troops ar
| irving in France. but after these units
are supplied the United States would
| fully equip additional troops.
Americas resources. Gen. Wheeler
testified, were sufficient to meet all war
needs He asserted the War Depart
| ment had billion dollars worth of
ammunition contracts.
Mai Gen. Squier, chief signal officer,
| testified the Signal Corps has spent or
| obligated all the s640.O00.0O0 appro-
! priated TO carry out its aeroplane pro-
gram, and has incurred obligations that
| will equal s90.000.000 in addition, and
may 90 beyond that. for the present
| fiscal year. He asked s217,7Se 900 to
procure bombs for the aeroplanes.
| Discussing storage and shipping ia
| cilities, Gen. Goethals said approxi-
| mateiy si00.000,000. with authorization
of $50 900 900 more, is needed for stor-
| age OF quartermaster supplies along
| the seacoast, including huge amounts
\ for various specific terminals.
| Federal Food Administrator Hoover
| said the combined lood and fuel ad-
( rinistrators FAR have had total ap-
1 propriations Of $5.515 900. out of which
there has been an actual expenditure of
| Sl,9S5,i2s. and there are now outstand-
| ing obligations OF s2,212 2,3S3, leayins q
| 81 251.950 balance. He asked 50 900 900
| more now. lie said he and DR. Garfield.
/ fuel adm illustrator. were agreed that
/ the two administrations should be sep
4 arate. He said the combined fund was
| divided in the proportion Of two-thirds
| for food and one-third for fuel Mr..
/ Hoover avoided discussing his drastic
/ price-fxing and said that the KEYNOTE
of federal control is the stabilizing Of
! prices.