New-York tribune., 1918-02-16

4
model Of 1904
Ono hundred and forty eight Colt ma
chine guns. calibrc 80.
Three hundred and siXty-thrcc Lewis
machine guns. calibre .b03
Six hundred and siXty-six Bcnet-Mcrce
machine rifles. model of 1909.
"Although we have had very good
3-inch gun in tho United States it was
decided to adopt the French 75-mm.
gun. will put in the record at this
time table showing the number Of
guns and carriages we had on hand
at the beginning Of the war, includ-
ing the Al howitzers- another pitiful
4 showing:
S-inch guns and carriages ...... 52S
d.l-inch guns and carriages. ...... "a
t-tnch howltzers and carriages.
5.S-inch howitzers and carriages. 2S
1.t-inch howitzers and carriages. los
.,.s-inch guns and carriages. .... s
-.92-inch mountain guns and car
rlaLeS ...,..,...... 81
Il want to particularly call atten-
tlon TO the delays incident to under
taking this work. I have already called
attention to the time when the order
was given to manufacture the Vickcrs
and Lewis guns. The orders for other
heavier artillery were not given until
some time subsequent. General Crozier
testified that he was delayed somewhat
by lack of appropriations. which We're
made in June, 1917. but he also testified
that no attempt was made TO use any
part Of the hundred millions of dollars
of the emergency fund given the Presi
dent until August, 1917, or perhaps in
the month Of September. when S35OOO.-
600 was placed at the disposal Of the
Ordnance Bureau. That enabled MAX
ing the contracts before the appropriate
tion bill Of October, 1917, was passed.
at is true that testimony has been
submitted to show that we have made
arrangements with France for artillery
of various calibres for the year 1918.
and it is represented that this arrange
ment was suggested by The French gov
ernmcnt. Whether or not this is so. on
account of the delays to which | have
vided any considerable amount of ar
briefly referred we could not have pro-
tilery for ourselves before the end of
this year But even under these cir
cumstances 1t seems to me to be very
doubtful wisdom to have to depend on
France, where there must be an active
demand for the employment Of every
mechanic in providing the require
ments of that country.
One OF the most acute and dangerous
situations developed by the commit
tees Investigation relates to providing
a suitable supply Of powder. This can
not be readily obtained in England,
France. or Italy; indeed, those coun-
tries have been. and arc at present,
drawing on the United States for their
supplies. 1t would not be iustifable.
in my opinion. for me to give detailed
figures relating TO this subject, but
can say without impropriety that about
half Of the capacity 10 manufacture in
the United States is under contract to
.14,, ,-t
more than half our probable needs for
The year 1918. Yet no definite step
was taken to provide this additional
capacity until the month of December.
When construction Of one unit Of an ad-
ditional supply was undertaken, and
within ten days the construction of an
other unit was also undertaken.
Charges Gross Neglect
81 can not state too strongly my m-
preston based on the testimony sub
mlttcd to the committee that there has
been gross neglect in providing this
would be almost fatal to our war plans
if they We're not also hampered by the
shipping situation.
"a similar conclusion is justified in
the failure to. provide chlorine, toluol,
and other absolutely necessary ma
terals.
81 think il sai~ to say that there
is 10 substantial complaint against the
food furnished the army. Indeed,
have not ,!eard or seen a complaint
which couli not be directly charged to
some local condition, and the rationing
of our men has, on the whole. been
tremendous success. General Sharpe
is entitled to the credit for this result.
Df
has not in all respects been handled
satisfactorily, and would have been
distinctly otherwise, in my opinion, if
1T had not been for the assistance rem
dered by the Committee on Supplies;
but that assistance involved complca-
tions ns-differences between the quar-
termaster's bureau and the Committee
en- Supplies and in many cases a fail
nrc to obtain good results. 1t ought to
be said, however, that there has been
ali enormous enlargement in the num-
ber OF officers connected with both the
ordnance and quartermaster's bureaus,
and that, necessarily. it took time to
secure suitable men and train them for
their duties.
The Aviation Service
81 have suggested that the commit
tee examine the developments in the
"' ietIVH rSlNlCc. Ou tuC WuOlc, the
evidence shows that this development
has been carried on intcllgently and
systematically. While the actual num-
Der of machines constructed does not
compare favorably with impressions
given the public, it is represented that
from now on production will be COM
paratively rapid. AS far as any evi-,
dencc submitted to the committee
shows. the motor constructed for these
alrplanes has met all requirements
and tests.
"At present it would seem that if
there is any failure in the develop
ment of the aviation service it will be
due to The supply of spruce, and
hardly think entirely satisfactory ar
rangements have yet been made for
this purpose. Quite likely the Military
Cormittee will feel it incumbent on it.
self to follow up this particular inves-
tigation from time to time to be sure
that everything is being done to pro-
vide. this very important facility in
waging war; in fact from the strictly