The Bamberg herald. [volume] (Bamberg, S.C.) 1891-1972, 1918-01-17
OVER l,l0O NEW STEAMERS
HAS BROUGHT
TO LIGHT WAR FACTS.
Guns, All Sizes, and Ammunition
Have Been Furnished Allies
and Their Vessels Armed.

satisfaction with the work of the
navy's ordnance bureau and its pre-
paredness for war is expressed by
Representative Oliver, of Alabama,
chairman of the House naval investi-
cation subcommittee, in a statement
tonight, summarizing for his COL
leagues results of the ordnance
phase of the inquiry.
The testimony convinced the COM
mittee," says the statement, that
the prevalent belief and opinion as
to the navy's readiness are we'll
founded"
Interesting Facts.
Many interesting facts brought out
in secret sessions are disclosed by the
chairman. Among other things he
says more than eleven hundred mer-
chant ships have been equipped with
guns and ammunition by the navy
since the steamer Campania was fit
ted out March IA last, and that ap-
preciable quantities of guns, large
and small, with ammunition for
them, have been furnished to Eng
land, France and Italy. Many mer-
chantmen of the Allies, in addition
to virtually the whole of the Ameri-
can merchant fleet, have been armed
to fight submarines.
Favorably Impressed.
THE committee was so impressed
after exhaustive inquiry by the eff
cient manner in which the bureau
had in every way performed the ex-
traordinary duty which war impos-
ed," says Mr.. Oliver, that the COM
mittee directed me to make sum-
mary of what was ascertained in the
hearing and investigation.
"The bureau, so far as could be
learned, has fully satisfied the de-
mands made upon it by the vessels
operating in European waters. A
letter from Vice AdmiralSims COM
pliments the work and spirit of the
ordnance department. Other officers
in the war zone, writing in similar
vein, have given like testimony.
Personal Investigation.
LAS a preliminary to its hearings
the committee visited the Offices Of
the bureau and personally examined
into the organization and operation
of the administrative details. The
committee was most favorably i'm
pressed with the business organiza-
tion. Inquiry revealed the fact that
practically all letters are answered
on the day of their receipt. By
system of progress reports and fol-
low-up methods provision exists to
insure the actual delivery of material.
The signing up of contract marks
but the beginning of action.
Doing Good Work.
THE organization of the bureau
in time of peace has been developed
so as to make it an organization for
war with the result that it is work
ing smoothly and efficiently notwith-
standing the fact that the expendi
lures have increased from about s3,-
100000 to more than $560,000,000.
Despite the pressure placed upon
the bureau by the demands for more
ordnance material of standard types,
it has been able to develop much new
material, including large depth charg-
es, new submarine bombs, non-rico-
chet shells, bomb-dropping sights,
howitzers, guns for throwing depth
charges, smoke screen apparatus,
heavier ordnance on aircraft, and
many other important designs, which
we feel it unwise to disclose, and
made much progress on essential ar
ticles of lesser Importance.
I New Supply Sources.
where there were shortages in
the market of various materials the
bureau took steps Immediately to
develop new sources of supply.
Reserves of ammunition and
shells have been acquired, and mon
ey placed at the disposal of the bu-
reau, we find, has been spent wisely,
and has been obligated practically
as soon as it became available. The
bureau had for years been preparing
for war. Guns, mounts, shell, pow
der and ordnance equipment in large
amounts have been manufactured
and held in readiness for eventual
use. With the declaration of armed
neutrality guns and ammunition
were promptly placed on the merch
ant ships of the United States. Upon
the declaration of war telegrams long
held in readiness were put on the