Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1918-01-11

presslons, analyzing them. correcting
the conditions out of which they grew.
per1ectinS It's organization TO prevent
their recurrence; and all the while
driving on to the accomplishment of
the main task.
My military assistants and l an
preciate the work which this commit
tee has done and will value sugges-
tions from the committee as a whole
from its individual members and from
every other patriotic citizen which will
enable US to carry on this work more
effectively and more rapidly.
in the foregoing statement there are
two exceedingly significant features.
namely. that on the first day of April
the ordnance department consisted of q
officers and the quartermaster generals
department consisted OF 347 officers. while
they now respectively comprise 1904 and
6431 officers. There was no ready trained
body of men in the country who could
have been selected suddenly to assume thu
highly technical and specialized work OF
these two divisions. Men of somewha.
! similar training had to be chosen. AS
the work proceeded, subdivision and re-
subdivision became possible
ON Dec. II 1 was therefore in a DO
sition to announce a general reorganiza-
| ton, accomplishing the following results .
'l-Created a war council upon which
General Crozier. General Sharpe, General
Weaver. General Crowder and the CHER
of staff have been designated to sit with
the secretary of war and the assistant
secretary of war and to which council
men of capacity, either from the army or
from civil life, will be added from time
to time. The purpose of the council IS
that its members, being free from the bur
dens OF detail Of administra ton can take
a large supervisory view of all questions
Of organization and supply and give to the
government the highest value of their
talents and experiences
2-Under General Wheeler with the adj
vice Of his military assistants and of in
dustrlal experts, the machinery of the
ordnance department is being thoroughly
reorganized in preparation for the new
phase Of its work upon which it is now en-
tering. It's several operations will be con-
Quoted under the direction either of off,
GERS aircedy in the service who are now
IN position to give their entire energies
70 their administration, or by men espe-
clally chosen from civil life because Of
their experience and capacity.
5-The quartermaster generals DEPART
ment is in process Of similar reorganiza.
ton and notwithstanding under General
Goetlals' VINO enjoys the unique expert
ence OF having worked out at the Panama
canal problems of transportation and sum
ply OF a magnitude never until now an
proached IN the history of our govern
ment. Here, also, the efficiency of the de-
partment is being strengthened by the
calling from civil life Of men of the h,p,-
est capacity to administrate certain az
its great subdivisions.
= ne" view of the work of the Coun-
Gil OF National Defense and of the war
industries board is now possible.
The Council of National Defense ia
lot course, an advisory body without exec-
utlVe power It's members have sevar,,
~ the powers of their respective denart-
ments. The purpose of the council how.
ever was reconciliation of conflicts ana
survey OF the national needs and re.
sources. This purpose it has served and
IS serving. The general munitions boar1
and it's successor, the war ,ndnstr;o,
poaro' with their committees, were or
ganized by the council for the fo1,ouirc
purpose.
Assign properties as among the sew.
eral departments Of the government ana
'ne AIMED governments in their demands
upon the industries of the country
1-Advlse as to supplies of materials
and labor. " :
o-Advise on questions Of price.
f-Hecure industrial and labor co-oner,-
ton. opei a
o-AVoid enhancement OF prices conrus
! ION OF industry, exhaustion Of labor a.,
seneraiy 70 prevent all avoidable evils
winch might result from the speed and mao
nltude Of the new operations.
To these objects it was admirable, ,ao.
ed and It has accomplished a great 1,ou,,
We can now see the entire sitna,ion NV,
! initial rush needs are substantiaI,v sunn,;od
Inc technical corps have been EXPANDED and
reorganized upon industrial ana efscion.
lines.
me coordination of ally needs with CIR
own purchases has been effected An agency
exists to prevent conflicts and 10 adiuet
those which cannot be prevented"
Baker Answers Questions
Secretly Baker after reading his prepar.
ed statement. said he would be very hap.
Ply to answer questions.
Chairman Chamberlain took up the sub
ject of rifles.
Abandonment Of the Springfield rifle and
adoption of the modified Enfield, he said.
had been much criticized
81 think the delay was due to the action
OF the ordnance bureau in changing the
type, said Secretary Baker. II personally
approved that delay" adding that the de-
lay operated TO furnish q large supply later
OF an improved arm.
Turning to criticism OF The machine gun
situation Senator Chamberlain said there
was delay in ordering Lewis guns that had
been used successfully by England