American Falls press. [volume] (American Falls, Idaho) 1907-1937, 1918-01-15
SECRETARY or WAR
CHILLED BY COMMITTEE
senators, Expressing Disapproval, Say
Country should Not BE Lulled TO
Sleep by General Statement OF Facts
That Don't Exist.

Weeks, Republicans. took the lead in
a grilling examination OF Secretary OF
War Baker Thursday. Friday and Sat
urday OF last week. and after expressed
disapprOval OF the secretary's evasion
In replying to direct questions. The
committee inqufring into the failure
OF the war department to supply cloth
ing and equipment for soldiers AZ
home and abroad, Is making a search
ing Investigation into delays which
are considered unwarranted. Below
are some Of the questions and Secre-
tary Bankers nswer in the three
days inquiry but only enough to show
the general trend OF the investigation:
Turning to artillery. Senator Wads-
worth assailed the ordnance bureau
for not continuing manufacture Of
French 240-millimeter guns instead Of
proceeding with the manufacture OF
American 9.5 guns. none OF which has
been delivered and whose ammunition
Is not interchangeable with the French.
Secretary Baker said he thought.
but was not sure, that the department
was making the French type and prom
ised TO give further information.
There has been no explanation yet
given the committee" said Senator
Wadsworth, pounding the table with
his list.
Senator Wadsworth asked whether,
In view OF the shortage OF artillery and
machine guns, the se%cretary's state
ment that there were sufficient sup
plies substantially for rush needs"
was correct.
yes, perfectly. as l understand IT,"
said Mr.. Baker. "Our rush needs are
satisfied"
Senator Chamberlain asked Baker
how he could say that. when canton
ments were short rifles and machine
guns and artillery.
Il mean. then. that there is enough
for the men actually engaged In fight
ing"
You mean that there is sufficient
for men In France?" said Senator Nc
Kellar.
Yes" said the secretary.
Your statement that we have sub
stantially enough gives a wrong i'm
preston to the country. when we have
only enough for men actually in the
lighting and not for those in training"
senator Wadsworth interjected.
Il agree with Senator Wadsworth.'
said Chairman Chamberlain. that
yOur statement gives a wrong impress
sion to the country"
What | meant TO say and what
want the country TO understand" Mr..
Baker replied earnestly. lis that all
the troops in France Will be adequate
Is equipped with artillery and arms"
Probably observed Senator Cham
berlain.
II have assurances to that effect.
Mr.. Baker testified.
The statement leaves the impress
sion that the situation is a rosy one
and that we have all the artillery we
need, said Senator Wadsworth. Il
disagree. II Is O an accurate state
ment OF the situation"
Mr.. Baker insisted that his state
ment regarding adequacy of ordnance
for rush needs was substantially
correct. Ho admitted that ordnance
was needed for training men in camp.
Time needed 10 train men in France.
he said, will give time to increase
ordnance supplies.
Senator Weeks cited the general ord
nance shortage al Camp Bowie. Texas.
testified TO by Major General Greble.
commandment.
You have given the impression
that every camp has enough rifles"
senator Weeks observed. How can
YOU conform that to the statement
that there are no requirements OF ar
tillcry2'
II didn't make that statement. said
Mr.. Baker.
You a y hat impression
l said initial rush needs are filled"
explained Mr.. Baker.
But you ought TO define your state
ment 10 gives the country the impress
sion hat every need in the camps is
supplied. said MIR. Weeks.
Mr.. Baker said rifle shortages since
General Greble reported had been sub
s%tantially corrected.
III would have beer very fortunate
h we could have gotten machine guns
sooner. he added.
is there any reason why 1900
should bee held in storage" asked sen
atOr Hitchcock. referring TO testimony
by General Cr0zier TO that effect.
didn't know that. said Mr.. Baker.
kcyerting 90 delays i'm machine gun
deliveries senator Hitchcock deplored
tardy contracts for Lewis guns and
Mr. Baker rejoiued that large produc-
ton OF Browning guns would begin in
February.
This aroused Senator Hitchcock.
That isn't So he retored sharply.
%slapping his hands together at the sec
rotary. We won't have a large guam
tty before 1919 in actual use. We
haven't one now
We have nine" Mr.. Baker suggest
ed. smiling. Seriously. he added that
production Vas being speeded and
that his latest information was that
quantity production OF the Browning
guns would begin in February.
Senators Hitchcock and Weeks both
called the secretary's attention 10 tes-
timOny of General CrOzier and manu-
lecturers given contracts for the