Grand Forks herald. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1916-1955, 1918-01-24
CHAMBERLAIN MAKES
AN EMPHATIC REPLY

IAfAt
AN EMPHATIC REPLY
CONTINUED From Page ~ F.,
lessly as an American citizens
who desires to help and not to
hinder"
He repeated he had not distorted
the truth in his speech made in New
York but that owing to h great rush
of business due to the war the presi-
ascertain the truth and does not know
the truth. From the hips Of those
closest to the president, the chief ex-
ecutive cannot learn the truth, not
because his advisers desire to mislead
him, but because they IRE situated in
the same position as he is.
The secretary ct war, in a general
carefully and ably prepared. tells us
that $4,000, 900. 900 have been appro-
prtated for the ordnance department
and that contracts for $l.S77, 900, 900
have been awarded" he continued.
This is true. But the secretary fail
ed to tell the country that America
failed to stand prepared"
France. bled white" he continued,
lis furnishing America today and the
troops going abroad with heavy ord.
nance. machine guns and airplanes.
If we relied on the ordnance depart
ment in this emergency (and this is q
war of artillery tho war would be
completed before we ever got to go to
the front. France agreed to deliver
this artillery. To win America, did
lea? ' e ''''' amer
1t was improper, he said. to give
details of American purchases Of ord
nance from the allies but referred
senators to the confidential testimony
before the committee by Major Gen.
eral Crozier, chief OF ordnance.
IF the administration had
wanted to be fair TO tho .Ameri-
can people," ho shouted. "Why
didn't the distinguished secretary
OF war, and l have the highest
regard for him. let the people
know. 80 that the people could
terrible calamity that confronts
n only America, but the whole
world"
Senator Chamberlain charged that
the ordnance bureau failed III 1916
to prepare for var when it seemed
certain.
There were omens in the sky" hc
continued. that America couldn't
Keep out. What vas the ordnance do.
ing? Nothing. 1t was lying supinely
on its back. not making guages for
manufacturing ordnance nor discov-
er'ng the possibility OF manufacture.
nothing"
Appropriations for .iigs n dies to
make ordance, he said, had no been
used.
No CDnA in Ehnrti.nlor
i m no blaming ANYBODY in par
ticular," the senator continued. II
have high regard tor General Cruzier.
i'ut NC haven't been apl to dc what
England. France and AL our other
alhes have done and that is to retire
these gentlemen VINO have not proven
tnemsei\e S up to the mark. We ought
not to dismiss them III disgrace, nut
in other countries they have gone in
to innocuOus desuetude.
This II u question of p%ersonali-
tieS. ms is not a question between
the president and myself. It's a ques-
ton of America and every man ought
to make it his whole purpose to soc
that America is saved.
Take the machine gun said the
senator, its an old controversy and
much may he said on both sides. The
Lewis gun has been manufactured
here for the British army and there
are 10000 of them on the battlefronts.
expressed approval OF that gun.
America was prepared to produce
them but with the country standing
on Il seething volcano, the ordnance
department was trying to decide on a
gun. The war department didn't
even adopt a gun until May. and
finally adopted it in June Ns17),
believe. and then only on paper. and
it still is a gun on paper. 1t never
has had a field test. Maybe thu
Browning gun is a good weapon hut
Why not manufacture the Levi.
gum"
The secretary of war testified be-
fore the committee. he said, hat ir
September. the United States hat
nine Browning guns with which tt
so out against the millions of Ger
many He denounced the cry thai
investigation gives information to the
enemy.
Germany Knows.
Germany knows o abou
America today than the men connect
ed with the departments" Senator
Chamberlain declared. "If the gov
crnment would be frank with tn
people, then VIC could rely upon thu
people to rally to the support of thu
president and the prosecution of tn,
war"
Great Britain. he said, did no
waste time manufacturing guns TIL
United States could have adopted tn
same kind of a rifle as used by Ems
land as plants in this country wer'
equipped for manufacturing them, h.
contended.
But while the house burns" h
shouted. America determine
through the ordnance bureau wha
instrumentalities are to be adopted
He conceded that the rifle as finall,
adopted was an improvement over tn
British gun but declared It took day
and months to perfect it,"
Added to Delay.
After the engineers of various gu1
making plants had been consulted.
gun finally was agreed upon for tn
American army but 1.-The ordnanc
bureau through a. very distinguishes
officer ordered that the number o