Republican farmer. [volume] (Bridgeport, Conn.) 1810-1920, 1918-02-15

Huge amounts were asked for vari-
Gus military activities Among these
was total of almost $S1, 900, 900 for
mountain, field and siege artillery in
addition to more than $1,000, 100000,
already spent and contract authorize
tions of $779, 100000 additional. The
testimony of Col. Ames of the ord
nance department, said the total
amount available for this purpose
since the beginning of the war under
direct appropriations and contracts fau-
thorizations was $1,S16,00O,0OOy of
which amount orders have been pIac-
ed requiring ultimate expenditure of
1882, 900, 900, leaving still available
1854, 100000. He said the $1,516,-
100000 was intended to supply ann
! munition, on revised estimates Of tils
quantities needed, for 100000 men.
including the ammunition for the
light trench mortars. He said the
$S1, 100000 additional is asked as the
result of change in the military
program, including new requirements
for a larger number of shells, for
ammunition for guns mounted on
tanks and s7,000,000 for a plant de-
signed for the filling of projectiles
with cases. and 100000 for plant
for the same purpose to be erected
in France.
Maj. Gen. Pershing cabTed strongly
urging a plant in France to enable
him to handle these toxic materials
properly. 1t is planned, ordnance
officers explained, to dispatch a com.
France to enable the American ex-
peditionary forces to meet the sud.
den shift in gas warfare.
At the examination before the com,S
mittee Chairman Sherleys report said,
Gen. Wheeler of the Ordnance Bureau
brought out that the government had
an arrangement with the French to
supply artillery and ammunition to a
certain number of American troops ar
riving in France, but after these units
are supplied the United States would
equip additional troops
Americas resources, Gen. Wheeler
testified, were sufficient to meet all
war needs He asserted that the War
Department had a billion dollars
worth of ammunition contracts.
Major Gen. Squier, chief signal Of
ficer, testified that the Signal Corps
had spent or obligated all the $780,
100000 appropriated to carry out its
aeroplane program, and has incurred
obligations that will equal $50, ,00O, 900,
in addition, and may go beyond that,
for the present fiscal year. He asks
$277, 1872, 900 to procure bombs for the
aeroplanes.
Discussing storage and shipping IA
cilities, Gen. Goethals said approxi-
mately S100, 900 with authorization
OF $5O,0O0,000 more is needed for
storage of quartermaster supplies
along the sea coast, including huge
amounts for various specific terminals
Federal Food Administrator Hoover
said the combined food and fuel ad-
ministrators SO far have had total
appropriations of s5,515 900, out of
which there has been an actual ex-
penditure of $1.9S5,429 and there are
now outstanding obligations of 81 <
272,8, leaving $1,257,9 $50 balance. He
asked for $4,000 900 more now. He
said he and DR.. Garfield, fuel admin
istrator, were agreed that the two
administrations should be separate.
He said the combined fund was divid-
ed in the proportion of two-thirds for
food and one-third for fuel
Mr.. Hoover testified that the food
administration is directing the buy
ing of $3.50, 100000 worth of food
stuffs month for the Allies alone.
I'm addition he explained, I'VE have
the whole problem of conservation.
Whether we can continue on a volun-
tary basis for the balance of the year
am not sure"
Fuel Administrator Garfield denied
to the committee that he had advised
that people ought not to buy coal last Z
summer, and explained that what he
meant was to buy all the coal neces-
sary but not in excess of needs and
thus add to the transportation diff :
culties.
Provost Marshal General Crowder
in asking for an additional 10000
900 for draft registration and selec-
ton, testified that there is a complete
registration already of all aliens, in
cluding enemy aliens, between 81 and
80, and that on June there were
100000 aliens-not enemy aliens
between the draft ages of 81 and 81.