New-York tribune., 1918-01-01
Plenty of Rifles for Army
by February, Asserts
General
Men Now Overseas
Are Fully Equipped
Senate Committee Hears
War Department and
Congress Blamed


supplies OF rifles within a month for
all American forces under arms were
promised to-day by Major General
Crozier, Chief of Ordnance. testifvnp
before the Senate Military Committee.
Springfcds for every regular and Ma
tlonal Guardsman will be ready before
February 1, he said and the manufact-
urc of rcmodelled Fnields for the First
National Army will be finished in a
week.
AS to machine guns, the general said
q tall supply of American make should
be ready by July next. Rifles for the
next draft, he declared, would be on
hand before the men were in camp.
General Crozicr appeared particular
iy to answer charges made by Colonel
isaac N. Lewis, inventor Of the Lewis
machine gun. He submitted prepared
statement detailing the official record
OF the War Departments dealings with
the Lewis gun, and then submitted to
cross examination OF several hours,
during which many interesting points
were developed
In reply to assertions mad, recently
by other witnesses that the Allies had
furnished heavy guns to the American
eNpedltionary forces only because the
Americans we're worse off than they,
the general submitted official docil-
mcnts to. prove that England and
france voluntarily offered to provide
cannon. their output having developed
TO the point where a surplus was being
produced.
Blamcs the Nation
General Crozier refused to shoulder
responsibility for the failure to eouip
fore the war. He said it belonged to
TIE country, and cited the refusal of
the Secretary Of War and Congress IL
the past to approve ''Modest" ordnance
programmes.
The general vigorously defended h r.
course IN regard to the Lewis machn
gun. He gave the committee the record
OF the various tests to which the gun
WAS put and reports of the army ex-
perts to show that it had not been de- /
monstrated to be satisfactory weapon
until April, 1916. after which orders
for them were given by the department. /
When General Crozier finished. Sen
ator Hitchcock, who has been one Of
his chief questioncrs. announced that
he was entirely satisfied with the rec
ord before the war, but still did not
understand why more Lewis guns were
not ordered afterward.
Among other things. General Crozier
told the committee that the govern
ment already was building powder
factory that would have a daily cs
pacity of 100000 pounds. He denied
stories OF wooden guns furnished men
IN the cantonments. explaining that
wnat mad been taken FOR guns were
sticks for bayonet practice
IheTe was some delay, General
crozier said. in making adjustments Of
machinery in American factories 70
change artillery ammunition from the
American to French type so tha. Il
could be used IN French heavy guns
oaned General Pcrshing Telling OF
ilftlculty IN getting .oluol for making
1lgh explosives, he said much success
With substitutes had been attained
Du pont Offcr Declined
All powder plants in the United
capacity, the general said and in adtii
ion the department has started erect
ng government plant with capacity
II 100000 pounds day. An offer av
he dn Pont interests to erect ard
operate new plant at government ey
3akcr. Replying to questions of Sena
or Frclinghuysen, General Crozicr
said:
"When the United States BEGAN
making powder the du Points gave full
formula information"
Senator Frclinghuvscn said he under
stood the du Fonts are operating at
onlv 80 per cent capacity.
n surprised if That is true
Fonts NefN nst running at full ce2ac-
ty we would give orders to enable
hem"
Revertinr again to the machine gun
question. Senator Hitchcock said:
"J think UP to the declaration Of war
our course was q wise one as to the
lewis gun. as it had not met the army
ests. But after the outbreak of war
Why didn't you order enormous guam
tiles ."
General Crozier replied that last
lpril, anticipating the official tests in
lay, he had ordered 1890 Lewis guns |
nd also ordered many Nickers guns.
"No matter what we could have
one,' said General Crozier, Factories
ould not have produced enough to re-
lcve us from some dependence on the
'rench.' 3
Pershing Wanted Vickers r
Senator Hitchcock asked why Lewis {
uns were not used until the Brown :
ngs were ready, and General Crozier
aid General Pershing wanted the
'ickers for ground work and had made t
n unprecedented" demand for Lewis
uns for aerial work. In conferences
nth the War College and other heads
t was decided to use Lewis guns, cx- t
lusively for the aviation service and
he Hotchkiss and French guns for
round work until the Brownings are : I
eady. y
The situation was not such as to !
all on us to get every Kind Of ma
hine gun we could get" said the wit
ess.
In view Of the Italian situation and a
demands for training purposes, SEN q
tor Hitchcock said, the committee i
elt any and all kinds of machine guns II
hould have been secured General o
'rozier replied that he did not UNDER D