The Daily Missoulian. [volume] (Missoula, Mont.) 1904-1961, 1918-01-25
SENATOR MAKES
REPLY TO WILSON
Chamberlain Stands Fatty
by Statement Attacking
Conduct Of War.
CHARGE OF WEAKNESS
Declares Soldiers Died in
Army Camps Because of
Improper Care.
CHARGE OF WEAKNESS
1Continued From Page one,D


the war department had been effec-
tive" a-+ 49,.
Now that my truthfulness has been
questioned" Senator Chamberlain con-
tinued, Il feel it my duty to tell the
country something I might not have
told it under ordinary circumstances
] do it az a man who loves his coun-
try best of all and who would willing
~ give, his life for it. I do it fear
lessE as ian American citizen who de-
sired to help and not to hinder"
He repeated he had not distorted the
truth in his speech made in New York
but that Dvving to the great rush of
business due 40 the war the president
has probably not been able to ascer-
tain the truth and does not know the
truth. Ss.i l5ss Il.
Cannot Learn Truth.
From the lips Of those closest to the
president, the. chief executive cannot
learn the truth, not because his adj
visers desire to mislead him, but be-
cause they are situated in the same
position as is he.
THE secretary of war in general
statement to the country, which was
carefully and ably prepared, tells
us that $4,000, 00O,O00 have been APP
propriated for the ordnance depart
ment and that contracts for s1,677,s
100000 have been awarded" he con-
tinued. This is true, but the secre-
tary failed to tell the country that
America failed to stand prepared.
France Made Promise.
France, bled white" he continued.
sis 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, the war would be
completed before we ever got enough
to go to the front. France agreed
to deliver this artillery to win Amer
lea; did she furnish it in order to in
vite American"
1t was improper, he said, to give
details of American purchases of
ordnance from the allies, but referred
senators to the confidential testimony
before the committee by Major Gen
eral Crozi1; selsfef or ordnance
Fair With People.
IF the administration had wanted
to be fair I'd the American people.
he shouted, "why didn't the dis
tinguished secretary of war, and
have the highest regard for him, let
the people know, SO that the people
could assist in getting ready for this
terrible calamity that confronnts not
only America, but the whole world -
Senator Chamberlain charged that
the ordnance bureau failed in 1916 to
prepare for war when il seemed GER
tain.
Omens in Sky.
There We're omens in the sky" he
continued, that America could not
keep out of it. What was the ordnance
department doing? Nothing, 1t was
lying supinely on its back. not making
gauges for manufacturing ordnance
nor discovering. the possibilities OF
manufacturing. but doing nothing
absolutely nothing"
Appropriations for iigs and dies to
make ordnance, he said, had not been
used.
I'm not blaming anybody in partic-
ular," the senator continued. II have
high regard for General CroZier. But
we haven't been able to do what Eng
land. France and all our other allies
have done and that is to retire these
gentlemen who have not proven them