New-York tribune., 1918-01-11

NOntlnueO from page
licity concerning plants engaged on
war work.
Secretary Takes Stand
Secretary Baker WAS not interrupted
! in reading his prepared statement when
he appeared on the stand, and after
ward said he would be Every happy"
to answer questions.
Chairman Chamberlain took up the
subject of rifles.
Abandonment of the Springfield rife
and adoption of the modified Enfield, he
said, has been much criticised.
II think the delay was due to the
action of the ordnance bureau in chang
ing the type" said Secretary Baker. II
personally approved that delay. ! think
the ordnance bureau acted right" add
ing that the delay operated to furnish
a larger supply later of al improved
arm.
"It isn't inefficicncy to change your
mind if a greater supply of a better
article is secured" said he, adding that
all men sent to Europe had ample rifles
and now all men in training are we'll
supplied. >
Several Senators joined in question
ing to show that rife production was
permitted to lag when it was certain
that the country was about to go to
war, but Secretary Baker persisted that
the delay in changing models had in
the end produced much desired re-
suit. He pointed out that eight months
after England went to war British SOL
ders were training in top hats and
with walking sticks, and insisted that
,-i{1
far ahead" that all men who will be
called out will have enough.
Turning to criticism of the machine
gun situation, Senator chamberlain sad
there was delay in ordering Lewis guns,
that had been used successfully by
England.
Chamberlain Contradicts
"There was no delay after last
April" replied Secretary Baker
eyes, there was. NJ. Secretary" re-
torted the Senator.
Secretary Baker continued by recit-
ing the machine gun controversy that
existed when he became Secretary.
Senator Mcclellan thought the delay
was unreasonable.
We'll, it's a matter of judgment" ;"
said Mr.. Baker.
Secretary Baker told of the board
named to investigate machine guns.
"The boards deliberations never de-
layed for one second the buying of any
gun after last April" said Mr.. Baker,
positively. "It did delay other guns,
including the new Browning gun, before
April"
"The fact remains that nine months
after the war the cantonments have
none for training" said Senator Nc
kellar.
"I wouldn't say *nonc," Secretary
. Baker replied. "Ihcy have relatively
few"
Before the war the largest machine
gun programme was $4,000. he added.
while now 100000 arc requited, with
manufacture difficult and slow.
"Ihose two facts make it all the
more important that machine guns
should have been gotten from any
source" said Senator McKcllar. "The
greatest energy should have been
cxerted to get any kind.'
The questions involved, Mr.. Bake,
reiterated, were Of judgment between
speed and excellence.
Are you entirely satisfied, so far as
all ordnance is concerned. with the
progress the department has made ~
asked Senator Weeks.
) Cant Answer That Way"
IL don't say that the department
+
of its work." Secretary Baker replied.
I'm what have we failed?"
, The Secretary hesitated and an
swercd: 81 can't answer it that way.
,, can't pick out any particular place"
Senator Weeks. asked if all available
ammunition production facilities arc
being used.
"But all will be when we need them"
The arrangement to get British and
French ammunition for artillery, he
7 said, was "safe as far as it goes" bu;
said principal reliance was placed or
: American sources.
! When Senator Weeks again asked il
) he could suggest anything that woulc
be helpful in speeding up ordnance pro
duction, Secretary Baker replied:
, al can't think of anything that youa
work will help. Whenever I've thought
of anything I've done it. Pm up to date
now"
Secretary Baker said he thought g
Federal powder plant advisable.
Senator Chamberlain referred to the
du Pont offer to build and operate
plant at cost, but Secretary Baker ex-
planned the ofTer was to build plan'
, for 4 commission, Is per cent, and op-
crate it for eighteen months. On the
, basis Of a S9OO0O,O00 investment, he
| explained. the du Points would have
; made gross profit between s20,oo0,oo(
| and $4,000 900
Powder Supply Adequate
I "Thcy never at any time offered te
erect plant without compensation
: he said.
7 "The present powder supply is ade-
5 quate for our present needs" Secrc-
: tary Baker added.
= Senator New asked if there was any