Evening star., 1918-01-11
Syndicate Proposed.
WAR SECRETARY is
GRILLED IN SENATE
Continued from First Page.)

Reverting to delays In machine gun
| deliveries, Senator Hitchcock deplored
| tardy contracts for Lewis guns and
Mr.. Baker rejofned that large produc-
| tion of Browning guns would begin in
February.
, This aroused Senator Hitchcock.
THAT isn't so.' he retorted sharply,
slapping his hands together at the Sec
| retary. I'VE won't have a large guam
| tity before 1919 in actual use. We
| haven't one now"
I'VE have nine." Mr.. Baker suggested,
smiling. Seriously, he added that pro-
| duction was being speeded up. and that
his latest Information was that guam
tity production of the Browning guns
would begin in February.
Senators Hitchcock and Weeks both
called the Secretary's attention to tes-
timony of Gen. Crozier and manufac-
turers given contracts for the Brown
ing gun that production in quantity
would not begin before April.
Such testimony, Secretary Baker con-
ceded, would be the most reliable.
Secretary Bakers formal statement
of yesterday regarding Army prepared
ness. Senator Weeks declared. would
"unintentionaily mislead the country"
The country said the senator,
should not be Iulled to sleep by a gen
eral statement Of facts that don't
exist"
During the rapid cross-questionins
the Secretary was apparently serene,
pumnE cigar and answering all ques-
Secretary baker said he was mot sur
prised" at the machine gun shortage re-
ported at Camp Bowie, in view OF the
general machine gun situation. Senator
Weeks said that witnesses declare ma
chine gun units are practically throwing
their time away by not having guns for
practice.
II think you should give this your i'm
! mediate and earnest attention." Senator
Weeks said.
Committee Will Disappear.
Returning to the question of purchases
by the supplies committee of the Council
Of National Defense, Secretary Baker
said:
The process is being stopped and 1
| think 1t is stopped now"
What becomes Of the committee e''
asked Senator McKellar 4.
cit will disappear" Mr.. Baker replied.
adding that Vice Chairman Eisenman Will
be commissioned or placed on a salary
erals office.
Il want to protest against employ
ment OF Mr.. Eisenman because Of de-
ve1opments in this committee regard
said the senator. while Mr.. Eisen-
man may be equipped, the revelations
before this committee. in my opinion.
show that Mr. Eisenman should not be
Secretary Baker. in reply. praised Mr..
Eisenman. his business enterprise and
judgment.
Il indor.e everything know he has
done." said Mr.. Baker. adding that
Eisenman had saved the government
many billions Of dollars. He promised
to study the committees testimony re-
gardfng Eisenman's services.
Supply Purchasing System Topic.
While Secretary Baker was on the
stand yesterday afternoon Chairman
Chamberlain and other committeeman
wanted to know particularly about de-
lays in furnishing machine guns and
rifles. and much attention was devoted
to the Army's supply purchasing sys-
tenn.
Mr.. Baker admitted there had been
some mistakes and delays. but declared
that all fighting men in France were
adequately equipped and armed, and
that all sent over would be. He took
gull responsibility for delay in approy-
ing machine gun. holding that the
value Of the Browning gun now de-
veloped was worth 1t.
He also said the superior weapon OBJ
tained by having the British Enfield
rifle rechambered for American am
munition compensated for the delay
there.
More than 100000 Americans now
are under arms, Secretary Baker said
An army of substantial size already
is in France ready for active service.
Members Of the committee were frank
In their disapproval OF the secret pur-
chasing system Of the department.
They did not shake Mr.. Bakers sup
port of 1t. however. He insisted that it
was essential to guard against public
ity concerning plants engaged on war
work.