Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1918-01-25

arc 10000 OF them on tho battle fronts.
Every British, officer ! ltavc seen has
expressed approval of that gun. Amer
lea was prepared to produce them. bat
with the country standing OH 4 secth-
ins volcano tho orunanco department
Was trying TO decide OIL gun. The
War Department didn't even adopt A
gun until May. and finally adopted il
in juno. 1917. believe. and then ouly
on paper. and il still is a Gun OIL paper.
1t never has had A field test. Maybe
the Browning gun : good weapon.
bu, tho lewis sun is doing good work.
Why not manufacture the Lewis guns
The Secretary OF War testified he
fore tho committee. he recalled. that
in September tho United States had
nine Browning guns with which to
go out asains; tho millions of Ger
many. Flo denounced tho cry that
investigation gives information to the
enemy.
GOVERNMENT rs NOT
FRANK WITH PEOPLE
Germany knows more about Amer
lea to-day than the men connected
with the rtmonts." Senator Cham
hcrlain declared "If the government
WOULD be frank With tho people then
we could rely upon tho people to rally
to the support OF the President and the
prosecution of the war he added
Great Britain. he said. did not waste
time manufacturing guns. Tho United
States could have adopted the same
kind OF a rife used by Eng land.
as the plants in this country were
equipped for manufacturing them. he
continued.
But. while the house burns" he
shouted. America determines through
the Ordnance Bureau what instrumcn.
ta!ities arc to he adopted" lie con-
! coded that the rihc as finally adopted
was an Improvement over tho British
gun. but declared it took days and
months to perfect"
After tho engineers of various gun
mailing plants had been consulted. a
| gun finally was agreed upon for the
American army, bu, the Ordnance
. Bureau. through very distinguished
officer ordered that The number Of
parts be Increased. which added TO the
delay.
WIZ shouldn't America know these
thinGs?" tho Senator demanded. Some
people in tho West say they believed
America had all it needed.
RAKER'S STATEMENTS
Regarded MISLEADING
'lf they only knew actual coudi-
tons. he continued, they would give
their lives their all. to protect America
Wars statement gives the impression
that We had everything. But when We
Get the testimony Of tho men who arc
on the ground, different information is
obtained"
citing tho testimony of an army
officer from Camp Eowic. TEXAS who
declared there was not a single trench
mortar there and that other necessary
cGuiprn ent was lacking, Senator Cham
bcriain declared
This is true of Camp Gordon and
every camp in the United states"
IF II hada't boon for the civilian
people who have come here and given
th"ir time and service we wouldn't
have been anywhere" he continued
turning to the quaTtcrr.aStcr-Sc on
erals department.. Senator Cham rIain
said that from Secretary Bakers Scn.
er1I statement the country would be-
licre that everything was lovely and
the goose hung high, so far as cloth
Ing is concerned.
But when YOU talk 10 the men cha,
command these boys you lind il isn't
there he continued. "On per ca pi,a
basis Il is there. but no, when it comes
10 effective distribution. They simply
haven't Eot the clothing.
PRESIDENT INHERITED
sYSTEN OF RED TAPE,
IL realize the difficulties Of the OUR.
termas ter. general He has done the
best he could under tho present .ys-
tom. The President inherited that sys-
TEN and has done the best he could.
The President isn't responsible for the
system. But the fact remains that VIC
haven't the clothing"
Senator Chamberlain said he nro
posed 20 show a. Secretary Bakers
own testimony ,hAt the secretary did
not know OF =, nal clothing condi-
tious