The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1918-01-28

uIacture. BRITISH and french theory
of artillery usage differs" he. said.
adding:
I'VE had to decide for ourselves
what we should use. Army experts
were sent abroad to study the Ques-
ton. Early in June it was intimated
that France had SO far accelerated
her industrial program that the vast
age of industry would not fully occu-
Ply her resources and that she could
supply artillery for American forces
then going to France without curtail-
ing her own forces. Capatin Tardieu
opened the subject.
"On July 13 or a." Mr. Baker con-
tnueo, AN agreement was made by
which the French government agreed
to supply the principal. pieces of rs
millimeter field guns and 155-milli-
meter rapid fire howitzers needed for
the American force being sent abroad.
The American government wished to
adopt the quickest solution to get the
largest supply IN the shortest possible
time. At that time, altho we were
sending troops to France, it was not
in any large numbers matter
somewhat for the remote future"
Couldn't Wait to Build Factories.
you Thought it was better to use
the French factories instead of wait
ing to build our own?'' asked Senator
Reed
Exactly Secretary Baker replied
"Also it saved tonnage. And I'm tell
ing no secrets when 1 say that ships
are the crux of this problem, and
every time we can use French indus
trial resources instead of making and
SEEDING our own products we are do
ing it,"
rs that a disadvantage to France"
asked Senator SBeckham.
"Categorically, 1 answer no." said
Mr.. Baker positively. 1T has been
n No IN
Secretary Baker then produced
telegram from Major General Bliss.
chief f-staff, when the war council
was broad, reciting the unanimous
agreement of the iRter-a1lied military
representatives for American forces to
secure artillery from England and
France for all American forces sent
abroad this year and as long there
after as>possible.
Referring to Colonel Houses milf
tary aides, Baker said: ut was their
task to find out from the British,
French and Italian representatives the
answer to this question:
How can America contribute
most to the early winning of the WARP
"One of the answers was for more
Europe. 1t was agreed that both Eng
land and France have surplus ord
nance, ammunition and manufacturing
capacity"
General Bliss report as read by
Secretary Baker in part follows:
1T was agreed by representatives of
Great Britain and France that their
production of ordnance is now estab-
listed on SO large scale that they
are able to equip all American troops
arriving in 1918 of ordnance of the
best types. It is recommended that
they be supplied in 1918 and as long
afterward as is found convenient from
British and French gun factories
NJ have seen in the newspapers"
Mr.. Baker continued, that this is put
ting a burden on France. I say>to you
gentlemen that Marshal Joffre and
his associates, General Bridges and all
his associates of Great Britain and in
TACT all persons of commissions that
have come to this country with any
knowledge of conditions all bring me.
the confidence and positive assurance
That we are not only not taking from
England and France the things that
they need but are helping their indus
trlai processes and saving tonnage and
making proper co-ordinated military
efforts with our allies."s
First Aircraft Gun Delivered.
Statistics of manufacture in this
Baker, some publicly and some to the
convention in confidence He said for
example, the first three anti-afrcraft
gun was delivered this morning and
.iol It's pIoouctlon Is rising steadily
to an estimate of 800 per month
maximum.
So. he said, lin captivating. ST
think it is fair to say-and if there is
a possibility that I am wrong 1 want
it called to my attention-that the
American army in France, large as it
IS, and the American army toy be sent
there, large as that is. are and will
be provided with artillery of the tvne
they want as rapidly as they can use
1t and that oun own stream of manu-
1acture to supplement this is in pro-
cess, with delivery of pieces rising
Steadily
Referring to a letter from Captain
Tard1eu, to General Crozier, dated De-
cember Fl last. Secretary Baker read
big guns in France did not become
adequate until 1916. Captain Tardie,I
expressed the belief that the United
states would make faster progress
than had his own country