The Brattleboro daily reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1913-1955, 1918-03-27
STORM IN SENATE
OVER WAR DELAYS
Year Wasted, Lodge Asserts,
Demanding That Full
Truth BE Told People
ONLY THIRTY SEVEN
AIRCRAFT BY JULY

Senator ovcriuan Tells Critics This Is
No Time to Discourage Country
Poindexter Makes Severe Attack on
Administration.
WASHINGTON, March 27.--In tho
hittcrcst debate the senate has known
since America : entry into the war, the
administration yesterday was accused of
having woefully failed to prepare tho
country for is part in the world con-
Aiet Up To- this time senators assert
cd. the United States has made a pit
liable showing
Led hy Senator Lodge Of Ma-sachu-
sets, the administration was severely
arraigncd for having failed to get one
American airpiane to It's forces in
France. while its long delay in turning
out ships and guns was attacked as
cyidencing a glaring lack of efficiency.
senator New of Irdianna astonished
tho senate when he declared that Of
10000 airplancs which the aircraft pro-
duptiou board had expected TO build
hv July next only 81 would be ready.
Senator Lodge bitterly adverted TO
the fact that only two ships had been
turned out in America S ambitious pro-
gram to offset the submarine.
Senator Poindcxtcr OF Washington
dcplorcd the long delay Of the shipping
board in supplying ships, telling the
senate that the board had declined Of
fpls Of shipbuilders on the Pacific
slope that would have put many yes
sells ON the ways months ago. Although
spruce is needed i'm the making of air
planes. the senator said the aircraft
production board had brushed aside Of
fcrs Of growers in the West to supply
at its own hgurc.
Aroused over Senator Poindexter 5
aggressive attack upon the administra-
tiou. Senator Ovclman Of North Caro-,
lima undertook TO rebukc the Wash.
iugtouian, SAYING that he ought not re.
veal facts relating TO the war that
were calculated to discourage the
American nation Senator Poindextei
insisted. as did the other critics Of tho
administration, that the people must
know the truth aud that the admins
trafiua mistakes. unless brought {,
LIGHT, were apt to go on 70 the end o
the war.
Senator johnson of California, sup
porting Senator Poindextcr's attitude
urged "pitiless publicity in the con
duet of the war. lie characterized tn
war department 5 failure TO equip tn
American army with airplanes as car
outrage upon the American youth OF
the battle lines.
Aside from Senator Oyerman, tn
only Democratic senator who arose 4
the defense oil the administration wa
Mr.. KirbF Of Arkansas. Senator Hitch
cock of Nebraska. while conceding tina
the war department had "made mis-
takes assured the senate that ever
energy was now being bent on catch
ing up in the war program. Senate
Hitchcock had been assured, lie sale
that 5000 airploues would be ready fo
tho American army in France by Jul
l. This prophecy was abruptly cha
lcnged By Senator Poindexter.
The senatorial outburst, coming upo
the heels of the disclosures made I
the senate military affairs commit,
b. Major Gen. Leonard Wood as
lack of equipment of the America
forces in France, created a profour
sensation at the capitol. While Il
senate was engaged in the debate Ge
cral Wood arrived again at the capt.
md conferred for an hour with mel
hers Of the military affairs committC
As an outcome Of the conference, it
understood, an appointment was ma
for General Wood TO confer with Pre-.
dent Wilson, TO lay before the exc
utivc facts pertaining to American pr
ticipation in the war.