The Daily Missoulian. [volume] (Missoula, Mont.) 1904-1961, 1918-01-14
Representative Oliver Recites
What Has Been Ac-
cOmplished.
GIVES OUT SUMMARY
OF ENTIRE HEARING
Bureau Given Coat Of White
wash Against Alleged
Inefficiency.

Washington, Jan. la.--COmpletc
satisfaction with the work OF the
lnavy's ordnance bureau and .its pre-
paredness for war is explained by
representative Oliver OF Alabama,
chairman of the house naval investi-
eating sub committee. in a statement
tonight summarizing for his colleagues
| results Of the ordnance phase OF the
| inquiry.
THE testimony convinced the COM
mittre,' says the statement, that the
prevalent belief and opinion as to the
navS's readiness are we'll founded"
Much Accomplished.
Many interesting facts brought out In
| secret session are disclosed by the
chairman.
Among other things, he says more
than i.loo merchant ships have been
equipped with guns and ammunition
by the navy since the steamer Cam
pana was fitted out March IA, last. and
that appreciable quantities of guns.
large and small, with ammunition for
! them, have been furnished to England.
France and Italy. Many merchant
men of the allies. In addition to vir-
tually the whole American merchant
| fleet, have been armed to fight sub
marines. s5 i-s#.H
THE committee was 10 Impressed
after an exhaustive inquiry by the ef-
lic!ont manner in which the bureau
had In every way performed the extra
ordinary duty which the war imposed.
said Mr.. Oliver. that the committee
Iir.rt.I ~, al.
what was asceratined In the hearing
and investigation.
Committee Impressed.
The bureau. 80 far az could be
learned, has fully satisfied the de-
mands made upon 1t by the vessels
operating In European waters.
"As n preliminary to It's hearings,
tho committee visited the offices of
the bureau and personally examined
details. The committee was most fav-
orably impressed with the business or
ganization.
The organization Of the bureau In
time Of peace had been developed so
as to make 1t an organization for war
with the result that 1t liz working
| smoothly and efficiently. notwithstand-
ing the fact that the expenditures have
Increased from about $1,000 900 to more
| than $3.50, 100000.
Where there We're shortages in the
market of various materials. the
bureau took steps Immediately to de-
veiop new sources Of supply. It placed
contracts rapidly, and the committee
is confident that the navys needs OF
| "a
covered by existing contracts and with
the capacity now under It's control.
Orders Lewis Guns.
Participating the needs Of the naval
service and marine corps for addi.
| tional machine guns, the bureau wisely
conducted a test Of the Lewis machine
gun early IN April. 1917. which was TO
definitely determine it's servicabili'y
when using the United States small
arms ammunition, and an result
| flaC"d an order for the manufacture
of several thousand OF these guns.
Recent reports from the war zone
| Indicate that gun is giving entire sat
| isfaction.
Effective Aeains. Subs.
"The committee Was Implied with
| fun information of how many attacks
| of submarines upon armed merchant
men had been warded off by the ships
| gHn-crews using the battery with
bravery and Skill and was given the
details of certain engagements Of spec
| iai interest. ..
The record Of attacks on our armed
merchantmen shows Il comparatively
small percentage were successful and
that the chances of escape when sub
marine is sighted before she has time
| To fire "a torpedo are very high, due to
the efficiency of the navy personnel.
The unseen torpedo Is responsible for
| so per cent of the sinkings.