The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1918-02-14
Is Half Billion Dollars Less
Than Original Estimate.
To Erect S2,OOO,OOO Gas PrOjec-
tile Plant in France.
GAS PUTS WAR ON new BASIS
Pershing Urges Factory in
France To Meet Emergency.
War Dept Has Awarded Billion
in MunitiOn Contracts.

WASHINGTON, Feb IA billion dol
lar urgent deficiency appropriation
bill the largest of its kind in the his
tory of congress altho cut a half bill.
lior from original estimates. was ia
vorably reported to the house TO-DAY oy
Chairman Sherley of the appropria-
tions committee. The bill. which pro-
viees for the immediate needs of the
war. navy and other departments. is
expected to begin in the house tomor-
row In presenting the measure
Chairman Sherley smade public tesu-
mony given to the corlmittee by de-
partment chiefs during the past month
of committee investigation Huge
amounts were asked for various mill
total of almost $S1. 100000 for noun
tain. field and siege artillery In addl-
tor to more than S1,000,O0O,OOO al
ready spent and contract authorize
tiors of $779, 100000 additional.
The testimony of Colonel Ames of
the ordnance department said that the
total amount available for this pur-
pose since the beginning of the war
un.:er direct appropriations and orders
have been placed requiring ultimate
expenditure of s1.252, 100000, leaving
still available for contracts 1864, OOp,-
900 He said the $1,816,000,OOO was
intended to supply ammunition, upon
revised estimates of the quantities
needed, for 100000 men, including
the am runition needed for the light
trench mortars. He said the sS1, ,000,-
OOu additional is asked as the result
OF a change in the military program,
including new requirement for 1arg-
er number of shells. for ammunition
70 guns mounted on tanks. and ST.
600, 900 for plant designed for the
filling of projectiles with gases and
81 100000 for plant for the same
purpose to be erected in France.
Pershing Urges Plant in France.
Major General Pershing cabled
strongly urging a plant in France to
enable him to handle these toxic ma
terIals properly. 1t is planned. ord
nance officials explained, to dispatch
a complete organization and equip
ment to France to enable the Ameri-
ca expeditionary forces to meet the
sudden shift in gas warfare.
There is probably no phase of
trench warfare" said Colonel Rags
dale. that is open to such sudden
shifts as gas warfare. The mustard
gas or blister gas used by the Germans
simply changed the whole program.
The plan is to enable the use of a
traired personnel in handling these
gases in loading shells and bombs and
to enable the change of the character
of gases to keep abreast of the de-
veloping phase of warfare. 1t is our
intention to ship in large quantities
certain toxic materials that will then
be taken out of these containers and
put into shells or cylinders for making
these wave attacks, or into bombs, or
whatever they want"
A. his examination before the COM
mittee. Chairman Shcrley's report
said. General Wheeler, of the ord
nance bureau brought out that the
government had an arrangement with
the French to supply artillery and am
munition to a certain number of
Americap troops arriving in France,
but after these units are supplied the
United States would fully equip addi-
tional troops.
Americas resources. General Wheel
er testified. were sufficient to meet
all war needs. He asserted the, war
department had a billion dollars worth
of ammunition contra cts
More Than 700 Million for Aero.
Major General Squier. chief signal
officer, testified the signal corps had
spent or obligated all the s64O,00O,000
appropriated to carr out its aero
plane program. and has incurred obli-
cations that will equal S90.00O,OOO in
addition and may go beyond that for
the present fiscal year. He asked
s2T7.722. coo to procure bombs for the
ae-o planes.
Discussing storage and shipping IA
cilfties General GOethals said approXi-
nHtelN lON NNO-OOU With duIHOTlId-
ton of S5O.OOO.OOO more. is needed for
storage or quartermaster supplies
along the seacoaSt. including huge
amounts for various specific terminals.
Hoover Shows Balance on Hand.
Federal Food Administrator Hoover
said the combined food and fuel ad-
illustrators so far have had total 9p
preparations of $5.5I5 700. out of
which there has been actual eXpen-
diture of s1.9S5.429 and there are now
outstanding obligations of $22723S3
leaving S1,257.950 balance. He asked
$1,000. 600 more now. He said he and
Doctor Garfield. fuel administrator
were agreed that the two administra-
tiOns should be separate. He said the
combined fund was divided in the pi O.
POI ton of two-t thirds for food and one
third for fuel Mr.. Hoover avoided
discussing his drastic price-fixing and
said that the keynote of federal con-
tr7i is the stabilizing of prices.