The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1919-08-27
Army Reorganization Plan Is
Criticized by Gen. Williams
Says Principle Element of Success the Ordnance
Department, Is Practically Overlooked or Neg
lected Entirely.

Washington. Aug 3s.--The army re-
organization plan approved by Secre-
tary Baker ana Chief OF STAN March
yeas condemned b. Major-General will
iiAms. chisf Of the ordnance depart
ment. In testimony given to-day before
the senate military affairs committee.
General williams In his Indictment
Of ths bill declared IL Would impair
the efficiency OF the army and virtually
nullify the whole preparedness pro-
gram. His chief objection TO the bill
is that while ample provision Is made
for the training OF man power there
Is practically no provision made for
aiming the men or training them in
the use Of arms, The ordnance de-
rartment is reduced to fifty-one offi-
GERS by the bill. General Williams con-
tended.
In his statement to the committee.
General williams said:
The military power Of the nation
depends upon its man power and Its
Industrial power--men and munitions;
the military program whatever Its
seals. must be considered not alone in
terms OF men. but also In terms Of mu-
Eitions. War. as we OF this generation
have come to know Il, II no longer
duel OF professional armies. but =
struggle between nations which en-
crosses the attention. Affects the mode
OF living. demands sacrifices OF and as
signs . role to practically every indi-
vidual Of the entire population OF the
nation"
General williams augsesssd to the
committee that In the plan proposed
By secretary baker and General March
there was great deal Of talk about
the tasks which tho country must as
u me In the event Of war, but almost
10 mention of the need for preparsd-
ress from the industrial standpoint.
He added
Apparently II was assumed that the
only regulate OF succAssful Of military
preparation was ths training Of our
youth In the use Of aims in combat.
II 1t before arms can be used they have
to be manufactured lnasmuch - Il n
not the rate Il which w can train our
ran power. but the rate It which we
can manufacture munitions that II the
fundamental basis on which wa must
build our entire structure OF national
Preparedness, no scheme OF training
Ter possible participation In war Will
dc other than lull the ration into -
false sense Of security Il It does not
= cognixe. appreciate and provide for
training the technical personal necea-
sary 70 mobilize and direct the indus
t.ial army upon which modern warfare
makes the neld army wholly de-
pendent"
II was pointed out by General viii
liz ms that speciat aptitude and scchni-
cal skin, are required In the desiGM
&nd production Of the weapons which
the army Ii 70 use An war. He said
the munitions program II the critical
and controlling factor IN the whole pre-
roredness program. yet the bill cuts
the ordnance department to nfty-one
cfricore
This would make necessary ths re-
turn to the line Of $40 out Of 400 offt-
GERS allowed to the ordnance depart
n.cnt the gensral said.
.'Aa the bill now stands" General
tlliams said, 1T destfoys the ordnance
department. II leaves but t1fty.ons
trained ofkicere Who can legally be ~
stgnsd 70 the study o. such important
prohlefna - the design ard production
n quantity of pistols. shoulder rides,
machine guns. automatic Fifia1. light
Hold gums, railroad artillery. trench Ar
tii1ery artillery ammunition OF ali
kinds, light tanks. heav3 tanks. trAc-
tiers. aircraft armament ordnance res
rAir shops Of al kinda and the thou
annd other items thAt are furuishod
nv the ordnance department. s
dn addition 10 tho design ana pro-
cuctiOn " these items the arnenpla
and Qepo4D mnat ~ manned and thu
1Ar9At QuAMttttAa of ordinances material
an hand eaxeA Tor. Under ~ pro.
Ytnlonn the enc6Anp oe many expopi4nce6
NFfCSros vii ~ ~ tor i perfod of 80
xAars AAe lheoo NO yoa4e * IN ~.
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