Evening Republican, Volume 21, Number 196, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 4 September 1917 — Troops In Franco Supplied With Worthiess Ammunition. [ARTICLE]

Troops In Franco Supplied With Worthiess Ammunition.

Now it develops tjiat a large part of the ammunition that has been supplied to the Pershing expedition in France is defective and of no value. And we are going to have an investigation to ascertain why our soldiers were sent overseas to face death and battle the greatest fighting machine in the world without the first essentials for promoting war. It was only a few months ago that defective ammunition supplied to naval gunners killed two Red Cross nurses on one of our own transports enroute to France. Of course, there was an investigation and it was found that the shells in question had been in store for twenty years and were not adapted to modern high powered guns. We are strong for investigations after the damage is done, after lives have been sacrificed, after money had been squandered, after time has been wasted. It would be invigorating and encouraging if some of these investigations took place in advance of the hour when necessity reveals the weakness of the equipment that is being supplied to our fighting forces. Further neglect in this direction can only be characterized as criminal carelessness. Our troops are at least entitled to an even break with the enemy; they need something more than an intrenching tool and a club if they are not to be slaughtered without a chance for their lives. The responsibility rests with Mr. Baker and Mr. Daniels. Unavoidable delay in providing supplies will be forgiven, but the wrath of the nation will je visited upon them if they sacrifice our men needlessly thrbugh their carelessness.