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Show NITRATES NEEDED, J SAYS ARMY EXPERT Brigadier General Crozier Chief of Ord nance Hakes Pertinent Sug gestions In Report. WASHINGTON' Dec 27 To free the United States army from Its dependence for nitrates for the manufacture of ex plosives. Brigadier General Crosier chief of the ordnance, in his annual report today to-day says the government, if necessary should de elop the electric processes of taking nitrogen from the air The country now is dependent for nl trates upon the Chilean fields, which might be cut off In time of war and a store of sodium n trate piled up against sudden emergency would not last anv considerable time More liberal handling of contracts with prl ate munitions plants is urged to insure an adequate source of supply in time of need The eeneral sas that he bureaus inquiries as to the present capac ty of the p ants and the will ngness. of tl e manufacturers to co-operate In safegua ding the na tion s war resources have b ought satis factory results but further steps are neeessarj Studv of lessons of the Eu opean war the report savs has shown the necess ty of ncreasfnR the range of heavy and 1 ght guns, a d of prov d ng more ma ch ne gun |