Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1908-05-21


Whenever there are rumors OF war
in the air the citizens OF Springfield
suddenly remember Uncle Sans gun
making plant and begin to watch
closely to see II any extra shifts Ut
men have been put on. The old vet
Grams talk about the work done dur,
ing the civil war. and the YOUNG
Spanish war veterans recall how II
was en- the Job" In like manner
during the days Of warfare in Cuba.
As a matter OF fact. the United
States arfnory at Springfield is doing
business at the old stand six days a
week, and is immensely important to
the government every day OF the SIX.
That the japanese have a due regard
for its importance is evidenced BY
the recent visit of Major X. Tanaka.
military attache to the Japanese EN-
bassy in Washington. and Captain n.
Kondo, Of Toxic. Japan. both mem
bers Of the imperial army OF the MI
kado.
They were courteously SHOWN
around by Commandant Phipps. for
there is no secrecy In the manu-
facture of small arms. but he was
eager to tell them Just how complete
Iy the United States army was equip
ped. The Japanese probably learned
what sort OF arm this government
deemed the best. but II the informa-
ton had been refused them they
could have easily obtained gun,
pulled It to pieces and found out ev-
erything for themselves. This 10 what
this government does with foreign
made rifles. This is not the first
time the Japanese have been pleased
to visit the "oh. SO excellent armory
at Springfield. and three or four
years ago they came In numbers.
The first set had special request to
study up the subject Of gun stocks.
The second had an especial interest
in the barrel. "A third was investi-
eating the magazine. And SO on.
When the whole series had come and
gone. OF course, the japanese had
thoroughly studied the whole gun.
Whatever the unknown results OF
these visits were. one of the results
was that the Japanese bought yuan
titles OF American black walnut for
gun stocks.
. Although there is little danger from
spies at the Springfield armory. per
mits to visit the ar1nory are not is
sued to foreigners. but they are only
allowed to enter at the invitation OF
the commandant. The law requires
also that every employee shall be q
citizen Of the United states. ....--
What the Japanese saw In their
visit to the armory ana the water
shops. as the supplementary shops
located on Mil River are called. Was
about 1900 men turning out 1,0OO
magazine rifles day. II 1t had been
time of war they would have found
three shifts of men working. turning
out over 2.o06 arms day. Not until
they actually entered the shops would
they get an intimation that they had
arrived at Uncle Sans chief gun fac
tory, for q more pesceful. less war
like, scene could not be IMAGINED.
The main shops Of the United States
a-mory are located on hill In the
heart Of the city. The grounds are
more like a park than anything Else.
for they comprise IS acres. which
stretch away into beautifully kepe
green lawns, studded with handsome
ems. A sentry at each gate psefng
patiently before his sentry box IL
the only evidence that the place has
anything to do with war. and. IN fact.
there are only - soldiers stationed
there. They live in long. low. brown
and although the armory 10
under military discipline. they enjoy
civilian privileges to . large extent
in other brown buildings, big ssd
generous looking. are stored the arms.
no longer from floor to ceilinG. HE
q huge organ" as in Longfenows
day. but packed away In boxes which
have Q significant Resemblance to COT.
fms. In . big red brick building 70
Gated q little outside II the main
grounds the thousands Of rifes are