Omaha daily bee., 1915-01-12
When US, Imported Arms


That Germany should discountenance the agitation
Of certain German-Americans assisted by the Ancient
order OF Hbernians. to the prohibition Of
portaton Of military supplies from the United states.
Is perfectly natural Germany finds II difficult 70
draw supplies for strictly military use from this coun-
try now since access to German ports is very cir
cuitous and liable to ell kinds Of interruption II the
fortunes Of war should favor Germany to the extent
OF rendering transit from this country reasonably
easy. doubtless Germany would become large pur-
chaser Of all kinds Of articles required for SIS army
and navy At all events Il would he likely to turn
to our manufacturers those best situated 10 make
good deficiencies In It's stores ocoasioned by the
and beyond the capacity OF its people provide
under existing conditions Germany only provident
In dissocating itself with those perfervld
americans who want 10 cut off all military shipments
from the United states and the politicians who under
the guise OF sympathy are playing for the German
vote"
should Germany any other belhgerent want a
precedent for seeking arms supplies in market
1t could be found in our history The United
states was large importer OF and ammunition
from France and Holland during the revolution, be-
war both the union and the confederacy purchased
arms. ammunition end supplies abroad The
found both III provided with arms. though Floyds
treacherous precautions had given the confederaey
much more liberal supply than was available to the
loyal states As the federal government short
Of money, wealthy stetes like Massachusetts and New
York did not wait for it's action their agents
abroad early TO purchase and equipment Mas
sachusetts was among the first in the foreign
to send an agent TO Europe for this purpose passed
the executive council April 20 1861 Mr. Francis
b. Crowninshield was appointed the agent OF the
monwealth and arrived in London May g. equipped
with letter OF credit for $4,000 (e5SOO0. He was
none too soon, for he found himself in immediate
competition with a representative of South Carolina
who was acting in behalf OF the confederaes agent
for New York had also, unknown to Mr. Crowrinshied.
crossed on the same steamer. Nevertheless despite
competition and obstruction, he succeeded in speedily
buying and contracting for 1880 Enfield rifles and
1000 sets OF equipments These were promptly
shipped to Massachusetts. whose troops were dis.
tinguished for the excellence of their arms We were
more fortunate than New York. whose agent was
compelled to buy 5000 secondhand rifles used in the
Crimean war In the early stages OF the war there
was great and embarrassing diversity of arms In
the union army There Belgian and Austrian
muskets, Enfield and Springfield rifles besides many
experimental weapons adopted for trial.
The experience OF Massachusetts In quest OF arms
In Europe did not end with purchase of Enfield
rifles for at one stage OF the IL looking for
cannon to mount the fangess forts Boston har-
Dor These never arrived. though contracted for
progress Of the and the increased facilities Of
the government rendering their importation by tho
state unnecessary Ultimately some OF the big guns
contracted for by Massachusetts in England to
Chile where they did good service in repelling the
Spanish fleets attack Valparaiso. In the course
OF its quest for Massachusetts, sought TO be-
come customer Of Krupp. whose name was fire.
quohtly misprinted Knapp in contemporary accounts
far In advance that he could not take order