The Chickasha daily express. (Chickasha, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1899-current, 1915-08-02
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German Army Equipped with 26,-
600 Machine Guns; Prince Of
Wales Called Emperor's
Attention to Invention
BY WILBUR S. FORREST.

UNITED Press Staff Correspondent
London, July 25.--(By mail. )---How
Emperor Wilhelm foresaw 20 years
ago the possibilities of the Maxim gun.
now so prominent in war reports. and
ordered vast quantities OF this death.
dealing weapon, was told here today
for the first time by Sir Hiram Maxim.
the aged American inventor.
Today the German army has approx.
imately $4,000 of these machine guns
and the British government and other
governments are making them as fast
as they can, all OF which proves thar
the day of the single shot rifle Ii past
in modern warfare. says Sir Hiram.
1t was Albert Edward, Prince of
Wales, later King Edward, who called
the kaisers attention to the Maxim
gun, says the inventor. The king was
on visit to his imperial nephew when
oae day he inquired casually or VIII
helm If he had chanced to notice the
Maxim gun. The kaiser acknowledged
he had not but Immediately declared
his interest when told it could fire bull
let's at the rate of 600 minute.
There happened to be one OF the
newly invented Maxims on range not
far from the palace and together with
his guest the kaiser went to the range
to watch It perform Sir Hiram. who
was present, adds.
\ Orders were sent to have every
thing ready and when the kaiser and
the prince visited the grounds they
found four machine guns and four big
targets at distance of 200 metres.
The old Calling gun was first fired.
1t was very heavy and had six barrels.
The Nordenfeldt five barreled gun was
also fired and the two barreled Gard
ner. 1t required four men to servo
each gun and when they attempted
to work the guns too rapidly they
seemed to jam. They got through with
l50 to 200 rounds minute. One man,
an experienced gunner. then sat on
the tail of the little Maxim gun, care
fully adjusted the sights, pulled the
trigger ard 1888 rounds went Off in
slightly over a half minute (The
Maxim gun is loaded and fired by its
own recoil) The kaiser and the prince
then walked down and examined the
targets. The hits made by the hand.
worked machines were scattered all
over the place. These guns had been
disturbed by the working Of the cranks
and levers, whereas the Maxim. not
being interfered with by an external
force. had made nearly all hits in the
bulls-eye or close to 1t.
when the kaiser returned, he piac.
ed his finger on the Maxim gun and
said. That is the gun. there is no
other He then caused orders to be
given to turn these guns out very rap
idly and in vast quantities, and they
are now making history very much TO
our cost
IF we wish to beat the Germans at
their own game. 1t is necessary to be
supplied with great number OF auto.
matte machine guns"
Sir Hiram first began work on the
automatic gun in 1881. when he was
chief engineer and electrician of the
U. s. Lighting company Of New York.
He later exhibited his invention be-
fore officials in France and England
and after more perfect machine had
been made he took 1t to Germany.
where the kaiser was the first TO re-
cognize its value,
| In his statement. Sir Hiram says:
I'm the war between Russia and
Japan. two thirds OF all the casualties
among the Japanese we're caused by
Maxim guns and In the present war
the most important arm is without
doubt the automatic machine gun. fir.
ing rifle cartridges. II is fast sup
n1anfinv tho hand rifle