The Washington herald., 1915-10-29
BY r.. Il. JOHNS.

Representative clyde Tavenner. Of ILL
| nois has given notice to his colleagues
in the House that hc intends TO make d
night for the exclusive manufacture OF
munitions OF war at government plants.
As the Rock Island Arsenal Is the chlei
industry in Mr.. Tayehner's district ne Is
being charged with attempting 10 inject
pork barrel legislation into the army APP
propriation bill. A monster national de
Tense rally was recently held at DaNen-
port Iowa and Mr.. Tavenner. accordihs
TO the account Of the meeting, attempted
to turn It into a boosting meeting Tor the
Rock Island Arsenal
In conducting his campaign Mr.. raven
ner is dangling before the eyes OF the
popuIscc the spectacle of WORLDWIDE
war trust" The great struggle that Is
taking place In Europe Mr.. Tavenner
attributes to the efforts of some of the
large private concerns in Europe TO dis
nose of their output Of battleships ana
big guns The war. he charges. was
brought about By the Coventry ordnance
Company. of England, and the hrupps'
of Germany. Mr.. Tavenner In the ma
terial that he IL giving out Is attempting
to answer the question as to who started
this war.
Incidentally. in the opinion of the au-
tborities at the War Department, MT
Tavcnner Is getting out OF line with tne
best thought in civil life as wei as III
military circles. In her preparation Ao'
war Germany organized all OF her lnous
tries behind her army. France dld II 10
some extent before the war. but has oeen
pushing this policy with great Visor since
The war began. England is now making
an effort in this direction. and the Gen
eraI stan of the Army Is WORKING on
similar plans for this country.
In all probability Rock Island Arsenal
and other government plants VIII De
enlarged. But the Government plants
will be maintained only to conduct
experiments on a large scale ana 10
regulate prices that are charged D.!
private concerns. In the opinion OF mem
bers OF the general star any auehP'
TO depend entirely on Government plants
would be fraught with great danger
Private concerns should be encouraged
in the manufacture Of munitions OF war
and should be organized under the
direction of the War Department This
policv should be carried out not only IN
nroyIdinC the country with a supply OF
ammunition but all material used by the
army and navy. Congress will never
consent to maintaining of Government
plants with n sufficient capacity u
furnish supplies for a great war wnich
would call into the field an army running
nm into the millions.
In consideration of the plans for the
hattie cruisers the old question as 10
tho relative merits OF 16-inch and "
inch guns is again up for decision IN
the Navy Department Although the 10
inch gun. has some very influential ad-
vocates up to this time the majority OF
the officers on the General Board and on
duty at the Navy Department have con-
tended that the high muzzle velocity and
nowerful l4-inch gun in the latest Dread
thoughts are to be preferred over the
l6-inch gun
II has been contended by the ordnance
experts that the 1i-inch gun in the navy
Is superior to the l5-ihch gun OF the
british navy. The American gun has
higher muzzle velocity and a number OF
improvements over the English gun that
A. Is claimed more than make up for
the difference in size In their projectiles.
The arming Of battle cruisers with 10
inch guns will reduce the numbe: OF
runs on the new type of ship and will
NOT increase their actual range. The
claim Is made that the 1+-inch gun Will
shoot as far as the FIRE OF any gun can
he controlled. The larger number Of II
inch guns that can be carried by any
shin will increase the chance of hits
over one that Is armed with l6-lnch guns
and a well placed shot from l4-inch
gun, It Is insisted. win SILK any ship.