Audubon Republican. [volume] (Audubon, Iowa) 1894-1925, 1916-07-20
CONGRESS NOT TO BLAME FOR
SHORTAGE IN MACHINE GUNS
IN THE ARMY


the fact that our Militia and even
our regular Army forces were so in
adequately supplied with machine
guns. We quote from the Congress
sional Record a short speech of our
Congressman which explains the stu
alton. Incidentally, We might say,
that shortly after the speech was
made, the Ordnance Department pur-
chased $50 of the Lewis machine
guns. Apparently, the Department
was spurred into action by the debate.
Mr.. Green of Iowa. Mr.. Chairman.
| wish to speak briefly to the House
with reference to the matter which
concerns every Member of the House,
because it pertains to the reputation
and standing of the House as a whole
before the country.
Notwithstanding all that has been
said in debate and the elaborate dis
cussion in the House, l observe that
the newspapers of today and yester-
day reiterate the statement that Con-
gress was responsible for the fact
that our forces likely to be engaged
in war in Mexico have not a sufficient
number of machine guns. l do not
know that anything | can say will
reach the country papers that has
caused the false impression to pre-
vail, but l shall at least set the record
right concerning it, and definitely
show where the responsibility lies.
For two years this house has been
appropriating for machine guns and
the Ordnance Department has either
returned the money or has not used
it, as in case of the last appropria-
ton. They have been saying that
they could not find machine gun
that was entirely satisfactory. l no.
tice that the gentleman from Virginia
(Mr. Hay), as a supplement to his
remarks in the Record last Monday,
printed a report from the Bureau of
Ordnance showing that Army Officers
were still engaged in experimenting
and testing, but evidently were not
satisfied as to the type of machine
gun that ought to be used. l am as
tonished at this report. For nearly
two years they have been testing ma
chine guns in this war in Europe un-
der actual conditions of warfare, un-
der tests more severe than could
possibly be instituted by the Ord
nance northumberland in the
trenches, in aeroplanes-ands still the
department thinks it necessary to
make more tests in order to find out
the proper type of gun.
Mr.. Fitzgerald. Does not the gen.
tleman know that we cannot get any
information at present as to the re-
suits of the use of machine guns in
Euroge?
Mr.. Green of Iowa. | shall have TO
differ with the gentleman to GER
tain extent. | know some reports
have been made. We have some OBJ
servers with the army in Europe, and
they have either made reports on the
machine guns used or they are dere-
lict in their duty, and If they have
made their reports, as l assume they
have, the Ordnance Department is
derelict in not making any use there
of.
Mr.. Farr. Where do the Mexicans
get their machine guns?
Mr.. Green of Iowa. Apparently, of
this country. AS 1 said, there have
been some 1000 of these Lewis ma
chine guns manufactured in this
country and sent to England, and in
addition to that, England has been
manufacturing in Canada. 1t has
been said here by the gentleman from
Kentucky, (Mr. Sherley), that Eng
land had to take any old kind of ma
chine gun that she could get. On the
contrary, she could take the newest
and select the best when she had
them manufactured in this country,
and that is exactly what she did, ao
cording to the opinions of her experts.
OF course, the Lewis gun is not
the only gun used by the English,
for they have another that is largely
used; but the Lewis gun has been
used by them so far as information
goes, with perfect satisfaction. We
have recently read in the newspapers
that the English loaned 400 of these
guns to the French to be used in the
defense at Verdun, and that they
were so used. l do not say that the
Lewis gun is the best gun that can be
manufactured. My opinion upon that
point would not be of much value,
but l can quote from the commander
of the eastern department to the eff
feet that the Lewis gun is three to
one better than the BenetMecier or
Springfield gun, which is the one
used in our army.
Dul Wudl was SOluS 10 say WITH
reference to the gun which our Army
is now using is that 1t is inferior to
the standard types of guns now being
used in Europe, and that could be OBJ
tanned in this country. 1t is not simp-
ly my opinion that l am expressing.
am expressing the general opinion
of the officers that have used it. The
general in command of the Depart
ment of the East has not hesitated
to say that the Benet-Mecier gun was
untitled for military service; that it
order, and was unreliable. Thus, as
a result of the indecision of the Ord
nance Department, in not being able
to come to a conclusion in three years
as to what kind of gun we ought
to have, and what kind of a gun was
suitable for our army, we not only do
not have sufficient machine guns at
this time, but those we do have are
of inferior type and unsuitable for
service in the Army. l understand
there have been some SO of these
guns furnished to the militia, and
that is all th:.t the militia has. If we
have a hundred thousand militia on
the Mexican border, as l suppose we
we'll eventually, they ought to have
more than ten times this number Of
machine guns. Some one asks whe-
Their they can be obtained. l think so.
The gentleman from New York (Mr.
Snyder) said the other day that the
company which was manufacturing
| the Lewis guns had on hand $50 OF