Arizona republican., 1917-12-23
LEWIS GUN NEVER
 GIVEN \ FAIR TEST
 DECLARES INVENTOR
Republican A. p. Leased WireJ

WASHINGTON, Dec. 22.-The story of the invention and development of the famous Lewis machine gun and the disappointing efforts of the inven- tor to persuade the United States gov ernment to accept it without cost, was told in dramatic fashion today by the inventor himself-Colonel Isaac N Lewis. |. $. A., retired, testifying in the senate military committees inves- tigation of the army.
 With an occasional show of heat, Col onel Lewis related his controversy with General Crozier, chief of ord nance, whom he severely assailed, de- nied that he first offered his invention to the British government, detailed re- peated tenders of his patents to the government, with his profits aggrs- gating millions of dollars and told of the snccess with which his weapon has been used by nearly all of the allies.
 At times Colonel Lewis was so se- were in his strictures on General Cro- zier and the war department that com mittee members stopped him saying he was too loquacious and desultory" and was letting his feelings" run away"
 Supporting Colonel Lewis testimony President A. F. Borie, of the Savage Arms Company. which has the exclus- i've American license right to make the Lewis gun, also told of the refusal of the war depaI\ment to adopt the Lewis gun and the achievements of that weapon. Both he and Colonel Lewis predicted that sufficient numbers of the new Browning gun, adopted by the x-nt41I b1 I,l for the American forces. Other manu- lecturers have testified that the pro- | duction would be sufficient.
 At the conclusion of MT. Borie's tes- | timony, the committee adjourned ovel Christmas. It plans to resume exami- nation next Wednesday of Quarter master General Sharpe regarding the ! clothing, cantonment, transportation and other questions.
 Colonel Lewis told the committed l that as early as 1911 he offered to Gen l eral Leonard Wood, the chief of staff l to turn his invention to the govern. ment. General Wood favored accept ance, he said, but General Crozier pre-. vented it. Again in 1911 and 1912 | when he left the active service because 1 of resentment over his treatment Col | onel Lewis said, he renewed the offer only to have it rejected.
 lis last tender was made in a lette sent to Secretary Baker eleven day ago. He also agreed to turn over larg, royalties on the United States order of the invention but had not heart from that tender.
 Colonel Lewis said his offers to tn, government were from patriotic mo tives. His experience with Genera Crozier. he declared, almost stifled tha patriotism. He exhibited a check fo S11000 part of $17000 he said he ha, sent to the government in return O royalties on orders. The check was sen to Secretary Baker last February an
 he said General Crozier opposed it acceptance. It finally was accepted bu receipt was not acknowledged until tw weeks ago.
 After his futile fight to get his pat
 ents accepted or his weapon adopted b
 his own government, Colonel Levi
 said he turned to Europe where he sal
 the gun gained instant success. Thous
 ands are being used by England an
 France, he declared, with many oth
 CTS furnished Russia, Italy and Bel
 gium.