Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1917-12-19
DELAY DUE
TO CHANGE IN TYPE
Supply Held Up Several
Months, Manufacturers
Tell Committee.
WISE MOVE, THEY SAY


rifles, private ordnance manufacturers
told the Senate military committee to-
day, resulted from the War Depart
ment's decision to modify the Enfield
type. Factory machinery changes, the
committee was told, reduced the output
of Enfelds for England and production
will not return to maximum until next
May.
A contract with the War Depart
ment to produce modified Enfields was
not completed until last July, President
Henry s. Kimball OF the Remington
company testified. 1t was October. he
said, before machinery changes could
be completed to begin output.
Delay in congressional appropria-
tions, Mr.. Kimball also stated, further
delayed the output. His firm hesitated
to take contract in the absence OF
definite appropriations.
New Modified Rifle Superior.
The new modified rife and also the
American ammunition, Vice President
Tyler of the same concern testified. are
regarded superior to British types.
After war was declared in April, he
stated, the War Department immedi-
ately began negotiations with them to
devote their factories, engaged on a
British contract for 100000 Enfields, to
make the modified American type.
1.-The committee cannot understand
why with war imminent in March. no
contract was made until July, SAID
Senator Hitchcock.
the f3pna rfTuent had not decided to
modify the British Enfield type. he said.
his firm could have turned out the Brit
ish type virtually without delay, but
both he and Mr.. Tyler said the new
American rife is superior, largely due
to its ability to use much better Amer
lean cartridges.
Wise Change Despite Delay.
Both manufacturers declared sit a
very wise move" to adopt the new
type. notwithstanding the delay in pro-
auction.
TT would have been too bad and a
great mistake to have retained the old
rife, compelling continued use Of much
Senators Hitchcock and Wadsworth
asked IL 1t would not have been better
to insure that American, British and
French ampunition should be inter-
Ichangeable.
III your policy of preparedness had
been started early enough II would hive
been possible. Mr.. Kimban answered.
adding that rifle esnachinery- In the Rem
ington plants was bought from England
by the Waf Department
ssThe change in the rifle was abBo-
lufely justifed by the facility to Use
the much superior American ammu;ni-
tion," he said.
Machine Gun ssEinest Ever Seem
Turning to machine guns, the manu-
/ fa1 sat W. ma in ha
new Browning gun, the finest ever
seem
How private manufacturers antici-
pated government needs and spent mil
Hons in preparation without orders,
or with only informal verbal arrange
ments at most, was told by Vice Presi-
dent Louis E, Stoddard of the Marlin
corporation.
orders from Rear Admiral Earle work
on 5000 machine guns was begun. He
went to Col. Rice. at the Army ordnance
bureau, he said. and offered to begin
work on guns for the Army in antaci-
patton of war.
Were not Interested" was Col Rice's
reply. Mr.. stoddard said, adding:
TT was utterly impossible to make
the ordinance department realize the
possibilities of war. and we simply
folded our tents and went home" Be
fore the war began. Mr.. Stoddard said
he offered to sell machine guns to the
department for $500 each, but it was
turned down. Since. under orders
sum.
Delivery of the new light Browning
guns for airplanes, under an order
given by the War Department three
weeks ago. is expected to begin this
month, Mr.. Stoddard said.
The new Browning gun. Mr.. Stoddard
declared, absolutely is the best ever
invented" The Lewis gun is different
from the Browning. he said, and has its
particular functions.
II the War Department when asked
for orders last February had given
them. Stoddard added, by today 10000
Colt machine guns would have been de-
livered.
listen, wouldn't give any orders" he
said.
Testimony of Mr.. Mccormick.
In statement issued last night.
summarizing his testimony before the
Senate COMMITTEES yesterday, Repre-
sentative Mccormick of Illinois. who
returned from Europe several weeks
ago. declared that neither France nor
! italy has any artillery to spare for >the
| use Of American artillery men.
..The British" said Mr.. Mccormick,
| "who in proportion to their front have
more guns by far than either of their
western allies, according to their chief
! military authorities, will not have guns
enough until next spring. The guns
which the French give us they give US
because the immediate necessities OF
| our little army in France are even
greater than their own.
Gen Petain said to me. Make guns.
Send us guns and ammunition, rather
| than steel biliets. We are grateful for
| the little force you have sent US. The
echo of its footballs carried hope to
| every heart in France, but as It grows
| there must be a period when we shall
| be taxed to supply 1t. While its mum oers
I slowly increase you Americans. who
| that this war is an industry of destruc-
ton You will understand how urgent
| II is to send US guns, middle heavies,
and shells, in order that we may be
armed to win victories and to defend
\ ourselves so that some of us may be
alive to fight by your side when at last
| America Is ready.
| Guns to Save Men and Win War.
| "The Italian army" Mr.. Mccormick
lcontinued. had something less than
| ora-nuarter as many guns as the Brit
ish and French armies combined. al
/ though there was no great difference
IN the length of the fronts. In Italy
tfey suffered from a shortage of ammu-
aThe middle heavy is to this war
| what the steam shovel was to Panama.
| r. we make guns enough and TRANSPORT
| them to Europe before the spring of
1918 we ought to win this war without
terrible losses Without the guns we
/ n md hn