The Sentinel=record., 1917-12-23
WAS RENDERED WITHOUT
 COST TO GOVERNMENT
At Times Colonel Lewis Was So se- we're in His strlctures on General crozier and the War Department That Committee Members Stopped Him.

Washington, Dec. 22.-The story of the invention and development of the famous Lewis machine gun and the disappointing efforts of the inventor to persuade the United States govern ment to accept without cost. was told In dramatic fashion today by the in ventor himself - Colonel Isaac N Lewis, |. S. A.. retired, testifying in the senate military committees inves- ugation of the army.
 With an occasional show of heat Colonel Lewis related his controversy with General Crozier, chief of ord nance, whom he severely assailed; denied that he first offered his in vention to the British government, de- tailed repeated tenders of his pat ents to the government with his profits aggregating millions of dollars and told of the success 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 committee members stopped him, say ing he was too loquacious and desul- tory" and was letting his feelings run away"
 Supporting Colonel Lewis testi- mony, President A. E. Borie, of the Savage Arms company, which has the exclusive American license to make the Lewis gun, also told of his ef- forts to have the war departemnt ac- cept the Lewis gun and the achieve ments of the weapon
 Colonel Lewis testified that the producing of the Browning Machine gun, which had been accepted by the war department, was inadequate
 At the conclusion of MT. Borie's testimony the committee adjourned over Christmas. 1t plans to resume examination next week of General Sharpe regarding the clothing, can- comments, transportation and other questions.
 Colonel Lewis told the committee that as early as 1911 he offered to General Wood, the chief of staff, to turn over his invention to the gov ernment.
 General Wood favored acceptance, he said, but General Crozier prevented it. Again in 1911 and 1912 when he left the active service because of resentment over his treatment, Col onel Lewis said that he renewed the offer, only to have it rejected.
 His last tender was made in let ter to Secretary Baker evelen days ago. He also agreed to turn over large royalties on his invention.
 Colonel Lewis said his offers to the government were of a patriotic mo- tive. His experiences with General Crozier, he declared, had most sdfled that patriotism. He exhibited check for $11,OOO. part of $17000 he said he had sent to the government in return of royalties on orders. The check was sent to Secretary Baker last Feb ruary and he said General Crozier opposed it's acceptance. It was finally accepted, but receipt was not ac- knowledged until two weeks ago.
 After his futile fight to get his pat ents accepted, Colonel Lewis said he turned to Europe, where he said the gun gained instant success. Thou sands are being used by England and France, he declared, with many others furnished Russia, Italy and Belgium.
 For an army of 2,O0O,000 men, Col onel Lewis said, there should be 1OO,- GOO machine guns, fifty for each 10000 Ten. To keep up the supply 75.OOO ought to be manufactured annually he said. The present American fac tories, he said. have a capacity Of 67, ,000. In the British army alone, he said, 500000 men are under instruc- tion continually with Lewis guns.
 General Leonard Wood, when chief of staff, favored adoption of the Lewis