Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1917-12-23
LEWIS BITTERLY
ASSA|LS CROZ|ER
Inventor of Famous Machine
Gun Tells of Futile Offers
to Government.
USED BY NEARLY ALL ALLIES
Dramatic Story of Efforts Re-
cited Before Senate Commit
tee Investigating Army.
fRv AYsoc,,..d pres, =,

the disappointing efforts OF the inven-
tor to persuade the government TO ac-
ccpt 1t without cost was told in dra :
matte fashion to-day by the inventor,
| Colonel Isaac y. Lewis. United States
Army. retired. testifyins in the Sem
ate Military Committees investigation
| OF the army.
| With an occasional show OF heat.
Colonel Lewis related his controversy
with General Crozier, chief Of ordnance.
whom he severely assailcd; denied that
| he first offered his invention to the
british government; detailed repeated
tenders Of his patents to the govern
ment, with his profits assresatins mill
lions Of dollars. and told of the success
with which his weapon had been used
| by nearly all OF tho allies.
| At times Colonel Lewis was so severe
in his structures on General Crozier
and the War Department that commit
tee members stopped him, sayinE he
was too loauacious and dcsultory"
and was letting his feelings run
away"
! Supporting Colonel Lewis's testimony.
President Borie. Of tho Savage Arms
Company, which has the exclusive
Lewis gun. also told OF the refusal Of
the War Department to adopt the
Lewis gun and OF the achievements Of
that weapon. Both he and Colonel
Lewis predicted that sufficient num-
bers Of the new Browning gun, adopted
by the War Department, would not be
available for the American forces.
Other manufacturers have testified that
I II ,&tt
SHARPE EXAMINATION
TO BE RESUMED LATER
| At the conclusion OF Mr.. Borie's
testimony the committee adjourned over
Christmas. 1t plans to resume esami-
nation next Wednesday of Quarter
master-General Sharpe regarding the
clothing. captonment. transportation
tand other questions,
Lewis, center OF stormy contro-
versy of O. years duration, told the
Senator'S that he did not first offer his
weapon to the British, but that, while
still an active officer in the army he
tried, without avail. to persuade the
War Department to accept IL, FREQ OF
cost.
Colonel Lewis said he took his inven-
tion to tho chief OF star, then Major
General Leonard Wood
Even last June went to the pres
cnt Secretary OF War and offered all
my interests. without any emoIumcnt.
The only condition, which I think was
fair. was that the official test should
not be made at the Springfield arsenal"
When Senator Hitchcock asked II
any others were interested in his gun,
and if they had offered their interests
TO tho government, Colonel Lewis said
stockholders OF the Automatic Arms
Company, who backed his carly patent,
were Interested
did they offer their intcrests?" he
was asked,
My offer wasn't even considered"
Colonel Lewis protested. 1T was
turned down FAT"
VENEWS OFFER or GUN
TO SECRETARY BAKER
a letter. dated December II last, re-
rewinE his offer of his gun to Secre-
tary Baker was read by Colonel
Lewis. In il lie offered also to turn
over all Of his share--43 per ccnt--of
all royalties asgrcgating 100000 un-
der existing contracts. In tho letter
Colonel Lewis protested against al
legged injustice OF statements by Sec
retary Baker regarding tho gun. He
cited the success the British had had
with his gun. and declared that OF
twelve Zcppclins brought down by the
British ten were Dasgcd with the
Lewis gun.
Il want it understood that was, and
am. ready to give my check to the Sec
retary for my royalties or my interests
in the patents" he said, stating he had
offered his gun repeatedly in 1911, 1912
and often afterwards.
Asked why he was willing TO give
his royalties as we'll as patents 10 the
government, Colonel Lewis answered.:
II suppose it's psychological. don't
need the money, I suppose, and hope
my offer ultimately will be accepted"
You simply want patriotically to
help the government and because you
were in tho scrvicc?"
Yes. / was educated by the govern
ment, I've been prosecuted by the gov
ernment, and I want to help the gov
ernment"
PERSHING's FORCES
LACN EQUIPMENT
The ordnance equipment OF General
PershinC's army, he said. is IAN out
rage ana disgrace. The forces arc
without enough machine guns or rifles
he said, and have heavy artillery only
borrowed from the allies.
The country wouldn't have a million
In Franco before 1919, Lewis declared.
who Is responsible?" he was asked.
General Crozier Is more responsible
for inadequate equipment Of United
States forces than any one"
After rebuffs OF his gun by the war
Department, Lewis said. Tho went to
Europe, retiring from tho United States
Army "disGusted and diosruntled." ex-
pccting TO live abroad. a group OF
Belgian bankers. he continued. bought
the European rights to his gun.
The Belgian company. he found In
(continucd on Tenth PaEeJ