Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1917-12-23
LEWIS DENIES ARMS
. SURPLUS IN FRANCE
RidicuIes Crozier Claim, Says
Pershing Gets Supplies by
AIIy's Sacrifice.
SEES OFFICIAL PREJUDICE

The statement of Gen. CROKER. CHIEF
Of ordnance that France has sur
plus of war material from which Ameri-
can troops can temporarily, be supplied
was ridiculed before the Senate mill
tary affairs committee yesterday aIter'
noon by Col. Isaac N. Lewis. U. 8: A.
retired, inventor of the Lewis machine
simply astounding" was the way In
which Col. Lewis characterized Cen
Cro2ier's suggestion. Anything tnat
Gen. Pershing gets from France, ne
said. simply is a sacrifice. on the part
of France.
Charges Personal Animosity.
7 Col Lewis repeatedly stated to the
committee that, Gen. Crozier's attitude
toward him and his invention was the
result of deep prejudice and personal
animosity. He declared Gen. crozier was
autocratic, responsible for alleged fall
ure properly to equip the American
armies and for alleged lack OF progress
In American ordnance.
He declared that the ordnance equip
disgrace" and that modification of the
British Enfield rife for American use
was Colossal mistake"
Col Lewis told the story Of the in
vention Of the Lewis gun. and his con-
troversy with Gen. Crozier in dramatic
fashion. He denied that he first Of
fered his invention to the British gov
eminent. detailed repeated ttenders of
his patents to the government with
his profits aggregating millionS Of dol
lars. and told Of the success with which
his weapon has been used by nearly
all Of the allies.
At times Col. Lewis was so severe in
his structures on Gen. Crozfer and the
War Department that committee men,
bers stopped him. saying he was too
ting his feelings run away with him."
Supporting Col. Lewis' testimony.
President "A z. Borae Of the Savage
Arms Company. which has the exclu-
sive American license right to make
the Lewis gun. also told Of. the refusal
Lewis gun, and OF tho 3achfsyements OF
that weapofi. Both. he and Col. Lewis
predicted that sufilcient numbers of the
new Browning gun, adopted by the War
Departm ent. would nat be available for
the American forces. Other manufac-
turers have testified that the produce
ton would be sufficient
At the conclusion of Mr.. Borie's testi-
mony. the committee adjourned over
Christmas. 1t plans to resume exami-
nation next Wednesday of Quartermas-
ter General Sharpe regarding the cloth
ing, cantonment. transportation and
other questions.
Col Lewis told the committee that as
early as 1911 he offered to Gen. Leonard
Wood, then chief of STAFF. to turn over
Wood favored acceptance, he said, but
Gen. Crozier prevented it. Again in 1911
and 1912. when he left the active service
because of resentment over his treat
ment. Col. Lewis said. he renewed the
offer. only to have 1t rejected.
Last Tender Made Recently.
His last tender was made in letter
sent to Secretary Baker eleven days ago.
He also agreed to turn over large royal
ties on United States orders OF the in
vention. but had not heard from that
tender
Col. Lewis said his offers to the gov
eminent were from patriotic motives.
His experiences with Gen. Crozier, he
declared. almost stified that patriotism.
He exhibited a check for $11. 900, part of
SIT. 1000 he said Re had sent to the gov
eminent In return of royalties on or
ders. The check was sent to Secretary
Baker last February and he said Gen.
crozier opposed its acceptance. 1t final
~ was accepted but receipt was not ac-
knowledged until two weeks ago.
Thousands Used by Allies.
After his futile fight to get his pat
ents accepted or his weapon adopted by
his own government. Col Lewis said
he turned to Europe. where he said the
gun gained instant success. Thousands
are being used by England and France,
he declared, with many others furnished
Russia, Italy and Belgium.
Although the War Department had
never given his invention fair test,
Col Lewis said, 1t has at last been or
dered for aerial fighting In the official
tests last May. when the Browning gun
was adopted. Col. Lewis said he did not
have time to prepare his gun adequately
for use with American ammunition.
Col Lewis denied assertions of critics
of his gun that it worked well only with
British ammunition, saying 1T is adapt
able to any make of ammunition.
Regarding 1918 tests. when pieces of
the Lewis gun broke. Col. Lewis said
breakage in tests was common to all ma
chine guns.
offered to Develop Gun.
AS further evidence of his efforts to
give his own government the benefit of
his inventive genius, Col. Lewis said that
last year, when the Browning gun was be-
ing developed; he offered to return to
chine gun at his own expense and pre-
sent il to this government
For an army of 100000 men, Col
chine guns. fifty for each 1000 men. 70
keep up the supply $4,000 ought to be
made annually. he said Present Amer
lean factories, he said. have a capacity
Of 81, 900 to 10000 In the British army
alone, he said. more than SOC. 900 men are
under instruction continually with
Lewis guns
Col. Lewis said that in ~. opinion
the German Mauser rifle ranks first.
the American Springfield second. the
French rife third. and the British fourth.
ut that for ali-afound present war pur-
poses the British rife is next to the
German. He asserted that the war
Departments order adopting the modi.
fed Enfield rife was q Colossal blum
der" because time 30 essential in pro.
nations forces was lost In niodifxins =