New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-10-14
Co.
Officials Scott at
Inspectors Charges


whole matter has been hushed up is
the verdict Of the Russian inspectors
at the New England Westinghouse
plant here when asked about the
charges they had filed against their
superiors last April.
The men actually are employees Of the
Russian Military Acceptance Comm.s-
sion. which is IN immediate charge Of
the delivery of arms from the West
inghouse plant.
The charges are scoffod at as pre-
posterous BY officials Of the New Eng
land Westinghouse Company. Russian
military officers at the Westinghouse
plant here say that not one single rifle
accepted and sent to Russia has been
defective in any way.
The Westinghouse company has de-
lvered to Russia many hundreds of
thousands Of rifles. George Lewis,
| chief engineer Of the plant, and Colo
mel ". !. Koyalef, chairman Of the Rus
/ sian Military Acceptance Commission
! say there has not been a single COM
| plant from the Russian government.
| and that Every rife delivered was sub
jected TO the seyerest tests before
being shipped.
Few of Inspectors Are Mechanics
Mr. Lewis said ell the Russian in
spcctors were men from civil life.
Very few Of them, he said, were me-
chanics.
However, every part Of the rifle is
inspected and tested 100 per cent by
Westinghouse inspectors before it
reaches the Russian Inspectors said
Mr. Lewis. "The Russian inspectors
did not speak English. They were dis
trustful Of our men, distrustful of
their own officers. But although they
had never before worked in mun.tion
plants they seemed 10 think that they
knew more about rifles and rifle parts
than our inspectors, all Of whom are
trained mechanics. have been max
ing guns for thirty years. This is the
biggest job have tackled, and ! don't
propose to fall down on il or start de-
livering poor materials at this time.
As 10 bayonets. they are made by other
firms on sub-contracts and are deliv-
cred to us after having been inspected
by Russian officials
That the Russian inspectors distrust
the military officers whom they serve
may be judged from the remark Of one
Of them. Nikodim ZulkOwsky.
"The Russian officers here are just
little Cars he said. 1.-TWO of them
told me once that If a republic were
established in Russia they might as
well remain in the United States. They
would never return TO a republican
Russia"
Zulkowsky said both these officers
had responsible commissions under the
new government in this country.
ID. Ninccheck, a foreman IN the stock
department, said that last March he
found a large number of rife stocks
which had been cut down too much to
fit the barrel attachments. He said lie
called the attention of Russian lieu
tenant and a head foreman TO this de-
feet Ninecheck said he was told mot
TO butt in 10 matters that were none of
his business" He said that he had
often observed that rifles that had been
rejected on first examination and held
for reinspection were accepted.
Like Trouble in Russia
| Nv nat llttle trouble we nave mao
with the Russian inspectors" said one
Russian official at the Westinghouse
plant. "is merely a bit of reflection Of
what is going on in Russian cities to-
day. These men have been in very
humble positions ever since they came
10 this country. Now they are inspec-
tors. That sounds and looks 70 them
like a big job, and they want TO run the
whole works, just as these Bolsheyiki
boys over in Petrograd are trying 20
run the Russian government"
Colonel Kovalef, head Of the Russian
Military Acceptance Commission. who
I has been in charge here since August
"A last, said he did not wish 70 say
much about the charges OF the inspec-
tors because the investigation had not
! been finished
But so far az ! am familiar with
/ the situation said Colonel Kovalcf, II
am sure that no defective parts OF
rifles and no defective rifles have been
! accepted by the commission or sent 70
Russia az any period from this plant.
"Some bench inspectors have been
discharged because they did not per
form their duties according N the can