The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1917-05-17
HAS RIFLES ON
 HAND TO EQUIP
 100000 MEN

M1GQlGlOuS DOdIU 06tG0 uCy
 Can Arm Any Number
 and Have Ammunition.
 Washington. May 17.-There Is no shortage of rifles for the first force of more than a million men, which are to be raised as rapidly as the regular army and National Guard can he expanded to war strength and the esVited. The Government Is also in satisfactory position regarding all -Jpes of Ammunition.
 That the government is ready for the war. so far as rifles and ammuni- ton are concerned, is the statement officially. authorized today by Frank A. Scott, as Chairman of the General Munitions Board of the Council of National Defense Chairman Scott announced that arrangements have now been made for the manufacture of the millions of rifles and vast quantities of ammunition that will be required for the arming of any lar ger force to be put into the field The plans of the government contemplate the raising of second army or more than a million men the second year of the war. They will be armed with the new Enfield type of rifle which has been rnanufacthred in American factories for use by the British army. The Enfield rifle will be rchanbered for the use of the American service ammunition. which will be inter- changeable with that of the Spring. field model. the manufacture of which latter rifle, will be continued by the government.
 Chairman Scott authorized this of ficial statement regarding the rifle and ammunition situation:
 We are in a position now to as- sure the country that rifles and am munition will be ready for American troops as fast as they can be raised and otherwise prepared for foreign service. There are on hand more than enough rifles for the rifle-car- rying men of an army of approxi- mately a million, and arrangements have now been made to provide for !, the arming of larger force, and for the reserve which the wastage under modern war conditions makes neces- sary Plans have been completed to take advantage of the small arms fac tories developed in our country as the result of the European war, and convert them to our use. In addi- ton the government arsenals are be- ing expanded. In general, 1t may be stated that small arms, including ann munition, can be provided for prac- tically any number of men that the country may call to the colors
 Manufacturing facilities for the Springfield rifle are not adequate to supply the number required for the larger force which the United States may decide to send abroad and to replace the wastage of such a force Fortunately the, existing small arms factories which have been turning out quantities of rifles for the British army are equipped tc manufacture the Enfield rifle in more thah suffi- cient number. Therefore, it has been decided to adopt the Enfield rifle, but manufactured to use American am munition, and to issue these rifles to our troops, to such an extent as may be necessary. Our government will continue to manufacture the Spring field model, the ammunition for which will be Interchangeable with that of the new Enfield.
 s'The United States Is in very sat- isfactory position so far as all types of ammunitfon are concerned. The country has developed during the last three years great plants for the manufacture of high explosives, small arrna< aTnr-unitlon, aIs1 field artillery ammunit1on of various types. This development han been so great that several of the bc11igerent nations have received the greater part of their SUD- plies from us. New plants have been developed in the interior of the coun- 4-~-xs -~-I~x raiding parties that might land upon the coast. The supply will be such that the United States can take ad- vantage of 1t without taking needed . ammunition from our allies,
 "Steps are being taken to provide for the additional quantities of field artillery necessary for modern bat tic conditions through the extension of plants already in operation for the Allies. and through the introduction end adaptation of new plants that have not hitherto manufactured war material The process will be slower than that of providing rifles. but this country has been noted for its ma chine tools, an industry which has been developed beyond that of any other nation. and this is proving a decided asset in these days of prepar- aIlon OI gre Wdf ana VIII nelp us to make good shortage which is greater than it should be. The Gen. eral Munitions Board is endeavorfng fs develop these various resources to the fullest capacity in order that the country may be prepared for any de- velopments of the military situation. no matter how serious they may prove.
 "In order to secure the great quan- titles of artillery immediately neces- ssry for the large armies that are to be raised. a certain number of guns of tried foreign types. but manufac- tured in the United States will be in- troduced into our service. Satfsfac- f@ry arrangements have been made to accomplish this. In the meantime the munitions plants are pushing for ward their preparations for the rnaAHfactrre in large quantities of the various types of mobile artillery that have been adopted for our own ser vice, Among these types is the three inch light artillery gun. of which tine latest model is said to be even super io- to the fa-aoHs French 75,.'
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