The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1917-12-22
Inventor Lewis Gives Story of
Noted Controversy.
US. Turned Him Down; Britain
Adopted Gun Quickly.
SHORTAGE DUE TO CROzIER!
Official Who Blamed Baker and
Congress Responsible.
"Ordnance Equipment of PERISH
ing's Army Is an Outrage"

Lewis inventor of the celebrated ma
chine gun bearing his name today
told the senate committee investigat-
ing the conduct of the war the whole
story" of his efforts to get the war
department to adopt his invention.
Lewis, center of a story controversy
of two years duration. told the sena-
tors that he did not first offer his
weapon to the British but that while
an active officer in the army tried
without avail to persuade the war de-
partment to accept it free of cost.
Colonel Lewis said he took his inven-
ton to the chief of staff, then Maj.
Gen. Leonard Wood.
Il wanted to present it to the gov
ernment," he said.
Even last June l went to the pres
ent secretary of war and offered him
all my interests. without any emolu-
ment The only condition which 1
think was fair, was that the official
test should not be made at the SPRING
field arsenal"
When Senator Hitchcock asked if
any others were interested in his gun
and if they had offered their interest
to the government Lewis said stock
holders of the Automatic Arms Co,
who backed his early patent were in
terested.
II Was Turned Down Flat.
Did they offer their interests he
was asked.
MY offer was not even considered"
Colonel Lewis protested. 1T was
turned down fat"
A letter dated December II last re-
newing his offer of his gun to Secre-
tary Baker, was read by Colonel Lewis.
In it he offered also to turn over all
of his share-forty-th per cent
OF all royalties aggregating $2.0OO,00O
under existing contracts. In the let
ter Colonel Lewis protested against
alleged injustice of statements by Sec
IQsa1r
cited the success the British had had
with his arm and declared that of
twelve ZeppelinS brought down by the
British, ten were bagged with the
Lewis gun.
Il want it understood that I was
and am ready to give my check to
the secretary for my royalties or my
interest in the patent he said, stat
ing he had offered his gun repeatedly
in 1911 and 1912. and often after
wards
Il kept it alive" he said.
Sent Royalty Checks to Government.
How he sent his checks for $1,000
and $500 of royalty receipts to the
secretary of certain contracts was de-
tailed by Colonel Lewis.
General Crozier promptly advised
its rejection he said.
Asked why he was willing to give
his royalties as well as patents to the
government Colonel Lewis answered:
Il suppose it's 'psychologicaI' L
don't need the money, 1 suppose, and
hope my offer ultimately will be ac-
cepted."
You simply want periodically to
help the government and because you
were in the service ?'
Yes. 1 was educated by the gov
ernment. I've been prosecuted by the
government and 1 want to help the
government"
The ordnance equipment of General
PerSh1nSs s army, he said, is an outrage
and disgrace. The forces are with
out enough machine guns or rifles, he
said, and have heavy artillery only
borrowed from the allies.
The country would not have a mil
non men in France before 1919, Col
onel Lewis declared.
Who is responsible ?'' he was asked.
Heaps Blame on Crozier.
General Crozier is more responsible
Tor inadequate equipment of United
States forces than any one.''
Alter rebuffs of his gun by the war
department, Lewis said he went to
Europe retiring from the United
| states army disguised and dis
gruntled' expecting to live abroad. A
group of Belgian bankers, he continu-
eu' bought the European rights to his
gun The Belgian company, he found.
IN 1918, was drifting into German con-
troll and he ousted the German direc-
tors He went to Birmingham Eng
| land, and in forty-eight hours. he said.
closed a contract with a British firm.
The guns used in the Belgian and Brit
Ish tests, which, he said, resulted in
It's acceptance at both places, were the
same original four models that the
American government refused to test
in 1912. The ammunition used in the
British tests was of American design
he said.
Senator Chamberlain asked why the
army should oppose the Lewis gun
and the inventor replied:
They want to kill it, to take the
label off it,
Browning Gun Merely ga Picture
The Browning gun, he characterized
as a picture, a Pigment of the imag-
| ination"-(Ordnance manufacturers
! have previously described it as super
| ior to anything else now known.) 1T
is true it got thru the arsenal test but
never has been in the field" Lewis
continued. Il have never seen it but
my associates have"
| Senator Hitchcock referred to break
/ ing of parts in the Lewis gun in 1913.
"Oh, yes.'' said Lewis. 'I never saw
| any that wouldn't break in tests. The
guns were made, rushed thru in Eng
land and were entered, over my pro-
tests, by my associates. converted to
| fire American ammunition
Did the Browning gun break in the
| tests - asked Senator Hitchcock
Certainly" was the reply. Il wasn't
| invited to see the test but any guns
| break in a test"
Then General Crozier did give you
Continued on Page Six.l