Pine Bluff daily graphic., 1917-12-20
SAY U. s. HAS BEST MACHINE GUN AND
 RIFLE BY DELAY
Manufacturers Testify That Hold Up of Work Brought
 Good Quality.


 Washington, Dec. 19.-How ord nance manufacturers. anticipating the governments war needs, spent mil lions in preparation on the chance that war orders would follow, while the army ordnance bureau refused to act, today was related by manufac- turers to the Senate committee con- ducting the war inquiry.
 The manufacturers agreed, how ever. that the War Departments deci- sion to. change the type of army rifle, even though it involved delay in de- liveries, was q wise one, because it enabled the American army to use a very superior grade of ammunition.
 But the efforts of the manufactur- CTS. their witnesses said, to get the ordnance bureau to give it's orders for guns on the certainty that war was coming, were futile, and after the war was started delaying changes in specifications were made.
 Vice President Stoddard of the Mar lin Arms Corporation declared that when he offered to begin work on guns on the certainty that war was coming, Colonel Rice of the ordnance bureau told him: Were not inter- ested."
 "It was utterly impossible to make the Ordnance Department realize the possibilities of war;" said MT. Stod- dard, "and we simply folded our tents and went home."
 After the manufacture of rifles be- gan, it was testified, Colonel Thomp- son wanted to delay production sev- eral months by insisting on new stan dards. but the manufacturers appealed to General 'Crozier, chief of the bu- reau, and went ahead with the work.
 All witnesses agreed that the new Browning machine gun now being manufactured for the army is superior to any other weapon of it's kind in existence.
 Before the war began Stoddard said he offered to sell machine guns to the department for $500 each. but it was turned down. Since. under or ders placed, the contract costs twice that sum.
 Delivery of the new light Brown ing machine guns for airplanes under an order given by the War Depart ment three weeks ago is expected to begin this month, Stoddard said. If the War Department, when asked for orders last February, had given them, Stoddard added. by today 10000 Colt machine guns could have been I delivered
 Delay in producing the modified En- field rifle, because of the War Depart ment's negotiations, was explained by Vice President Otterson of the Win l chester Company. Negotiations be- gan last April, he said, and contracts were not let until July 12. Deliveries began in August
 A contract with the War Depart ! ment to produce modified Enfields was not completed until last July. Presi- dent Harry S. Kimball of the Reming- 1 tober, he said, before machinery changes could be completed to begin output.
 Delay in congressional appropria- tions, Kimball also stated, further de- layed the output. His firm hesitated l to take contract in the absence of | definite appropriations. The new modified rifle and also the American ammunition, Vice President 1 Tyler of the same concern testified, are regarded superior to British types. After war was declared in April, he stated. the War Department imme- 1 diatal> began negotiations with them to devote their factories, enga ged on British contract for 100000 En- | fields, to make the modified American | type.
 "The committee cannot understand why. with war imminent in March. no 1 contract was made until July" said i Senator Hitchcock.
 Both manufacturers declared it "a very wise move" to adopt the new type, notwithstanding the delay in production.
 Ut would have been too bad and a great mistake to have retained the old rifle. compelling continued use of much inferior ammunition" said MT. Kimball.
 Senators Hitchcock and 'WadswOrth asked if. it would not have been bet tor to insure that American, British and French ammunition should be in terchangeablc.
 of your policy of preparedness had been started early enough it would have been possible" MT. Kimball ans wered, adding that rifle machinery in the Remington plants was brought from England by the War Department.
 "The change in the rifle was abso- lutely justified by the facility to use much superior American ammunition" he said
 Turning to machine guns. the manu- lecturers said they were making the new Browning guns, 'the finest ever seen." ....--...
 
 When Fruit Juices Are of ValuA