Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1917-09-03
$4,000 GUNS FOR PERsHINC
WITHIN YEAR AND HALF
War Department Asks for Appropria-
ton Of $2,5OO,OOO,O0O With
Which to Equip Army.
MANY PLANTS MUST BE BUILT
Big Manufacturers Turn Attention to
Needs OF Country, and Begin Maxi
ing Steel, Manufacturing Forgings
and Machinery.
Especial to The Times-pispatch.J


WASHINGTON. September as Six
teen thousand mobile artillery cannon
that Is. guns from three TO nine and a
half inches in calibcr-to be shipped to
Pershins's men within a year and
half Is part of the Job which the ord
tackled.
Already tho War Department has
asked for an appropriation of $780,
100000. with which to equip the army
with light and heavy artillery. This
fact first came to light when Senator
Smoot in the war tax debate ycs.er-
day said that the hitherto confidential
estimates Of the army allowed this vast
sum for the great and small guns which
are to grind the German army to dust.
To solve the problem OF procuring
guns in the shortest possible time, and
to safeguard the expenditure OF the
public moneys to produce the best re-
suits. tho department Is pursuing a
policy of selecting in various parts Of
tho country In tho best centers for
the kind OF labor required for the pro-
duction of ordnance material, organiza-
lions having records of real accom-
plishment in the manufacturing indus
tries. along lines fairly comparable in
character with the manufacture Of can
non.
APPEAL TO PATRIOTISM
OF BIG MANUFACTURER
BY appealing to the patriotism OF
big manufacturers and setting before
them tho very great needs OF the coun-
try, they have been persuaded to IN
dertake the tremendous task OF con-
structing plants. making steel. manu-
featuring forgings and machining and
assembling finished guns. BY this
method the ordnance department is de-
velopinE not one. but upward of twenty
very hiEh-Gradc organizations. each
devoting it's energies TO the solution
of the problem OF producing steel Of a
given quality or forgtngs OF a given
specification or machinging and assem-
bling guns Of a given type and caliter.
thus reducing the problem TO It's SIM
plest elements. and utilizing to tAe
greatest possible advantage the ability.
initiative and energy OF a number Of
groups OF high-grade men.
Tho artillery officers of the army feel
that SO much publicity has been given
to the very great need for atrplanes
of all sizes has been very largely OBJ
secured. They say that every action
on the western front In Europe moro
and moro emphasizes the fact that the
question Of success is almost wholly
a question of superiority in cannsE and
ammunition.
Airpianes are tho eyes and ears OF
the artillery. They ascertain the move
ments OF troops to prospective points
OF attack. the transfer of heavy guns
from one section OF a limo to another.
oil OF which indicates preparation for
attack. The areas or the lengths of
the line which can be assaulted under
present conditions are limited because
1t is necessary to deplete the guns Of
ono section to REINFORCE those of an
other section, where an attack is being
planned
BRITISH CONSTANTLY
INCREASING OUTPUT
It Is said on excellent authority that
Lloyd George. with almost prophetic
vision, three years ago multiplied the
artillery estimates OF the British staff
by sixteen. and after three years of
war every facility of the British en-
pire is engaged in the intensive produce
tion of cannon. with efforts to constant
ly increase the output.
Tho requirements for heavy field guns
of three TO nine and one-half inch IN
calioer run literally into the thousands.
In addition to which. as a result Of con-
slant use on the front. tubes are worn
out and the guns must be taken from
tho firing line and refined in order
to render them again serviceable.
Tho ordnance department has repeat
eddy submitted estimates for appropria-
tions for the manufacture Of guns of
these types during the last twelve or
fifteen years, with Indifferent results
and upon the declaration of war there
were In the United States less than 10
per cent Of the requirements OF three
inch guns, which runs into the greatest
number, and an almost negligible num-
Der of all mobile artillery guns of
larger calibers.
Due to the small appropria lions
available. and the limited number of
guns heretofore made. the knowledge
Of the art OF producing forgings has
been confined to the Bethlehem and