Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1917-12-22

the alleged shortage in Army supplies
"the whole story" of his efforts to have
the War Department adopt his gun.
First offered to q. S.
Col. Lewis told the senator's that he
did not first offer his weapon to the
British but that while still an active
officer in the Army tried without avail
to persuade the War Department to ac-
cept it.
In beginning his statement Col. Lewis
repudiated published report quoting
him as stating that he was going to
tell the committee the truth and that
the committee did not want to hear IT.
A Pittsburgh reporter, he said, went
to him at Uniontown, Pa, and said Gen.
Crozier was ''filimflamming' the COM
mittee.
That's nothing new; he's been doing
that for fifteen years. Col. Lewis said
he told the reporter, and declined fur
ther statement.
DO you want the whole truth about
the Lewis gum" he asked. TT isn't a
pleasant story to be told in public
Whole Story Desired.
Senators Chamberlain and Weeks said
the committee wanted the whole story,
and Col. Lewis begun what he termed
the story of the Lewis gun"
ITS not credit to the ordnance bu-
reau." he began First of all / want
to deny the report that it was offered
first to the British government"
Col Lewis said he took his invention
to the chief of staff when he was an
active officer.
Il wanted to present it to the gov
ernment." he said, declaring it was in
vented to use American ammunition
Witness after witness had delib-
erately misrepresented that it cannot
use American ammunition" he said.
Gen. Wood was chief of staff when he
made his offer of his patents to the
government, he said. declaring that he
had never made the offer in writing,
but had before witnesses.
But One Stipulation.
Even last June went to the present
Secretary and offered him all my in
terests, without any emolument," he
said. THE only condition, which I
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 interests
to the government. Col. Lewis said
stockholders of the Automatic Arms
Company. who backed his early patent,
were interested.
did they offer their interests" he was
asked
My offer wasn't even considered Col
Lewis protested. 1T was turned down
fiat
His Offer Renewed.
A letter dated December II, renewing
his offer of his gun to Secretary Baker.
was read by Col. Lewis. In il he offered
also to turn over all of his share-43 per
oil ~ fa.
coo, 900 under existing contracts. In the
letter Col Lewis protested against al
legged injustice of statements by Secre-
tary Baker regarding the Lewis gun. It
cited success of the British with his
arm and declared that of twelve Zep-
peIins brought down by the British ten
were bagged with Lewis guns
Ready to Give Royalties.
81 want it understood that I was and
anl ready to give my check to the Sec
for my royalties or my interest
in the patents he said. stating he had
offered his gun repeatedly in 1911, 1912
and often afterward.
Il kept it alive" he said.
How he sent his checks for S11, 900
and $500 of royalty receipts to the
Secretary on certain contracts was de-
Gen. Crozier promptly advised its
rejection he said.
When asked why he was willing to
give his royalties as well as patents
to the government, Col. Lewis an
swered:
Il suppose it's psychological I don't
need the money. / suppose and hope my
offer ultimately win be accepted"
You simply wanted patriotically to
help the government and because you
We're in the service2''
YES, ] was educated by the govern
ment. I've been prosecuted by the
government. and / want to help the
government.
Pershing's forces. he said. is IAN out
rage and a disgrace" They are with
out enough machine guns or rifles. he
said. and have heavy artillery only
borrowed from the allies.
That this country wouldn't have a
million men in France before 1919 was
stated by Col. Lewis.
Gen. crozier Responsible.
who IS responsible:" he asked
Gen. Crozier is more responsible for
equipment of United States
forces than any one
After reiectionS of his patent by the
War Department, Col. Lewis said he
went to Europe. after retiring from
the United States Army. "disgusted
there A group of Belgian bankers.
rights.
Tests of his arm here and in Europe
were detailed by Col. Lewis. He pro-
iuced correspondence from Gen.
Scriven, former chief signal officer. in
1912. discouraging tests when produced
by Col. Lewis.
Col. Lewis said his Belgian company.
ne founded in 1919. was drifting into
German control, and he ousted the
German directors. He went to Bir-
England. and in forty y-eight
1ours. he stated. closed a contract with
British firm. The guns used in the
Belgian and British tests, which he
said resulted in its acceptance at both
places. were the some original four
models that the signal service refused
% test in 1912.
Designed by Americans.
The ammunition used in the British
.ests was of American design, he said.
Senator Chamberlain asked why the
Army should oppose the Lewis gun and
he inventor said:
"They want to kill it. to take the
abel off it,
The Browning gun. he said, is pic
ure. figment of the imagination"
TITS true 1t got through an arsenal
lie continued. II have never seen it, !
out my associates have"
Col. Lewis predicted that it would
,e ten months before it would be possi-
lie to turn out Browning guns in guam
ity He said his gun was superior for
Ill Army work to the Browning. Sena-
or Hitchcock referred to breaking of
,arts in the Lewis gun in 1913 tests.
"Oh. yes" said the inventor. II never
saw any that wouldn't in tests. The