Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1917-12-25
LEWIS VAINLY TRIED
To SELL GUN To j. s.,
|. He TELLS COMMITTEE
1nQuirerS Call Him Down When
He Becomes TOO LoQua-
iouS and DeSuItory" Con-
corning General Crozier

WASHINGTON, Dec. 22.-The story
of the invention and development of the
famous Lewis machine gun and the
disappointing efforts of the inventor
TO persuade the United States govern
ment to accept it without cost, was told
in dramatic fashion by the inventor him
self-Colonel Isaac y. Lewis, U. S. A,
notwithstanding in the senate military
committees investigation of the army.
With an occasional show of heat Col
onel Lewis related his controversy with
General Crozier, chief of ordnance, whom
he severely assailed; denied that he first
offered his invention to the British gov
eminent; detailed repeated tenders of
his patents to the government, with his
profits aggregating millions of dollars,
and told of the success with which his
weapon has been used by nearly all OF
the allies.
At times Colonel Lewis was so severe
in his structures on General Crozier ana
the war department that committee
members stopped him saying he was
too loquacious and desultory," and was
letting his feelings run away"
Savage President Testifies
Supporting Colonel Lewis testimony,
President A. E. Borie, of the Savage
Arms company, which has the exclus-
i've American license right to make the
Lewis gun, also told of the refusal of
the war department to adopt the Lewis
gun and of the achievements of that
weapon. Both he and Colonel Lewis pre-
dicted that sufficient numbers of the
new Browning gun, adopted by the war
department would not be available for
the American forces. other manufac-
lturers have testified that the produce
ton would be su icient.
= ha n ROrip'S teS-
timony the committee adjourned oveI
Christmas. 1t plans to resume examina-
ton next Wednesday of Quartermaster
General Sharpe regarding the clothing,
cantonment, transportation and other
questions.
Colonel Lewis told the committe that
as early as 1911 he offered to General
Leonard Wood, then chief of staff, to
turn over his invention to the govern
ment. General Wood favored accept
ance he he said, but General Crozfer pre-
vented it. Again in 1911 and 1912, when
he left the active service because of
resentment over his treatment, Colonel
Lewis said, he renewed the offer, only
to have it rejected.
His last tender was made in a letter
sent to Secretary Baker eleven days ago.
He also agreed to turn over large royal
ties on United States orders of the in
vention, but had not heard from that
tender.
Claims Patriotism Moved Him
Colonel Lewis said his offers to the
government were from patriotic motives
His experiences with General Crozter,
he declared, almost stifled that patriot
ism. He exhibited a check for $1,000,
part of $1,000 he said he had sent to
the government in return of royalties on
he oh SeCrn-
tarv Baker last February and he said
General Crozier opposed it's acceptance.
1t finally was accepted, but receipt was
not acknowledged until two weeks ago.
After his futile fight to get his pat
ents accepted or his weapon adopted by
his own government Colonel Lewis said
he turned to Europe where he said the
gun gained instant success. Thousands
are being used by England and France,
he declared with many others furnish
ed Russia, Italy and Belgium.
For an army of 100000 men, Colonel
Lewis said there should be 100, 900 ma
| chine guns fifty for each 1000 men. To
ken I'D the supply $4,000 ought to be
made annually. he said. Present Ameri-
| can factories, he said have capacity
| of s., 900 to 10000 In the British army
| alone, he said, over 100000 men are un-
| der instruction continually with Lewis
| guns.
Colonel Lewis said that in his opinion
| the German Mauser rifle ranks first, the
| American Springfield second, the French
rifle third, and the British fourth, but
! that for all-around present war pur-
! poses the British rifle is next to the
| German He asserted that the war de-
| partment's order adopting the modified
Enfield rifle was a colossal bluFder.'
because time so essential in producing
rifles then badly needed by the nation S
forces was lost in modifying the En-
| field.
Ordered for Air Fighting
Although the war department had
never given his invention fair test,
Colonel Lewis said, it has at last been
ordered for aerial fighting. In the Of
fetal tests last May, when the Browning
was adopted. Colonel Lewis said he did
not have time to prepare his gun ade-
luately for use with American ammunl-
ton.
Colonel Lewis denied assertions of crit
les of his gun that it worked we'll only
with British ammunition, saying it is
adaptable to any make of ammunition.
Regarding 1913 tests, when pieces of
the Lewis gun broke, Colonel Lewis
said breakage in tests was common to
all machine guns.
AS further evidence of his efforts to
| give his own government the beneht oil
| his inventive genius, Colonel Lewis
| said that last year, when the Browning
gun was being developed, he offered to
| return to this country, develop a Igh'
| model machine gun at his own expense
| and present it to the government.
Colonel Lewis repeatedly stated to the
| committee that Croziers attitude to-
ward him and his invention was the re-
suit of deep prejudice and personal ami
mostly. He declared General Crozier
| was autocratic, responsible for alleged
| failure to properly equip the American
| armies and for alleged lack of progress
| in American ordnance He declared that
the ordnance equipment of General Per
| shing's forces was a disgrace" and that
! modification of the British Enfield rifle
! for American use was a colossal mis-