The silver state. [volume] (Winnemucca, Nev.) 1909-1925, 1918-05-21

the first munitions were inspected by
British and Russian army officers they
found inaccuracies sufficient TO cause
rejection. and this necessitated over
hauling all the separate gauges n
the provision Of more rigid standards
and a centralized inspection system.
When Uncle Sam entered the war
he had more than 100000 Springfield
rifles In the hands Of troops and In
reserve. Government arsenal facil-
tiles were inadequate to provide the
hundreds of thousands of new rifles
required for training a great army IN
this country and equipping and pro
viding rifle wastage as troops were
sent abroad. BY that time private fire
arms manufacturers had developed
facilities for large quantity production
Of the British Enfield rifle, and there
was the resourc of turning out tpis
arm in large quantities for training
purposes during the period of eight
or ten months while the draft contin-
gents were being turned into soldiers.
The British Enfield rifle uses ammuni
llbAl uiINAthl Aibin AiIt GnlAtu CAditF
firearm. Had there been no time for
notifications. American troops might
have been trained with the British
Enfield, using British ammunition. and
would have been capable soldiers fair
ly well armed, so far as the rifle was
concerned.
Fortunately. however. IN wal prep
arations we're laid out I'm the light Of
British experience. allowing sufficient
time for the training and equipment
essential TO results in modern war
Therefore II was possible TO not only
rechamber the British Enfield TO take
standard Springfield ammunition. but
to materially improve the British rifle
and it's manufacture In the light Of
American experience. BY %standardiz
ing the parts so that they would as
semble readily and properly. the pro
duction of the rifle was very greatly
accelerated and a reasonable degre'
of interchangeability Of parts liable e.
break in the field was secured. Oul
ordnance experts. backed by private
manufacturers, have thus been able r.
provide ample quantities OF the arm
known as the United States rifle
model Of 1917. This rifle is not Off
cially known ms an Enfield. because
although the latter served as It's basis
II has been redesigned and given zen
lures which make II virtually a nev
weapon.
Adopt Enfield Rifle.
While the number of modern rife
on hand at our entrance into the WA
was nothing like as large as II should
have been. il was equal to the nun
Der of modern rifles which Great Brit
ain had on hand when she entered thu
war in 1914. AS the necessary ma
chinery was not available to producs
sufficient quantities Of Springfield,
rifles In a short time. II was decided Il
adopt the British Enfield rifle, the
production Of which vas large in this
country and could be materially in
creased to meet our needs in a shorter
time than II would require TO raise the
output Of Springfelds.
The Springfield rifle was known TO
be in man. respects superior TO the
British rifle. The British government
realized this before the wal and had
adopted an lmprovdN rifle, caliber .276
firing a high-pressured cartridge like
the United States government car.
fridge. but did not have time 10 make
them. and had to retain its old rifle
and cartridge.
Our position, however, was differ
ent. An army had TO be selected un-
der the draft and trained for service.
which gave us ample time to make i'm
prOvements which the British overn-
ment had intended TO make. and which
practically placed their rifle. as modi
fed in this country. on an equal foot
ing with our own.
The model 1917, United States rifle.
as the improved Enfield is called. is o
thoroughly trustworthy and reliable
arm in every respect. and. no appre-
hension need be felt when 1t is real
lied that II is a great Improvement
over the rifle which the British forces
In France have used so effectively for
. the past three years and are still us