The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1918-06-22
u. s. DEFENSE
BILL LARGEST
EVER DRAFTED
Is APPROVED
War Department Plans for
Carrying Warfare on the
Western Front Beyond
Trench Stage Made Known.
.PERSH|NC FAvORS PLAN
(By Associated Press)

WASHINGTON, June 22-Plans of
the war department OF carrying the
warfare on the western front beyond
the trench stage by vast production
of heavy mountain, field and siege
guns were made known today through
the approval of the house appropria-
tions committee of the largest finan-
cial program ever submitted by any
government. The bill carries a total
of s5,435, ,O96,224. the principal expen-
diture being for heavy artillery. Of
the entire sum. $4,000, 100000 is asked
as a cash appropriation and the re-
mainder for contract authorization.
Based on an American army of three
million men, the plans which the
measure supports have been approved
by the Inter-allied War Council.
through General Pershing, it was stat
ed by Representative Borland Of Mis-
souri,, chairman of the subcommittee
which framed the bill While the
program provides for some defenses
from possible German air raids and
for coast defense, the chief concern
is for the production field artillery.
The total appropriation for heavy
guns is $1,229, ,S3!.295.
VIII EQCdi NTuPpS lam.
The report Of the committee shows
that the new government plant for
production of heavy artillery at Ma
vile Island, in the Ohio river. near
Pittsburg, is to equal the famous
Krupp plant in Germany. For the Ma
vile plant, s40,OO0,000 is appropriated.
Manufacture of heavy pieces will be
carried on also at plants of the Beth
lehem and Midvale Steel companies,
the report discloses. Because Of the
length of time required for the build
ing of large guns, it is shown the gov
eminent is not yet giving extensive
concern to the manufacturing of pro-
jectiles; although machinery has been
or is being established by which the
ammunition can be supplied in short
order. s.
All Of the new heavyguns, provided
for in the bill, will be mounted on
railway cars or motorized for rapid
transportation, showing the war de-
partment as was recently intimated,
is expecting change from the trench
to the open style of warfare.
Buys From the French.
The report of the committee gives
facts obtained from the war depart
ment showing that General Pershing
has been, buying field artillery in large
quantities from French manufacturers.
A portion of the total appropriation
will go. to pay these concerns.
Need of artillery in France is shown
by the statement of the report that
spare guns from the American coast
defenses are being shipped abroad.
1t is made clear, however, that none of
the important coast defenses have
been dismantled. The navy has sup
piled the army in France with 159
pieces, ranging from eight inch to IA
inch.
No appropriation is provided for
guns or mortar batteries for the Unit
ed States Coast. although an estimate
of 1921. 100000 was submitted 70 that
that purpose. The committee, in it's
reports agrees with representatives
Of the war departmnt that such an
of money would be i'm
practicable at this time, as well as
would provision for sending large
number of men 10 Panama or any of
the insular possessions. The meas
ure. however. carries sS.0O0,000 for
aerial coast defenses, cut of one-half
in the original request.
Construction Of Al inch guns for
home air defense is provided. These
guns, it is stated, will have rang
fifty per cent longer than any here
tofore constructed and 100 per cent
greater bursting charge For mobile
searchlights, 100000 is appropri-
ated
For the production of ammunition
including shrapnel, the measure car
ries an appropriation of $3,793,734,5 $50.