Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1918-06-27

most durable Of them become inaccur-
ate after 10000 to 10000 parts have
been tested, and some types Of gauges
require replacement for every 1000 or
5000 parts manufactured.
Preparing Gauges. =
Nearly a year was spent by private
manufacturers in this country prepar-
ing gauges and machine tools to
manufacture rifles and ammunition
for the British and Russians, and even
after actual production had begun
there was trouble with gauges. Con-
tracts were placed with different con-
Germs, each Of which undertook to pro-
vide its own gauges from grandmother
gauges brought from abroad. Wh~a
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 and
the provision Of more rigid standards
and centralized inspection system.
When Uncle Sam entered the war
he had more than $4,000 Springfield
rifles in the hands Of troops and in
reserve. Government arsenal facll-
tiles were inadequate to provide the
hundreds Of thousands Of new rifles
required for training great army in
this country and equipping and pro-
vid1ng rifle wastage as troops were
sent abroad. By that time private fire.
apms manufacturers had developed
facilities for large quantity production
of the British Enfield rife, and there
was the resource Of turning out this
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 rife uses ammuni-
ton different from the United States
f1rearm. 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
~ well armed, so far as the rife was
concerned.
Fortunately, however. our war prep
arations we're laid out In the light Of
British experience, allowing sufficient
time for the training and equipment
essential to results In modern war.
Therefore 1t was possible to not only
.rechamber the British Enfield to take
standard Springfield ammunition, but
to materially improve the British rifle
and its 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 reasonable degree
Of interchangeabllity Of parts liable to
break in the field was secured. Our
ordnance experts backed by private
manufa cturers. have thus been able to
provide ample quantities Of the arm
known as the United States rife,
model Of 1917. This rife is not off,
cially known as an Enfield. because.
although the latter served as its basis.
1t has been redesigned and given fea-
lures whieh make 1t virtually q new
weapon.
Adopt Enfield Rlfe.
While the number Of modern rifles
on hand at our entrance into the war
was nothing like as large as 1t should
have been, 1t was equal to the num-
Der Of modern rifles which Great Brit
ain had on hand when she, entered the
war in 1914. AAsthe necessary ma
chinery was not available to produce
sufficient quantities Of Springfield
rifles in short time, 1t was decided to
adopt the British Enfield rifle, the
production of which was large in this
country and could be materially in
creased to meet our needs In shorter
time than 1t would require to raise the
output Of ISpringnelds.
The Springfield rife was known to
be in many respects superior to the
British rifle. The British government
realized this before the war and had
adopted an improved rife, caliber .276,
firing a high-pressured cartridge like
the United States government car
fridge, but did not have time to make
them, and had to retain its old rifle
and cartridge.
Our position, however, was differ
ent. An army had to be selected I'M
dor the draft and trained for service,
which gave us ample time to make i'm
prcvements which the British govern
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
thoroughly trustworthy and reliable
arm In every respect, and no appre-
hensIon need be felt when 1t is real
ICED that II. Is q great Improvement
over the rife which the British forces
In France have used so effectively for
the past thee years and are still US
Ing.