Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1918-06-22
WAR PROGRAM OF
NATION BIGGEST
EVER SUBMITTED
Principal Expenditures on Co
lossal Appropriation Bill
i, For Heavy Artillery
HOME DEFENSE IN PLAN
81, ,229, ,731,2 ,295 Is Sum Set
Apart to Make Big
Guns


Washington. June 22.- Plans OF
the War Department for carrying the
warfare on the western front beyond
the trench stage by a vast produc-
tlon of heavy mountain, siege and
field guns, were made known to-day
through the approval by the House
appropriations committee of the larg-
est fortitications program ever sub
nitted by any government The bill
carries a total of s5,435, ,096,224, the
principal expenditure being TO:
heavy artillery. OF the entire sum,
$4,000, 100000 is asked for as a cash
appropriation, and the remainder
for contract authorizations.
War Council Approves
Based on an American Army of
three million men, the plans which
the measure supports have been ap-
proved by the Inter- Allied War
Council. through General Pershing,
1t was stated by Representative Bor-
land. of Missouri, chairman of the
subcommittee, which framed the bill.
While the program provides for
home defenses from possible Ger
man air raids and for coast defense,
the chief concern is for the pro-
duction of field artillery. The total
appropriation for heavy guns is ST.
229.731,295.
The report of the committee shows
that the new government plant for
production of heavy artillery at Ne
vile Island, in the Ohio river, near
Pittsburgh, is to equal the famous
Krupp plant in Germany. For the
Neville Island plant $40,000,000 is
appropriated. Manufacture of heavy
pieces will be carried in also at
plants of the Bethlehem and Midvale
Steel Companies, the report disclos-
es. Because of the length of time re-
quired for the building of large guns,
it is shown the government is not
yet giving extensive concern to the
manufacture of the projectives, al
though machinery has been or is be-
ing established by which the COM
mittee can be supplied in short Or
der
Will Mount Heavy Guns
All of the new heavy guns, pro-
Vided for in the bill, will be mounted
on railway cars or motorized for
rapid transportation, showing that
the War Department, as was recently
,intimated. is expecting a change
from the trench to the open style of
warfare.
The report of the committee gives
facts obtained from the War Depart
ment, showing that General PERISH
ing has been buying field artillery
in. large quantities from French
manufacturers. A portion of the to-
tai appropriation will go to pay these
concerns.
Need of artillery in France is
shown by the statement of the re-
port that spare guns from the Amer
lean coast defenses are being ship
ped abroad. 1t is made clear, how
ever. that none of the important
coast defenses have been dismantled.
r'he Navy has supplied the Army in
France with 159 pieces, ranging
from S-inch to 14-inch.
Guns Have Long Range
Construction of 4.7-inch guns for
home air defense is provided. These
auns, it is stated, will have a range
80 per cent. longer than any hereto
fore constructed and 100 per cent.
greater bursting charge. For mobile
searchlights, $2,O0O,O0O is appro-
priated.
For the production of ammuni-
t on, including 'shrapnel, high explo-
sives and smokeless powder, the
measure carries an appropriation of
793,734,550.