The Bamberg herald. [volume] (Bamberg, S.C.) 1891-1972, 1918-03-07
"OVER-THE-TOP Gun"
Senators and Representatives Spend
Day Testing Browning Guns.


American contribution to warfare, the
Browning automatic rifle, was Off
cially introduced to congress today
at demonstration staged in remote
valley in the hills that surround this
city. For more than two hours the
air was filled with the snarl and
| scream of the firing, senators and
representatives operating the new
weapons for themselves under the
direction of a squad of officers from
the machine gun schools at Spring
field, Mass.
High army officials, including AS
sistant Secretary Crowell, Major Gen.
Biddle, acting chief of staff, and a
score of officers from the British,
French, Italian and Belgian missions
watched the demonstrations with
keen interest.
''Dummies'' Shot Up.
There was no target practice, al
though a line of figures shaped like
men was battered to pieces by the
squad of ten gunners. Members of
Congress also scored repeated hits, al
though it was the first time any of
them had handled weapon of this
character.
AS to the performance of the ten
guns used, there was not stoppage
from malfunction, despite the fact
that hundreds of rounds were fired,
and the squads from the schools had
never seen the guns before last Sat-
urday.
When the firing with the automat-
ic rifles was opened today, two
Browning heavy machine guns were
put into action. Thousands of bull
lets we're sent screaming across the
valley to set the dust leaping on the
far hillside. Again there was not a
malfunction and the demonstration
was completed with an exhibition Of
the simplicity of construction, of the
guns being dismounted, taken apart
and reassembled repeatedly in a few
minutes time.
Army to Use Them.
These two guns have been selected
by the ordnance bureau of the War
department as the weapons with
which the army is soon to be equip
ped. The automatic rifles used came
from factories where the actual pro-
duction on a quantity scale has al
ready started. Within matter of
weeks, hundreds will be delivered
every day and thousands every week.
They are to be the "over-the-top'
guns of tomorrow as the French
Chauchat is used by French and
American troops today. A non-com-
missioned officer of the demonstrat-
ing detachment, who with his assist
ants have been drilled with every
type of weapon used by the Allied
troops, including the Chauchat, the
only prototype of the new rifle, spoke
for the whole squad when he said:
"That's the finest gun in the
world"
Preparing to Fire.
When the invited guests arrived at
the range today they found twenty
men from the school, commanded by
Major J. S. Hatcher, busy filling mag
azines and belts. The ten rifles were
unpacked and the visitors were as
tonished at the lightness Of the ter
rible weapons. They weigh fifteen
pounds, loaded with twenty rounds,
all of which can be fired in breath.
Fall in," came the order, and ten
of the men stepped into the front
rank, each carrying his rifle and
about his waist heavy web belt, the
pockets of which bulged with maga-
zines carrying twenty rounds each.
Behind him stood his ammunition
carrier, also belted and with two
cross belts swinging from his should
ers.
AS the little column swung away
toward the range, the rifle men swung
their guns up to shoulder as they
would an ordinary single shot wea-
pom. At the first glance there was
nothing to show the extraordinary
deadly character of their equipment.