The sun., 1918-04-14
US, IS MEETING
MUNITI0N NEEDS
Col. McROberts Tells Security
League We Broke All Rec
Ords in Rifle Making.
BIG INCREASE IN SHELLS
1922 Ships Ply to France In
der Our Flag. Says Hard
ing-Owen Talks.
BIG INCREASE IN SHELLS

Throwing OF the cloak Of reluctance
and approximations that has hidden the
workings OF the Ordnance Department
o. the United states Army. Col. Samuel
McRoberts revealed yesterday to 700
members of the Natiora! Security
League at the Hotel Astor the full ex-
tent to which speed II. production Of
munitions has been attained. HIS s:a.s-
ments were made with startling frana-
ness, and the way he gave eSac; figures
made his hearers gasp and then applaud
Col. McRoberts. who was formerly
vice president Of the National City
Bank, is chief OF the procurement
division. Ordnance Bureau. and also
member OF the War Board which
passes on requests for financial ad'
vances on war contracts. The pro-
curement division handles the placing
| OF orders with private manufacturers
and arsenals and executes all Ordnancs
contracts.
Col. McRoberts listed these facts:
]. The production of Springfield rifles
has reached 1880 a day. To date
1850. 900 rifles have been delivered on
10
modified Enfield pattern. There are
100000 Springfield rifles now on hand.
, This volume Of rife manufacture is the
greatest that has ever been carried on
In tho world. and has resulted in an
excess over immediate needs. hat
rifle factories are now being diverted
to machine guns.
; . Contracts have been le: for s7o.-
100000 worth OF shells OF all callbres.
For the artillery 10000 pieces OF
motorized vehicles are being produced
at n speed now, faster than they can
be shipped. This item means an ex-
| penditure Of $175.o00.o0o. Powder
plants are turning out 650000.000
pounds OF explosives. with smokeless
powder being produced by two plants
at the rate Of 100000 pounds day.
Fuel shortage Affects Shells.
5. Shortage Of fuel and resultant
shortage OF steel have retarded the
| delivery Of shells. This is disappo!n.-
| Ing. but recently tho deliveries I'M
proved. so that in the last mon:h
manufacturers turned out 100000
shells.
4. Contracts have been made for
! l.350.o00' automatic pistols. Delv-
cries to date totalled 2G4,000. and the
production will rapidly overtake the
needs of The United States troops.
8. Production Of small arms ammu-
milton has already reached greater
proportions than was ever reached IN
| France or England. Ccntracts are out
for $3.50. .OOO, 900 rounds Last month
production reached 27O. 100000 rounds
8. Machine gun production will not
reach the designated production until
July. To the troops $1,000 machine
guns have already been delivered.
Contracts have been let for 100000
machine guns Of various types. DIM
culties arose in creating plant capacity
for this production. but BY July $4,000
machine guns will be produced
monthly.
Col. McRoberts said that the tots
contracts In the last year In the Ord
nance Department ran a little owe
$4,000. 100000 In value. There Is no ju,
tice In the attacks that have been mad
on Gen, Crozier. the ordnance chic
he said.
Praises Gen. Cr0sier's Work.
II want TO say that Gen. Crozier
the man who has made the largest sir
gle contribution OF any man on the ms
terial side of this war" he declare,
There Is u strong sentiment that tn
4 department should be a civilian organ
xation. headed by business men. l
not believe in the suggestion. There
no man or board that In humanity alb
to give these tremendous activities an!
thing like detailed direction. As a ma
ter of fact the only practical system
Just what we have"
Col. McRoberts also made public SON
interesting s!delights on the work
the Ordnance Department In telling
the production of pyrotechnics. gas al
, ammonia.
I'VE have contracted for more the
/ COntiuucd mn Tenth Pune