Evening star., 1918-06-23
Plans Of War Department for
Vast Production Reveal
ed in Bill.
SIS, ,435, ,oe6, ,224 ASKED FOR;
COMMITTEE APPROVES
Principal Expenditure for Heavy
Artillery-Neville Island Point
to Rival Krupps.

Plans of the War Department for
carrying the warfare on the western
front beyond the trench stage by a
vast production of heavy mountain.
siege and field guns were made known
yesterday through the approval by the
House appropriations committee of
the largest Notifications program ever
submitted by any government.
The bill carries a total Of $5,435,-
096.224; the PRINCIPAL expenditures be-
Ing for heavy artillery. OF the entire
contract authorization.
The committee struck from the bill a
provision for using the stop-watch or
ether time measuring devices In places
where the funds appropriated are to be
spent. Chairman Sherley announced the
bill will be brought before the House
tomorrow.
Approved by Allies.
Based on an American Army of
100000 men, the plans which the
measure supports have been approved
by the interallied, war council.
through Gen. Pershing. IT was stated
by Representative Rorland of Mis-
which framed the bill. While the
program provides for home defenses
from possible German air raids and
for coast defense. the chief concern
is for production of field artillery.
Guns rae 1851 is ;i2ssHRsi2Rss aHRFH2Rss'0h TOT heav'
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
Neville Island plant $4O,000,000 is ap-
propriated. Manufacture of heavy
pieces will be carried on also at plants
OF the Bethlehem and Midvale steel
companies. the report discloses.
Because of the length of time re-
quired for building large guns, it is
shown, the government is not yet
giving extensive concern to manufac-
ture of projectfles. although machin-
cry has been or is being esta blished
supplied in short order.
Open Warfare Expected.
All the new heavy guns provided
for in the bill will be mounted on
railway cars or motdrized for rapid
transportation. showing the War De-
partment, tas was recently intimated,
Is shange ap9ara rsqm the trench
The report Of the committee gives
facts obtained from the War De-
partment showing that Gen. Pershing
has been buying field artillery in
large quantities from French manu-
facturers. A portion Of the total ap-
preparation will go to pay these con-
Germs.
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.
It. is made clear, however, that mono
of the important coast defenses has
been dismantled. The Navy has sup
piled the Army in France with 159
pieces, ranging from eight-inch to
fourteen-inch.
No appropriation Is provided for
guns or mortor batteries for the United
States coast. although an estimate of
1921, 900, 900 was submitted for that
purpose. The committee in it's report
agrees with representatives of the
War Department that such an ex-
penditure Of money would be i'm
practicable at this time, as well as
would provision for sending large
number Of mon to Panama. or any of
the insular possessions. The measure,
however, carries $1,000 900 for aerial
coast defenses, a cut Of one-half in
the original request.
Construction Of 4.7-inch guns for
home air defense is provided. These
guns, 1t is stated. will have a range
of so per cent longer than any here
tofore constructed. and 100 per cent
greater bursting charge. For mobile
searchHghts, $4,000. 900 is appropriated.
For the production of ammunition,
including shrapnel. high explosives
carries an appropriation Of $3.793.-
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