Evening star., 1918-05-26

While . feeling Of dubiousness has
pervaded the people who were watt
ing for the arri-
Browning Heavies val Of tn e
Arrive Here. eun the ord
nance department said nothing. al
though 1t was rather hard to hear
harsh criticism of delays. Disre-
garding all prophecies from unreli-
able sources. the Browning heavy
machine gun Is here. within two
weeks Of the time given by Gen. Cro-
zier last December as the probable
date Of its deliveries in quantity pro-
duction.
Now the department Of Army ord
nance says that the Colt company
is making SO good that Browning
heavies are on their way. or, more
likely, already have been delivered to
United States. The number sent, to
each may not be mentioned, but 1t Is
not trifling, and should give enough
for demonstration purposes in each
camp. A sufficient number of these
guns has been delivered, or soon will
SSee
complement Of heavy machine guns
for the division. That means the full
number that 1t will have. with some
in reserve, when the division takes
its place on the battle line. and is no
empty. camounaged statement made
to stave OF just adverse criticism.
A certain number has been shipped
abroad for service. This number
may not be. published. for obvious
reasons. but 1t is appreciabie and as
evidence Of the fact that quantity
production of this remarkable gun Is
here Is convincing and final
All these machine guns are the out
put Of but one factory. and another
is about ready to put forth its product
in nearly the same proportion. besides
q third not far bshind the others It
Is almost certain that the factories
will not be quite UP to their promises.
but, as a matter Of fact. they are now
slightly ahead Of the estimate made
by Gen. Crozier and his officers last
December.
The same authority has authorized
the statement tnat the light Brown
ing machine guns, or automatic rifles.
are 30 well advanced in quantity pro-
duction that the output is almost suf-
one-half Of the United States expedi-
tionary force.
The Browning heavy weighs ap-
proximately thirty-two pounds and Is
less than that. It IL q water-cooled
gun. and has been fired in tests up to
10000 rounds without malfunction.
1t Is what IL called q "kicker"-that
Is. the recoil from the explosion Of the
cartridge operates upon the mechan-
ism in such way as to throw out the
old shell, insert and discharge q now
cartridge from the belt and continue
the fire until the supply Of cartridges
gives out or the gunner stops its
working. It fires up to 500 shots q
cartride holds up the discharge about
three seconds. 1t has an effective
range Of upward Of 1000 yards.
It is not its accuracy OF hre. nor Its
certainty of functioning. alone that
places this gun In the ffrst rank OF all
machine guns, but It Is Its simplicity
Of design. It has SO few major parts.
put together in 50 direct and simple
q way, that this adds to its superiority
over other similar guns in the United
states service. Machine gunners can
with ease on the battle ground or in
The air. When disabled In action. re-
pairs are quickly made either In the
field or at the base. and IT. is this SIM
plictty Of design, coupled with q re-
auction in the number OF parts, that
| has made it possible to put through
quantity production in this compara-
lively brief period.
The Browning light Is an AUTOMATIC
rifle. weighing but fifteen pounds. and
is operated in an altogether different
| way from that of the heavy. 1t Is IN.
| tended for another purpose and
| should never be confused with the
heavy piece.