New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1918-04-14
Arms Production
Meeting All Needs,
Says McRoberts
IL, 600 Rifles Made Daily,
He Tells Security
League

Defence of the Administrations IS
troops with the necessaries of war and
optimistic predictions regarding the
measure of assistance which American
arms will soon be able to accord the
Allies featured the addresses made
yesterday at the luncheon of the Ma
tional Security League at the Hotel
Astor.
Colonel Samuel McRoberts, of the
ordnance bureau Of the War Depart
ment, who was vice-president of the
National City Bank of New York, in
reviewing the achievements Of his bu-
reau since this country entered the
war, declared that the production of
munitions had reached a scale suffi-
GENTLY large to supply all contem-
plated needs.
Senator Warren G. Harding, of Ohio,
a member of the Senate Committee
on Commerce and Naval Affairs, re-
counted what he termed the crafty
ing accomplishments of the Shipping
Board in meeting the ship shortage.
Senator Robert l.. Owen, of Oklahom
chairman of the Senate Committee on
Currency and Banking, emphasized the
nations response to the government s
financial requirements and declared
there need be no fear that America
will not contribute every dollar re-
uuired to win the war.
Seven hundred members and guests
of the National Security League ap-
plauded the speakers. Frederic r.
| Coudert was chairman. Colonel Nc
Roberts evoked the greatest response
when he declared a Minister of NUM-
tions to be unnecessary in view of the
successful operation of the existing
munitions producing organization.
What the Bureau Has Done
The achievements of the ordnance
bureau since April last were detailed
by him at length. Summarized they
are as follows:
American factories, formerly en-
gagged on British rifles, have been
adapted to the manufacture of a
modified British weapon superior to
any used by our allies. Contracts
for 2,500000 have been let; 100000
have been delivered, and production
| has reached as high as II $50 day
| worlds record.
An adequate rifle supply for 1919
is assured, and one rifle factory is
now being diverted to the manufact-
ure of machine guns, contracts for
| 100000 of which have been let. Sew
enty-five thousand machine guns have
been delivered to the troops
On million three hundred and fifty
thousand automatic pistols have been
contracted for; 264,0OO have been de-
livered and over-production is in
sight.
Of small arms ammunition, $780,
| 100000 rounds have been contracted
for. Two hundred and seventy million
rounds were produced in March, and
production now has reached greater
I proportions than have been attained
in England or France.
Contracts amounting to more than
s5O0,000,O00 have been let for the
manufacture of:various types of field
and heavy artillery. Ali the 1919
artillery needs Of the army are now
under manufacture.
More than 10000 motor vehicles
have been contracted for and they are
being delivered faster than they can
be shipped.
! Shell Delivery Disappointing
Seventy million dollars worth of
shells of all calibres have been or
dcrcd. Deliveries have been disap-
pointing, due to the shortage Of fuel
and the resultant drop in steel pro-
duction. Five million shells, however,
were delivered in March.
Six hundred and fifty million
pounds of explosives are in process
of manufacture, and two smokeless
powder plants of capacity of L.
800, 900 pounds a day arc being built.
More than s1O0,000,oO0 has been
spent in trench warfare material, in
cluding hand grenades, rockets and
signal lights. An immense plant has
been built by the government to take
saJ,