The Washington herald., 1918-04-14
Enormous Production

Enormous Production.
What is Uncle Sans situation
today with regard to this most vital
branch of equipment?
On Januery IS the production OF
rifles for the United States army
crossed the line of requirements.
Since that date we have not merely
had sufficient rifles for every United
States soldier abroad or in training
camp who is to use a rifle. but a
reserve sufficient to replace any
wastage or loss that would be met
in service.
Z Rifles are now being turned out
at approximately 10000 each day,
or more than 25O.O0O each month
sufficient for the equipment of some
fifteen army divisions monthly! As
this production is much greater
than the number of additional SOL
diers than can be trained and trans
lowing also a maximum figure for
wastage of arms in use. there need
be no further apprehension as to
inadequate rifle supply.
With more than 100000 rifles
Ho" ob Will
at about $4,000 guns monthly. our
SUPPLIES of rifles within the next
few months will be such that it is
probable a reduction in monthly
output will be made to about 200.-
900 guns monthly. in order that
some of the labor and materials
stantly increasing surplus may be
in, Of
The standard U. S. army rifle is the
Springfield. acknowledged to be the
equal. IL not the superior. of any army
rife in the world. When we entered
the war we had on hand 516,461 of
these guns. Our facilities for produc-
ing them were at the Springfield arm
ory and the Rock Island arsenal.
1t was Immediately evident that
these two plants could not supply,
in time. the great numbers of new
guns required. New plants would
have to be placed on the work.
The Winchester and Remington
Army companies in this country had
been engaged in producing Enfield
rifles for the British armies. They
had developed great resources for
rifle production. and their contracts
with the British government were
virtually complete.
Question OF Type.
The question then became whether
we should require the Winchester
and Remington plants to readjust
their plants for the making of the
Springfield rifles. or should utilize the
facilities already perfected and adopt
for our use the British type of weap-
on.
The British rife, however. is not
the most efficient type Of gun. 1t
uses a trimmed cartridge which. in
rapid action when the gun gets hot.
is liable to cause trouble by jamming.
The Springfield uses a rimless cart
ridge with which Jamming is reduced
to minimum
England herself was on the point of
changing to the rimless cartridge
when the war broke out.
There was no time then, however.
for her to overhaul the design of her
gun. which would have necessitated
large conversion of equipment. She
had to so ahead with the design al
ready in manufacture.
For us to have stood by the Spring
field model alone would have meant
a delay of at least ten months i'm
overhauling the equipment of the
Remington and Winchester plants. To
have adopted the British model In
the form England was using, 1t would
! have necessitated the use by our
army of two types of ammunition-an
unwise course.
Between these choices lay a middle
course-the adoption of the British
Enfield, but with modification which
would enable It to use standard Amer
lean ammunition. The changes neces-
sary for this plan would take much
less time to require Springfields
throughout. and would give us a gun
much superior to the British Enfield.
This was the course decided upon.
While it might delay the delivery to
troops in training of the weapon they
ultimately would use, It would not de-
lay the equipment with the best type
of rifles of any troops we might be
able to send to France. Half mil
lion men in France could be equipped
with the SpringfieIds on hand. and
before We could transport that num-
ber of troops abroad, the modified En-
field rifles could be got under full
production.
Need 2,3s3,OOO Guns.
Accordingly. the Springfield and
Rock Island shops of the government
were continued in the production OF
Springfield rifles and orders were
placed with the Winchester and Rem
ington plants for the modified En-
fields.