The Washington herald., 1918-06-25

$5,4S5,OS6,224
GUNSPROGRAM
Army Of 4,i25.000 to Be
Supplied with
Artillery.

The House sstsblished q new rec
Prd for legislative speed yesterday
Py passing the ss.4s5.oss.a34 forti-
hcations bin with less than thres
hours Of debate. A calculation
nads by Representative Foss Of
Ohio showed that this was at the
rate Of s1,s00. .o0o. 900 in an hour
20. 100000 q minute. or s500,00e q
becond- No previous bill Of large
kmount has been so quickly dis
posed Of.
The plans Of Gen. Pershing for
|teking part in q great allied ofen-
eive were given to the House BY
Representative Borland Of Missouri
|1hairman of the committee. during
the debate. He said;
our field artillery program con-
templates the raising and eQuipping
bf three armies. each consisting of
,375,000 men, an aggregate OF ~
5000 men Of which at least a.
p00.000 should be eombatant and not
10 exceed 375.00o out Of each army
10 be the necessary non-combatant
Forces to keep open the lines OF
Pronunciation Each army fs di-
yided into five corps and each corps
into six divisions. making thirty d.
visions to the; army OF these .diyi-
Bions four are combatant. one re-
placement and one training. -
0ffensive by Allies.
Boriand was interrupted by McKen-
tle. Of Illinois, who asked:
"I presume the purpose Of sending
bver these very heavy guns and the
ranufaeture Of others at this time Is
o use them when the allies take the
bffensiye?'' D..
my opinion agrees with that OF The
Gentleman from Illinois," Borland re-
|lied.
T want to say one very serious
hing that I know will not be misun-
Iserstood." he continued 1T Is possi-
te. and the last few months have
Known II, that some catastrophe might
happen that would greatly embarrass
France in the completion Of the con-
tracts with this country. While the
,ommittee was in the course Of its
bearings that danger was more imri-
lent than II Is at the present mo-
Ihent. II that blow had fallen as we
feared sometimes II might fall, ard
gave one Of our allies struggling for
rs very existence, we know that a
different situation might have been
presented.
"Fortunately. we do not believe any
I1uCh thing will happen( but while II
Aas not happened and will not happen.
I is the part Of wisdom to pIerare
,gainst any such catastrophe There
ore the War Department has stimu-
Ited and speeded up the production
n this country although We felt rea-
onably safe that production would
rot need to begin on quantity basis
ntif January I, 1919, according 20 all
human calculation"
Nation Arousing.
The bill was drawn, Borland said.
pm the theory that the nation must
trip to win the struggle. lay aside
n unnecessary work, and all un-
tlccessary demands on the indus
rial system and upon labor.
We are just arousing the giant
lcrEies of the American nation to
rm and equip our army, to meet
pd conquer the most scientific foe
the world has ever SEEN" he said.
The great reliance of the Ameri-
ran fighting forces for trench work
: placed on the guns ranging from
E5 to 155 millimeteTs, with the sup
Elemental work of those running
)hp to nine and ons-haIf inches.
fThree sources are being drawn up
Fon now to supply these guns. In
|the first place. the army is taking
over all the guns the navy can
lspare, some of which are not suit
able for the equipment OF a mod
srrn battleship, but are useful and
Fan be mouEted on caterpillar or
hallway mounts, and made useful
Enr field work