Tulsa daily world. [volume] (Tulsa, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1905-1919, 1918-02-28
New Weapon Of the American
Army Is Given Test Be
fore congressman.
ALLIED OFFICERS PRAIS5
Representative Caldwell Of
New York and Others
Handle Efficiently.
TWENTY SHOTS IN BREATH
Quantity Production Now Go
ing on and Deliveries Be-
ing Made to Soldiers.

WASHlNGTON. Fob. 81. -- The
tRtest American contribution to war
fare tho browning automatic rifle
was officially introduced TO con
gfess today at demonstration
ttaRed In remote valley ~ the hills
that SURROUND this city, For more
than two hours tNe air Was filled
win the snu'l and crash of the
firing, soldiers ana representatives.
operating the new weapons for
Themselves under the direction OF u
squad ~ soldiers from the machine
sun school At springfield, Mass,
High army officials. including As
Sistant Secretary Crowell, Major
General Biddlo. acting chief OF staff.
and score OF oificersP from tha
British, French. Italian ana belgian
missions. Watched the demonstration
with keen Interest.
There was no target practice, al
tho n line of figures shaped Ike
men was battered to pieces by the
squad OF ten EInners Members OF
congress also scored repeated bits,
ultho IL wax the first time they had
handled weapon of this character.
No Maifunction.
As To performance of the ten guns
used there was not "A stOppago or
mRlfunciion despite the fact that
hupdreds of rounos were fired and
the squad from the school had nover
seen the guns before last Saturday.
when firing with the hutomutin
rifles WAS completed. two Drow0inE
heavy machine guns were ptn\ fato
action. Thousands OF bullets we're
sent streaming across the valley.
Again thora was no malfunction aud
tho denomination was completed
with an exhibition OF tho slmplicity
OF construction. ono Of tho guns be-
Ing dismounted. taken apart and re-
assembled In n few minutes time.
These two gums have been selected
by tho ordnance bureau OF the war
department with which the army Is
soon to be equipped, The automatic
rifles used cnme from factories whore
production on a quantity ncals has
started Within matter OF weeks
hundreds Will be delivered every day,
They are 10 be tho 'ovcr the top"
gums nf tomorrow as the French
chnuchat IL used by French and
American troops today. A noneom-
m issloned officer of the demonstrat-
ing detachment, who with hts asso-
ciGtes has been drilled with every
type Of weapon used by the allied
troops, including tho chau1hat, the
only prototype OF the new rifle. spoke
for the whole squad when he said:
Finest Gun In World.
That's the finest gun In the
world
when the invited gtesta arrived
at the range they found twenty men
from ths school commanded by Mai.
J. s. Hatcher, busy fitting magazines
and bolts. The ton rifles we're un-
packed and the visitors were aston
ished at the liEhtness OF the weapons.
They weigh IS pounds. loaded with
twenty rounds which can be fired In
breath.
"Faii in" oamo tho order aud
ten OF the men stepped into the
front rank. each carrying his rifle
and about his yaist heavy. web
belt. the pockets OF which hulged
with magazines carrying twenty
rasinds each. Behind hlnl stood his
ammunition carrier. also belted and
with two cross belts swinging from
his shoulders
The riflemen swung their guns 20
shoulder as easily As On ordinary
single shot weapon. The first fir
ing was aemi-automatio. feature
first developed bv the French In the
Chauchat and which has gone far,
10 Is said. towards revOlutionizi ins
trench warfare Set fof this action
the gunner pulls the trigger for
each shot. but he has twenty
tharges' ready "a send at an indi'
vidunl enemy without dropping the
KUN from His shoulder, The tar
CONTINUED ON PACE NiSE