The Oklahoma City times. [volume] (Oklahoma City, Okla.) 1908-1984, 1918-05-09
DlcHINE Gun
PROGRAM CALLED
!. IN BIC MIDDLE
Heavy Browning Type Far
3 Behind In Delivery,

WASHINGTON, May o.--(Special)
There were some bright spots and |
some dark spots in the accounting made |
today before the house military affairs |
committee OF the nations progress IN |
getting ordnance to use against the
Huns. At the same time there was pre-
sented to the committee an enormous
program for additional machine guns
BY the hundreds OF thousands, costing
close TO $l,000M0.000, aerial bombs.
hand grenades and trench mortars run
ming to more than another billion dol
lars in cost; thousands OF tanks in ad.
dition to those under manufacture; and
heavy artillery program far sur
passing anything TO date
The most disappointing feature was
the testimony of serious delay IN the
production of the heavy Browning ma
chine gun. II will be remembered the
war department, instead OF ordering all
the Lewis and other types OF machine
guns il could get at the outset OF the
war waited months TO put the Browning
gun under manufacture. II was repre-
sented to the committee today that the
production of the light Browning was
coming along ",airly well" Factories
were coming up to schedule and while
il would be months before there would
be the many tens Of thousands that are
needed vet il was meeting every calcu-
lation in the point OF expected manu-
faeture
Far Behind In Delivery.
In regard to the heavy Browning, on
which the United States had counted
much, il developed there had been Sc
rious delay in manufacture. Instead OF
having quantities OF them ready now
and many times more available by mid
summer, il developed the deliveries
were far behind.
Much Of the hearing was devoted to
questions regarding the heavy machine
gun situation. Representative julius
Kahn, ranking republican member oi
the committee, demanded congression-
al probe Of the situation to get the rea-
sons for the delay Immediately. But
the war. department explained It al
ready had sent officers into the Colt fac
tory to make a complete investigation
Of the delays and expected to straighten
the situation out at once. That report
is 10 be transmitted TO the committee
as soon as II is finished and the mem
bers then can decide whether II will
pursue the matter further.
To Have 1000 Planes by July.
II was disclosed that 2200OO add
tional machine guns for use in airplanes
were asked for. The committee ques-
toned this estimate on the ground that
the airplape production was so Tar be-
hind there would be no use tor that
number of guns for long time ahead.
II was also disclosed this government
expects more than 1000 airplanes on
tfe fighting line in France by July J.,
but most-in fact, the great bulk OF
them--of foreign manufacture.
II was shown that no bombs OF the
aerial type had been sent over from this
country yet; that they had been obtained
from the English and French. Bombs
had been manufactured, however, but
had not been officially tested. When
lack of a proper field was cited as a
reason for the delay in the tests, the
committee said this was inexcusable'
Prompt tests we're promised.
On tanks there was no separate ap-
preparation. II being Jumped with sew
eral others in order not to disclose the
number, but the committee was told
that tanks "by the thousands" would
be built along the latest designs, in
addition to those under way.
Sriall Arms Satisfactory.
Il was shown that the small arm am
muntion production was progressing
finely and even better than expected
On rifles, il developed that the impres-
sion that had been spread broadcast
that there was a production OF more
than ten thousand day was incorrect
However, members of the committed
were satisfied while production was
not as large as expected, yet 1t was sui
ficient to meet the situation.
The long delay in getting rifle manu'
featuring under way was due TO IN,
change made from the British Enfield
design 10 modified English CORE
sponding TO our Springfield. 1t was Of
ficially disclosed today that when thu
American units are brigaded with IN,
English as thousands OF them are, they
store their rifles and machine guns ant
other equipment, and the British, il
turn, reissue a complete British outfit
This is because it is impossible to hav'
separate rifle firing separate kint
OF ammunition in small segrnents at tn,
front 1t is impossible to keep the sup
ply of ammunition running freely TO III,
scattered segments, So American sol
diers with the English are firing th'
old Enfield after all because II is III,
weapon of the English army and rher
is ammunition for il all along the line
With the French, il was disclosed, tn
Americans for the most part use thei
own equipment This is because the
are nearer their bases Of supplies. An
on the American sector, OF course, onl
the American rifle is used and sue
other American equipment as is sen
over
--------Vs.s.s.-----
CHINA GETS 10 MILLION
4.