Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1918-05-20
Cannon Output, Long
Delayed, Begins to
Shov Some Results

Washington, May 20.-Altho admin
!strative and industrial delays will COM
peu the United States to rely upon
Great Britain and France for it's main
artillery supply this year American
production has been advanced to
point promising large deliveries of guns
next year
This is the opinion of members of
the senate committee on military af-
fairs who returnd today from an in
spection Of the plants manufacturing
artillery. The trip was incidental to
the committees investigation Of the
backwardness of the ordnance pro-
gram.
The administration is about to sub
nit to congress an additional $4,000
100000 ordnance program which con-
templates the production of field ar
tillery and heavy guns during 1919
and 1920.
Hitchcock Tells Of Delays.
Senator Hitchcock, speaking for the
committee, which visited the Bethle-
hem and Midvale plants, said that
eXasperating and distressing delays
of the past had been largely overcome
and that actual quantity production
Of cannon had begun.
"Of course the time that was lost
last year and this winter will never
be regained," Senator Hitchcock said.
Because Of the long time required
in making cannon we must now he
laying out an artillery program for
the year 1919. We should not again
make the mistake Of delay in placing
orders
All mem bers of the military subcom-
mittee were enthusiastic over the i'm
provements in gun production which
they saw at both plants. All said that
it was inspiring to see the immense
new plants turning out ordnance. AL
tho most Of the contracts are three
or four months behind, the fact that
actual production is now running
smoothly caused general encourage
ment.
Stettinius Bars Changes.
The senators said that Assistant Sec
rotary of War Stettinius. who accom-
panied them on their trip. had been
largely responsible for putting stop
to the constant changes in gun designs
which have been responsible for so
many delays. Manufacturers declared
that on nearly all the guns production
would have been much farther ad-
vanced had there been some one at
the head of the ordnance department
who could have stepped in to put an
end 10 the continuous policy Of altera-
ton Of designs.
The gun carriage for the French 80
was one of the most serious examples
Of this sort Of trouble. While the de-
partment has now abandoned the idea
OF making any more improved Amer
lean gun carriages for these guns.
about 1000 American carriages in pro-
cess or making will be completed. On
all the guns from now on. however,
the manufacturers will stick to the
French carriage designs, which are
more readily made.
Some delays were caused in the win
ter also fp fuel troubles and labor trou-
bles or labor shortages.
Statement by Committee.
TT may be said, committee state
ment says, that production is going
eight inch howitzers were delivered
last NSGh n COllSlOcfdDIe IlulIlpei VI
three inch guns have already been de-
livered and the go inch howitzers are
In advanced stage Of manufacture. y
large number Of 1.5 inch howitzers are
already in course Of manufacture, but
we will not be able to get deliveries Of
any Of these until a British contract
now being completed is out Of the way.
During the present year we will
be compelled to depend largely, as We
have heretofore on France for our
small field guns and to some extent on
Great Britain for our large field guns.
We have thousands Of cannon ordered
and work on many of them is under
way, but we cannot expect any consid-
cradle deliveries until near the end OF
the year The time required in MAX
ing cannon varies from six months on
the small sizes to year on the large
sizes"