Evening star., 1918-01-14

plants have been and are being ex-
panded as rapidly as practicable with
out interfering with their produc-
ton. The results of much of this
expansion will be felt this spring in
the increased deliveries of all types
of ordnance material.
anticipating the needs of the naval
service and Marine Corps for additional
machine guns. the bureau wisely con-
Quoted a test of the Lewis ma chine gun
early in April. 1917, w.1h a view to
definitely determining its serviceabillty
when using the United StatNs small
farms ammunition, and as a ssuit OF
this test placed an order for the man
ufaCture of several thousand of these
guns Recent reports from the war zone
indicate that the guns are giving entire
satisfaction.
Depth charges, which the committee
thinks may be properly termed the ter
ror - the submarine have been pro-
duccd = quantity and are in use by our
destroyers and submarine chasers.
1T was specially gratifying to note
that the skill. ingenuity and inventive
resources of the bureau have been pro-
ductive of new designs demanded by
the present methods of modern war
fare. Advantage has been taken of
every suggestion, irrespective of its
source Intimate contact has been es-
tablished and maintained with the
ordnance bureaus and fleets of the al
lied nations, the greatest freedom of
interchange of information and mate
rial being the order of the day. The
relationship with Army ordnance, sig
nal service, aircraft production board
and the shipping board has been most
intimate and cordial.
Production Is Increased.
THE committee was gratified at the
executive ability shown by naval officers
placed in charge of industrial work. AS
an illustration. the bureau found it neces-
sary TO commander a plant producing
binoculars and other optical instruments
for the Navy. Under the former manage
ment this plant produces but 16S stand
ard binoculars in two months, whereas
during the first two weeks Of operation
under Navy management 1t has produced
500 satisfactory binoculars for the use
of lookouts and for spoilers.
The committee made special inquiry as
to the damage done to torpedoeS at the
Bliss works. 1t ascertained that orpedoes
or damaged parts had found their way
into service: that spare parts for tor
pedoes such as gyro wheels. had been
tampered with. but this was promptly
detected by the naval inspector of ord
nance and close watch was maintained
upon these articles, with the result that
the perpetrator OF the damage, one Paul
Charles Hennig, a native of Leipzig, Ger
many who has been in this country since
1908, has been arrested and is now await
ing trial.
The committee was supplied with full
information OF how many attacks Of sub
marines upon armed merchantmen had
been warded off by the ships gun crews
using the battery with bravery and skill,
and was given the details of certain en-
gagements of special interest The record
Of attacks on our armed merchantmen
shows a comparatively small percentage
were successful and that the chances of
escape when a submarine is sighted be-
fore she has time to fire a torpedo are
very high, due to the efficiency of the
Navy personnel. The unseen torpedo is
responsible for so per cent OF the sink
ings.''