The Nenana daily news., 1919-06-04

the military, ammunition turned out by billions of rounds and tanks built by thousands when the armis- tice ended hostilities, furnish the subject of chapters made public of the war departments history of the material" side of winning the war. The story of machine gun produc- ton, about which such a hot con- troversy waged in Congress as a re- suit of the failure of the American army to adopt for standard general use the Lewis weapon used success fully abroad, is told as follows:
 ''The manufacturing facilities for machine guns in this country were much more limited in extent than the public had any notion of them (when the United States entered the war) or today We had at the outbreak of the war only two fac tories which were actually produc- ing machine guns in any quantity at all
 Tt was therefore evident that We had to build up almost a completely new capacity for production. New ertheless, we took advantage of wha ! facilities were at hand; and at once in fact within 3 week after the de- claration of war, were placing orders for machine guns. In this connec- ton the reader should bear con- tinually in mind that throughout the development of machine gun manu- facture, we utilized all existing facilities to the limit in addition to building up new sources of supply.
 Tn other words, whenever con- cerns were engaged in the manu, facture of machine guns, whatever their make or type, we did not stop the production of these types n these plants and convert the estab lishments into factories for making other weapons; but we had them continue the manufacture in which they were engaged, giving them orders which would enable them to expand their facilities in their par ticular lines of production"
 The statement shows that the two Browning guns, the heavy and the light automatic rifle (of the type now in use by the troops in France) were pronounced by the special test board which held conference in May, 1917, the most effective guns of their types known to the mem bers," in addition to being designe,; for the purpose of quantity produc- tion. At the same test improve Lewis guns also proved highly eff cient and were recommended by the board. Subsequently the Lewis gun was shifted 10 aircraft work because of special adaptability and on re- commendation of General Pershing's staff
 The report says there was great dearth of heavy machine guns fo, aircraft work, to be syncronized win propellers. This shortage existed in the French and British services as well as in the American. The Browning aircraft gun would have met the requirement but it would be a long time before II could be produced in quantity. In seeking stop gap weapon until the Brown ing could be ready, the ordnance de. partment, by "one of those sur prising and almost accidental sue cesses" sometimes encountered found that a modified Marlin gur which could be quickly produced met all requirements. Genera Pershing cabled in November, 1918 Marlin guns now rank as high a! any with pilots, and are entirel, satisfactory"
 The first twelve American divi sions to reach France" the repor continues, were armed with Hotch kiss heavy machine guns and Chau chat automatic rifles by the Frenc! government More than 1000 Wick CTS heavy guns produced in th' United States were traded to th' French as they were needed il French aircraft. During May anC June, 1918, eleven American divi sions sailed, all equipped with Wick CTS heavy guns built in the Unites States, and received Chauchat rifle in France. After June all division to sail were equipped with th' standard American weapons, tn: