Grand Forks herald. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1916-1955, 1919-05-13

ish design OF which 1900 were being
constructed in cooperation with the
British. and 1.A60 additional, wholly by
EAmericansenterprise. Only one aaSof
|Ary 1, 1919, but it Is noted that.the
work on each program on component
parts was so per cent complete when
the armistice was signed. Orders for
all but 100 OF these tanks have been
cancelled.
Tank Orders Cancelled.
On November II. sixty-four tanks
Of the French six-ton type had been
delivered and by January 81 of his
year 291. OF these six were shipped
abroad. Orders for 1000 Mark i light
tanks were cancelled as were orders
for 1905 three-ton tanks, fifteen Of
which had been completed ON Novem-
Der IL. %gs. II. 80
The history of the rifle production.
including all Of the considerations
which led to the adoption Of the
standardized British Enfield weapon
for American use, also is fully but
lined. This was another element of
the ordnance program that was Sc
verely criticized, blu the department
states that it sees no reason now to
change its view that the wisest course
was that which was followed. Army
experts still hold that the Springfield
rife is h best military weapon
made, but it Is declared the rife pro-
gram would have been ~'hopelessly de-
l1ayed," II it had been attempted ito,
! equip the forces with those weapons.
1t is reiterated also that. the Enfield
rifle as it was in production in Ameri-
can plants when the United States en-
quate weapon, while as it was modi-
fled. it became second only to the
Springfield. Despite the delay due to
modification and standardization, all
American troops were equipped with
modern ehicient, American-made
rifles before they left the United
States.
"The decision to modify the En-
field" says the report, was n of
tive prosecution of the war-allf hon
or to General John T. Thompson and
the other rifle experts who made it."
The total rife production in the
United States from the beginning of
the war up to November 9, 1919 was
%2.606,307 of which a little more than
100000 were Springfield rifles.
Considerable attention is>devoted to
the production of automatic pistols
and r%evolvers for the troops. In the
Colt AS" the standard army auto
matte developed as a result of PhiAp-
pine experience by the army and
which all Europe could not match fol-
efficiency in action and which brought
terror to, the Germans when American
troops reached the front. I.
Value Not Appreciated.
European countries failed to appre'
fciate the value Of a large calibre, hare
hitting weapon of this type and the
chief use of pistols and revolvers IL
European armies had been as orna
ments for officers uniforms it is sait
rather than for active fighting.
1.-The result of Europe's neglect,
calibre r%evolvers Of the Germans am
even Of the French and English wer,
]toys In comparison to the big Colt
that slapped the thighs of American
doughboys."
With this weapon, it is stated, IAN,
average soldier with average trainini
can, hit what he shoots at. In almos
the first skirmish 1T proved its superi
or usefulness in trench fighting. Sucl
incidents as that of the single Ameri
can soldier who Dispersed or killed
whole squad Of German bayoneteer
which had surrounded him struck tn
enemy with fear Of Yankee proves
with the pistol" \
This resulted in the addition o
plstols 10 the n6h0ng equipment o
the American troops at a rate tina
overwhelmed the supply. Every ef
fort to increase production was made
but the army was forced to restort t
45-calibre REVIEWERS to supplement
1.-THE supply. The, actual rata OF pra
duction reached Just before the ii
mistice was 1893 pastole, and 1888 re
volvers a day and the total numbe
of the weapons built during the wa
was 7l3,661.
The standard American army riA
ammunition proved it's superiority !
action. adding materially to the &C
curacy Of American small arms ar.
Extraordinary measures to produc
cartridges in sufficient numbers ar
~recounted In the report and in tn
tall Of 1913 the United States achiev
Led an average monthly output of 1884.
9 Ist3.7aB rounds against "a BIRTHS
average Of 25s.7eA000 and q Frenc
teysrlEe Of 1~sS.s45,eOo. During tn
rs months the United States was /
tKs war ~ produced 2,s64,s54,0o
rounds. approximately equalling th
french production and comparin
With 3.4Ss.137.ooo produced by Grea
e n MpDru ANTC {