davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-01-24

act Of August, 1919. 1t was this appro-
priation which the general probably had
in mind, as there was delay of some
four months in placing orders under it.
but not because Of failure to adopt a
new gun, which, as stated above, had
been done In 1918. The delay was in.
CURED against my strong recommended
ton, and was in extreme solicitude to
give every consideration to the Lewis
gun and prevent any reasonable ground
for dissatisfaction ct its treatment
The acrimonious controversy" was
over the relative efficiency of the Lewis
gun and the Benet-Mercie, which it was
claimed that the Lewis gun should re-
place. AS to the merits of the contro-
verSy Gen. Pershing, in his narrative.
assumes a detached attitude, although
he had previously held q more positive
opinion, as evidenced by the following
extract from a letter forwarding reports
of test to the War Department:
q" . These reports are further EVIL
dence that in the extensive tests made
in the southern department, the Lewis
machine gun has failed to demonstrate
its superiority over the Benet-Mercie
gun In so far as its suitability for use
with the machine gun organization OF
Infantry and Cavalry regiments is con-
cerned-John j. PerShing, major gen
eral, commanding southern department,
Fort Sam Houston, Tex" dated March
/, 1919
The controversy effected the improve
ment of manufacture Of the American
made Lewis gun until 1t equaled in
ef1cicncy the English-made gun which
was supplied to the British forces, after
which 1t was extensively purchased by
the Ordnance Department. In review
ing the subject after the war, the Sec
rotary of War made the following state
ment:
whatever may have been the teach
ings Of mechanical science, the results
of shop and field tests and the logic Of
the machine gun controversy before the
war, the war itself had completely de-
war, the war itself had completely dem
onstrated the correctness of the posi-
therefore, nothing left uninvestigated,
and in denying the request for a court
of inquiry the Seer: tary of War is happy
to assert, as part of the record of Gen.
Crozier, his confident approval OF his
entire course in the matter"
About 100, 900 machine guns and
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-01-24

the arrangement made, which permitted
the profitable employment of available
French manufacturing capacity, that ne
forwarded to his government state
ment for the press from which the
following are extracts
AN important agreement has been
concluded between the United States
Government and the French high COM
missioner, Monsieur Andre Tardieu. Ac-
cording TO said agreement the American
Government adopts two principal pieces
of material of French artillery, the Is
nm. field gun and the 155-rnm. rapid
fire howitzer. The negotiations
taken up for the first time at the end
Of May were characterized by two ideas.
On one hand the American Government
wished to adopt the quickest solution, in
order to realize in the shortest time the
complete armament of its forces. On
the other hand, with great foresight
they attached particular importance to
realizing, for the American and French
armies called to fight on the same bat
tlef1elds, uniformity of munitions, as OF
capital importance from tactical point
of view. Mr.. Baker, Secretary OF war,
and Gen. Crozier, chief of ordnance Of
the American Government, have given
proof in this case of the broadest spirit
of comprehension and decision and
have succeeded in few weeks in Sc
curing for the American troops artillery
of the first order. Our high commits
sioner in Washington speaks in ur1-
bounded praise Of their cooperation
with him.
Output During War.
Gen. Pershing mentions that, with
a few exceptions, no guns OF American
manufacture were fired by his force in
battle. This statement. though true,
does not give correct impression OF
American artillery production. At the
time Of eur entry into the war there
were only two establishments In the
United States capable or manufacture
ing artillery, including the steel forg-
ings, and these were occupied to ca
pacity with orders from our associates.
It was not deemed good policy to dis
place these orders for the use of ar
mics already confronting the enemy
with our own requirements, and we
proceeded to enlarge the two existing
plants and to set up SIX new ones for
the manufacture of artillery forgings
and seven for fsshioning the forgings
into finished guns
The output during our participation
in the war comprised over $4,000 gun
forgings, large number of other ar
tillery components, and 1000 complete
artillery unitS-gun, carriage, timber,
ETC., which were supplied for our own
forces and those of our associates. The
1000 American guns amounted to about
IS per cent of the total number Of guns
in action in the A. z. F. during the
war, although only 800 of the 1000 were
shipped abroad and these largely to
other forces than our own. The ar
rangements made, including notably the
delivery of forgings to cur associates,
facilitated such supply to our own
troops as to prevent any shortage on
the firing line during the continuance Of
hostilitieS.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-01-24

toned by the general as on hand for
issue at our entry into the war, to-
gether with those then In the hands Of
troops, brought the total available
number to well over double that re-
quired for all his carrying troops
IN France q full year later. In the
meantime acceleration of the manufac-
of plants fitted to manufacture the
British Enfield rife brought about such
rapid augmentation of supply that If
any men were sent abroad without
sufficient training in rifle practice it
was for other reasons than lack of rifles
to train them with. Decisions made by
the Ordnance OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES OPP
position Of some bitterness In certain
influential quarters - in regard to
changes In the British model produced
uniformity of ammunition with the
Springfield and such improvement in
the British rife as to make It q worthy
rival of the Springfield.
A few words OF disparagement may
easily call for more REPUTATION than
any one Is willing to listen TO, and /
feel that have already gone beyond my
limit. although have not touched upon
certain references by Gen. Pershing
which, however, think can be seen
to relate more to misunderstanding
IIldIl W bklOI tSOAiAlSS. II ally Ollc has
the unusual interest to lead him into
further examination Of the provision of
fighting material for the A. E. F., he
can find in my book, Ordnance Of
the World War" published in 1920. an
account of the embarrasSments under
which the Ordnance Department func-
toned during and before the war, and
the way in which they were met. I
like to believe that a reader would be
left with the feeling that the depart
ment and It's officers had done their de-
voted best with the resources that were
available and that, where American re-
sources dragged, opportunities from our
associates, offered by good luck, were
seized by good management. Perhaps I
can best rest the departments case
with the claim that it so developed the
country's field of talent and industry as
to place In the hands of our troops the
best infantry rife, the best machine
gun. the best automatic rifle and the
best pistol which were used in any
service, on either side, in the great war.
Copyright. 1881. by North American News
paper Alliance)
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-01-24

As TO machine guns, one can but
Sympathize with Gen. Pershings anx-
iety over the poor prospect for the sup
ply of these important weapons to his
troops, before he learned that he might
expect from the French at least a
somewhat reasonable supply Of the very
good Hotchkiss machine guns and the
fairly serviceable Chaucat automatic
rife. In his narrative he scores not
only our deficiency Of store, but the al
lowance Of the organization tables which
failed to recognize, as did the tables Of
the Germans, the development of the
efficacy Of these weapons following the
Russo Japanese war. The general HIM
self had a close look at that war and
doubtless his reports emphasized the
lesson of the machine gun; but the
failure to profit by the lesson is re-
sponsibility of the general staff and not
of the Ordnance or any other supply
department. In his analysis Of con-
ditions affecting machine gun supply Of
the period preceding our entry into the
war, he shows that he was not accurate
ly informed, as was natural, since this
subject was not directly within his
province.
Machine Guns Ordered.
In two places the general states that
there had been such acrimonious con-
troversy between the Ordnance Depart
ment and the inventor of the Lewis
machine gun as to result in failure 10
reach q conclusion which would war
rant the manufacture of machine guns
in quantity by the time Of our entry
into the war. On the contrary, an ex-
cellent machine gun. known as the
Benet-Mercie, had been adopted In 1909
and was in the hands of all the troops
Of the Regular Army and many Of the
National Guard, with no intention of
replacing it, Notwithstanding certain
ill-informed allegations which were
made against its efficiency. Also, an
improved machine gun, the Vickers, had
been adopted in 1918 after extensive
tests, and orders had been placed for
its manufacture to the extent of the
then available funds, some $4,000.
But the first appropriation of any sig
nificance with reference to the great
numbers of machine guns which were
concluded to be necessary for the World
War was the $12,oo0000 mentioned by
Gen. Pershlng, which was carried in the
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-01-24
HEAD
ANSWERS PERSH|NG
Declares U. S. Department
Eventually Supplied Best
Materials in War.
BY MAJ. GEN. WILLIAM CROZIER,
u. s. A., Retired.
(World war Chief Of Ordnance)

Gen. Pershing's account Of the war
Nould be incomplete without q state
8nent in regard to the shortage of mill
Aary supplies, Of all kinds, with which
I'VE entered the war, and he correctly
places the responsibility for this short
Age on the whole people of the United
States, which is where it belongs.
The names of those responsible were
Tom, Dick and Harry. They were the
average citizens-the people who are
now refusing to let the country make
any commitment for preserving the
peace in a quarrel not our own--while
She price of peace was, and still is, an
effort, an expenditure and a risk.
The theory of representative govern
1nent, however, places the charge of all
such matters Immediately upon Con-
kress and the administration, and these
agencies Of the people. to the extent, at
least, to which they are expected to be
aeaders and not followers of public
FOR failure to go beyond the popular
mandate in military preparation. If
such criticism is due in any official
quarter.
Picture Not Overdrawn.
Z After the European war was in full
Progress the administration discouraged
warnings of military unpreparedness as
being hysterical and inconsistent with
the neutrality even in thought"
which had been enjoined, and, through
ahe mouth of the Secretary of State,
1t decried even reasonable defensive
measures on the ground that they
might be taken as an indication of our
Intention to take part in the war. Gen.
Pershing's general picture of unpre-
paredneSs is not overdrawn, but GER
tain details, concerning matters for
(which he was not responsible and in
regard to which he could not be ex-
spected to be closely informed. require
further explanation or correction.
His concern over the shortage Of field
artillery was keenly shared by myself,
who, as chief Of the military depart
aner1t charged with its design and pro-
lcurement, had been making anxious
efforts to forestall the shortage years
before Gen. Pershing was assigned to
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-01-24

automatic rifles Of the various types
used in our service were manufactured
in the United States during our partici-
patton In the war, which was greater
than the number manufactured by the
British during the same period, not
withStanding our handicapped start.
Our rate Of manufacture prior to the
armistice reached $4,000 guns per
month, which was twice that of the
French or the British, AMI the quality
of our Browning guns proved In service
to be such that both the British and
the French applied for the purchase of q
supply for the armament Of their own
forces.
The French supplied our troops
with Hotchkiss machine guns and
Chaucat automatic rifles until the
end Of April, 1918, when We had
something over 100000 men In Eu-
rope of the 100000 ultimately sent
May and June of that year were armed
with Chaucat automatic rifles, but they
had American-n1ade Vickers machine
guns. Those which went over after
June were all armed with American
Browning machine guns and Browning
automatic rifles, and by the date Of the
armistice enough Browning guns of
both classes had arrived in France to
equip all the American forces, although
the change was not completely made
from the guns which they were using
because Of the extremely active opera
lions which were going on toward the
end.
Had Plenty Of Rifles.
The one feature Of supply of fighting
material for our forces which we can
look back upon with cheerfulness Is,
fortunately, that relating to the most
important weapon of all-the infantry
mans rife. Gen. Pershing does not
make any specific complaint in regard
to rife supply, but he Jumps the state
ment of its initial condition in with the
really deplorable shortages and he omits
to take comfort from the fact that no
soldier was DELAYED five minutes in
sailing for Europe by lack of a modern
rife, and that, having received or
needed any assistance from our asso-
ciates, his Army never at any time suf-
fered from shortage of rifles in the
theater of war nor from the threat Of
such a shortage.
The 2S5,000 Springfield rifles men
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-01-24
REPORT PUTS DRY ISSUE
TO FORE, LEWIS STATES
senator-elect Says Wickersham
Commission Helps Make Cues
tion Dominant in 1882.
az the Assoclated Press

tEle AsautIuVtu FItsss
TUSCON, AriZ.. January Al.
Hamilton Lewis, United States Senator
elect from Illinois. told an audience ct
the University of Arizona Thursday the
Wickersham report contributes to
make the prohibition question q domi-
nant issue in the presidential election
of 1882"
The Wickersham Commission after
two years OF study" he said. brings
forth report of nine conflicting parts.
none giving relief nor promise of remedy
for present restrictions.
THE final result of the work Of the
commission is to throw the subject back
to the States for separate State action
on the basis Of local home rule
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-01-24

Colored glass windows. to give q light
that renders blood indistinguishable, is
being tried at Michigan State College
as q cure for cannibalism In chickens.
The Daily Alaska empire., 1931-03-27

LOOSE ANKLES
 Coliseum Saturday-Matinee 2:30, Evening SIS. Tickets now on sale at all drug stores. -adv.
The Daily Alaska empire., 1931-03-27
DOCS ARE CHIEF ISSUE AT CITY
 POLLS APRIL l
Citizens Will Decide Wheth- CT Unleashed Animals
 Can Be on Streets

A dogs life! What'll it be in Juneau? That's the chief issue to be decided at the municipal cleo ton Tuesday, April T.
 A. proposed ordinance a column and a half long, full of where ases" and "wherefors," "the said" this and "the said" that and nu- merous other legislative words and phrases, provides-to put the mat ter briefly-that the licensing dogs ter briefly-that the licensing of dogs be discontinued and that un- less they be held in leash none be allowed on the streets at all. The suggested law has been re- ferred by councilmen to voters. If 1t carries at the polls, 1t will become effective immediately If it fails, the present license sys- tenn will remain in force.
 Plain and Simple
 The issue is plain. It is simple. Dogs or no dogs on the streets, except the animals be held in leash-that's the question.
 Advocates of the ordinance con- tend that the running at large of dogs is a nuisance that should be abated, and that there is no more excuse for unaccompanied animals on Main Street here than on Mich igan Boulevard in Chicago or on Broadway, New York.
 Opponents of the proposed leg islation declare that irrespective of the merits of it's purposes, at tempted enforcement would occa- sion ceaseless controversies; that infractions would be so frequent that if given attention by peace of- ficers the latter would not have time for any other duties, and that conditions under the new law would be infinitely more annoying than the state of affairs under pre- sent regulations. And opponents of the suggested ordinance add that it would deprive the city of the money now obtained from license fees.
 Registration Is Light
 The dog issue may give an inn petus to registration. For the va rious municipal offices, there is only one contest-it involves a councilmanic position-and regis i tration so far-350 names-repre- sents only small minority of the 1 adult population. Unless registra- ton goes forward more quickly in the future, the balloting at cleo | ton will be done by fraction of the community. f1
 Of course, the part of the pop ulace interested the most in b the dog issue will not be able to vote on it. Boys and girls own all but a comparatively few of the dogs in town. If children were per mitted to ballot, the proposed or dinance would be beaten so badly it would make dog laugh. 2
The Daily Alaska empire., 1931-03-27

EASTER LILIES Will be cheaper this year. See JUNEAU FLORISTS iv. Telephone c11
The Daily Alaska empire., 1931-03-27

nounced today by M. D. Williams, District Engineer of the United States Bureau of Public Roads Seims-Spokane Company was low of four on the first and Wright Construction Company, Aberdeen low of six on the other project.
 Both jobs are included on the program which will be executed this season. Bids on Mendenhall River bright and Switzer bridge and reconstruction of a mile of read north from there on Gla- cier Highway are the next two on which tenders will be received The first was to have been opened today and the second tomorrow.
 On Resurrection River bridge the bids were: SAms- Spokane Co $31,7l6; Wright Construction Co.,, $33 ,90750; R. J. Sommers Con- struction Company, 39,339.5 SO;
The Daily Alaska empire., 1931-03-27

sical center of Alaska.
 Mrs. Madden has been in Los Angeles, also at the Oregon Agri- cultural College in Corvallis, Ore gon, where she taught music. The last year has been spent in Valdez, Alaska.
 Mrs. Madden comes to Juneau with the best of recommendations. being a graduate of the Cunning System of Improved Music Study and holding degrees from the Art Publication Society and Heinline Conservatory of Music. She is now awaiting her appointment as a Normal Instructor of the Dunning System. Other of her instructors have been: Prof. Poulin, Los An geles Lyric Club; Madame Lam bert, pupil of Leschetizky; Lillian Jeffries Perti, o. s. O.; Jean War ren Carrick, Portland; Leopold Co., dowsky, Ernest Krolger and other pedagogues.
 It is the established precedent of Cunning Studios all over the world to cooperate with the estab- lished teachers and musical organ
The Daily Alaska empire., 1931-03-27
AUGUST ROMANSUTH
 AND MRS. EFFLER WED

August Romansuth of this city and Mrs. Clara Effler from Colo rado Springs, Col, were married Wednesday evening in the parson- age of the Lutheran Resurrection Church by the Rev. H. R. Allen, pastor. Present besides the con- tracting parties and the clergyman were Capt. s. M. Higgins of Ju- neau and Mrs. A. Kramer of Wran- gell, a sister of the bride.
 MT. and Mrs. August Romansuth will make their home in this city. MT. Romansuth has operated fish cry tender boats in Southeast AL aska waters 25 years. He has lived here for the past four years. The bride for some time had visited at the home of her sister in Wran- gell.
The Daily Alaska empire., 1931-03-27
NEW MUSIC STUDIO TO
 BE OPENED
Mr.;. Hazel James Madden Introduces Cunning
 System Tn Juneau

Mrs. Hazel James Madden is contemplating opening her Dunn ing Studio of Music in Juneau next week having been delegated by the National Association of Cunning Teachers to introduce and establish the work in Alaska. In accordance with this wish, Mrs. Madden has visited the principal cities of the Territory and has chosen Juneau as the coming mu-
The Daily Alaska empire., 1931-03-27

izations. Mrs. Madden is antici- pating with pleasure the acquaint-, ances of the teachers of that great Art that has no peer and also the personnel of the musical organiza- tions of this city. It is her desire to work with every teacher and or ganization in the city. She will be delighted to receive visitors in her Studio at 206 Main Street.
The Daily Alaska empire., 1931-03-27
JOHNSON FUNERAL
 BE HELD SATURDAY

Funeral services for Charles Johnson will be held tomorrow af- ternoon at 2 o'clock in the. Lu- theran Church, Rev. Harry R. AL len officiating, and in charge of the Juneau-Yo Funeral Parlors.
The Daily Alaska empire., 1931-03-27
BIDS RECEIVE ED. BY B.P.R. ON TWO
 ROAD PROJECTS.
Seims-Spokane Is Low on Seward Job and Wright
 on Road at Wrangell

Low bids on Resurrection River bridge construction and construc- ton of a mile of road on Wran- gell Highway have been recom- mended for acceptance, it was an-
The Daily Alaska empire., 1931-03-27
CUT EXPENSES
 OREGON STATE
Gov. Meier Urges Ten Per Cent Reduction, Throw
 Out lncompetents

, SALEM, Oregon, March 27.-De- claring there has been a "consid- 'erable waste of public funds" Gov. Julius L. Meier today urged all departments to reduce operating expenses 10 per cent.
 The Governor said that in addi- tion to an "apparent lack of uni- formity in salaries, payrolls have been padded hy incompetents.'
The Daily Alaska empire., 1931-03-27

Johnson Gardner Construction Company, S41 ,455.
 On the cannery section of Wran- gell Highway, the bids were: Wright Construction Company S25, ,783.50; Seims-Spokane Com pany, 29981.60; Johnson-Gardner Construction Company, 31,773.50; Hubbell & Waller Engineering O., S32 ,995.50; Sawyer Reynolds Com pany, s33 ,767.50; R. J. Sommers Construction Company, S34,135.70.
The Daily Alaska empire., 1931-03-27
CUT FLOWERS

Plenty of Out Flowers and potted plants for EASTER We deliver.
 JUNEAU FLORISTS adv. Telephone 31l
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-07-12
District National Guard

Oswald H. Millmore and Second Lieut..
Max G.. D. Prentice.
The board is to fix the time, place
and date of the examination for sec
cnd-class gunners and is required to
submit a report by July IS.
The following promotions in the
260th Coast Artillery have been Or
dered by Maj. Walter w. Burns, COM
manding: Pvt. Charles r. Wood, Bat
terry A, to be sergeant, and the follow
ing to be corporals: Pvts. CFirst Glass;
Richard D. Gates and Maurice C.
Pentecost, the former Of Battery B and
the latter Of Battery E.
Capt. Rex P. Mulligan has been des-
ignated adjutant of the 260th Coast
Artillery, while Second Lieut.. John K.
Cunningham has been detailed as plans
and training officer.
The local Guard furnished IS men
to aid the United States Park Police at
the July celebration at the Washing
ton Monument.
Pvt. Irving p. Burton has been or
dered transferred from the reserve to
the active list Of Battery E, 260th Coast
Artillery.
Pvt. John r. O'Brien, Battery C..
260th Coast Artillery, has been ordered
honorably discharged on account Of the
fact that he enlisted while under the
age prescribed by law.