Evening star., 1939-10-12
Ordnance Association
|nspects Potential
Reply 10 B|itzkreig
Members Watch New
Weapons Demonstrated
At Aberdeen Grounds
By JOSEPH s. EDGERTON.

The reply of American military
science and inventive and industrial
genius to the "blitzkreig" or light
ming war" is being made today be-
fore hundreds of representatives of
the Army Ordnance Association and
the Nations industries at Aberdeen
Proving Ground, Md.
1t is being voiced by the muzzles
Of new automatic weapons and guns
Of all sizes, the roar of falling bombs
and the clatter of the latest types of
tanks, combat cars and mechanical
equipment with which the Nations
expanding national defense forces
are to be equipped.
One of the important demonstra-
tions will be of new weapon
which, had it been possessed in suf-
ficient numbers by the Polish army,
might have broken up the German
blitzkreig Of last month which de-
stroyed the Polish nation in three
weeks. This is 37-millimeter anti
tank gun recently developed for use
by the infantry.
Pierces Armor at 1000 Yards.
The new gun, regarded as indis-
pensable to the security of an army
facing mechanical enemy, fires an
armor-piercing projectile capable of
penetrating IL inches of armor
plate at 1000 yards. 1t is mounted
on a carriage designed for high
speed traction. Such a gun is be-
lieved capable of putting out of &C
ton any tank or mechanical vehicle
yet produced, even the giant heavily
armored tanks now being developed
IN Germany and France for action
against the Maginot and Siegfried
lines.
Another important new develop
ment scheduled for demonstration
today is 37-millimeter highly mo-
bile anti-aircraft gun capable of
full automatic fire at the rate of va
shots minute.
Other weapons, ranging from the
new Garand automatic rifle for the
modern American infantry to the
largest American seacoast gun, a 16-
inch barbette-type capable of hurl-
ing 2,100-pound projectile a dis
tance of 80 miles, are being fired for
the visiting ordnance and indus
trial leaders. Virtually every type
OF ground and air weapon will be
shown in action during the day.
Todays show follows the twen-
tieth annual meeting of the Armv
Ordnance Association yesterday at
the Willard Hotel. Addressing the
anniversary banquet last night, Brig.
Gen. Benedict Crowell, president of
the association and World War As
slstant Secretary of War, told more
than TOO association members and
industrial chiefs that preparedness
in this era of the double-cross is
far and away the best and only
method OF guaranteeing peace"
Industrial Preparedness Greater.
Americas strength from the
standpoint of her industrial pre-
paredness is so infinitely improved
over its status 20 years ago that
every man, woman and child in our
land can be grateful" Gen. Crowell
said.
Industrial preparedness in the
United States, he declared, serves
a notice to the world that I'VE not
only want peace but that we intend
to have it."
Admiral Harold r. Stark, chief of
naval operations, told the associa-
ton that the times ARE full of signs
and portents that warn us to get the
country ready for any eventuality."
I'VE know" he said, that the
world is facing great crisis and,
whether we become involved or not,
the weight of our voice in world
affairs in which we and all other
have a direct stake is in
direct proportion to the degree and
effectiveness of our preparedness. In
that lies our safety"
Preparedness, he admitted, would