Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1943-03-26
BY NELSON NJ. SHEPARD,
Star Staff Correspondent


ter, Pa March 26-This huge ord
nance finishing plant, unveiled to
the public for the first time today.
spells new grief in plenty for Hitler
and Hirohito.
Here are to be seen, but not de-
scrlbed for enemy eyes dozen or
more of the very latest types of
mechanical and motorized fighting
equipment Spread out before you
in formidable array awaiting ship
ment are new tanks, multiple gun
carriages, powerful self-propelled
dual-purpose guns that some day,
somewhere, will be blasting ways
through to Berlin, TO Toxic and to
Rome.
Some of these weapons of destruc-
ton are so new as to be still in the
experimental stage-"hush-h hush
stuff. Others, like the new MICS
with their hard hitting 3-inch AT.
gun and the latest model OF self
propelled l55-mm. cannon. are now
being put to effective use against
Rommel in Tunisia
Largest of Four Of Kind.
This tank depot, largest of four of
its kind contributing to the arsenal
of democracy, is utterly amazing to
the lay mind. From its assembly
lines are rolling-boXed. Grated and
ready TO fight the instant they reach
overseas destina tions-30 separate
and different type units of fighting
equipment supplied by l8 different
manufacturing facilities scattered
over the country.
To the Chester Tank Depot is sent
the completed unit. where it is Gus
tom tailored to meet the essential
notifications required by the Brit
ish, the Russians. the Chinese and
our own Army on many fronts.
We climbed and looked into the
pulpit Of Priest-the same MT
tank buster whose 1O5-mm gun
stopped Rommel at Ell Alamein and
shot circles around the much-pub-
iicized German SO. This particular
Priest so-called by the Tommies,
Montgomery 9th Army and was be-
ing put through the PAGES of modi-
f1cation to suit the peculiar needs of
the British. even down to the tea
kettle holder.
The MIS- were receiving the fin
ishing touches required especially
by 1t. Gen. George Patton and his
scrappy American lads. Whether
the Russian front has these MT
tank busters is military secret
but the Russian represent a tive at
the plant sees to it very efficiently
that every type of equipment is
given the essential notifications
for cold and muddy fronts.
Plant Operated by Ford.
The Chester plant is operated for
the Ordnance Department by Henry
Ford. Ordnance supervises all its
operations. There are three other
"f1nishing' plants like it, located
geogra phically to fit the conven-
fence of the lease-lend program
They are all under ordnance.
was one of Fords assembly points
for "jeeps.' 1t has been kept care
fully under wraps these u months
until now.
Its 1890 employees work "a hours
around the clock in three shifts
seven days week. The I'VE
Make EN- boys are in there pitch
ing hard for the We Fight EN-
boys overseas.
There was a new Iron Duck "a
big emphibian tractor of the type
used by the marines at Guadalcanal
The Army uses landing boat of a
different type. Built for power and
speed. the driver" sits in an in
closed cab. 1t mounts four machine
guns and it runs on land as easily
as in water.
The IT, models of mobile weapons
gun carriages and other equipment
are all restricted" newsstand fol
that reason excited curiosity ano
conjecture. But there were other
types from which the lid only re-
Gently has been lifted.
The earlier 155s, which Gen
Douglas MacArthur'S artillervmer
used to blast the Japs on Bataan tc
their surprise and dismay. has beer
followed up with a new self-pro-
PEELED type. Yesterdays news dis
patches from Southern Tunisia tolC
how these Long Toms" riddled ar
airfield with shells fired from a dis
lance of II miles. They are being
sent to North Africa in large num-
bers. and are the bows glad to gel
them? Yet the earlier model has
its own effective uses on less ma
recoverable fronts.
MILO Excels German So.
That wicked looking MILO tank
destroyer you see being nursed ten
derby in the modification section is
with its 3-inch gun, superior in ever,
respect to the German SO and its
shell can piece the armor of any
tank or airplane under the right
conditions. It's handler gun than
the 105-mm. destroyer, which Gen
Montgomery has acclaimed is tops
In its line.
The tanks were being fitted out for
desert warfare In the modification