Evening Star Newspaper, May 31, 1940, Page 16

By ROBERT BRUSKIN. A German-designed gun will be America’s defense against tank at- tacks such as pierced and crumpled the Allied lines in Flanders, but the supply now available would be Just about sufficient for a skirmish. Sometime near the end of 1941 the United States Army and Na- tlonal Guard hope to be equipped from current appropriations with 1,423 of the new 37 millimeter anti- tank guns, modeled trom made in Germany by Rheinmetall,’ the munitions trust, and now being used against French and British mechan- ized troops. At present there are 228 'in the United States, one of them on exhibition at the War De- partment. The same type of gun is also be- LITTLE DAVID TO GOLIATH Fort Oglethorpe, Ga. ing used to arm new pursuit and bomber warplanes, as anti-aircraft for low-flying planes such as dive bombers, and in all the new tanks now being built. Al manufactured in this country, chief- ly in Army arsenals. Pierces 14 Inches of Armor. Although there is no doubt where their sympathies are, Army officers are in a position where they must hope that the German 37 millimeter gun will prove more effective than the larger British and French anti-tank guns, changes need not be made. One ex- ample of such a predicament came recently, soon after the outbreak of war, when the Army found that its 3-inch anti-aircraft gun, of which more than 400 had been built, was less effective than the larger 90 millimeter gun used by the Germans new guns are to be built. The older types are, of course, still useful. The 37 millimeter gun is a little David which can stand up effectively against even the heavily armored 30-ton Goliaths. The 192 pound projectile of the American gun is said by the Army to be capable of piercing 1% inches of armor at 1,500 yards. Presumably it would pierce even heavier armor at its more effec- tive maximum range of 1,000 yards. In a recent exhibition at the Aberdeen Proving Ground, Md., a 6-ton Renault tank, running free without a crew, became a blazing wreck a few seconds after it rumbled on the field, some 500 yards from a battery of two such guns. Capable of being wheeled into use.quickly by hand for short dis- THE EVENING STAR, WASHINGTON, D. C., FRIDAY, MAY 31, 1940. U. S. Will Use German-Designed Gun Against Tanks armored tanks of the larger sizes, and for the reported necessity for bringing up heavier artillery to stop the mechanized columns. Present plans previde for six anti- tank guns for each American regi- ment and about 12 more in corps headquarters for use anywhere dan- ger threatens. The Germans have a reported 12 similar guns per ment; the French, 10, and the Brit- ish also about 10. American regi- ments also have six heavy machine guns of 50 caliber as weapons against small tanks. More Guns Per Regiment, One of the major criticisms of the maneuvers just completed in Louisiana was that the troops were inadequately equipped with anti- tank guns. Indications are that the TANKS—This new 37-millimeter gun, patterned after a German- designed anti-tank gun, is one of 1,423 with which the United States Army is to be equipped. Here it is being towed behind a new cavalry scout car of an anti-tank platoon, 6th Cavalry, tances or by truck, the 912-pound weapon fires about 30 shells a min- ute. The German gun is about 60 pounds heavier, slightly slower in are being | firing and is said by Army officers to have less armor-piercing qualities. The British Vickers 40-millimeter gun, with which the trapped B. E. F. |in Flanders is probably equipped to fight off the horde of tanks, fires | a heavier shell than the American and German gun, has greater pene- | to_being less maneuverable. The French are mainly equipped | with a 25-millimeter Hotchkiss gun | which has a rapid fir> of 40 shots a | minute, weighs only 750 pounds, but has less penetrating power than the heavier guns. This may account in a small way for the German ftrating power and weighs 1‘800§ smaller | pounds to the German’s 970. It also so that | has a slower rate of fire in addition number of guns per regiment may be increased, since the European war has proved what United States officers long knew, that the anti- tank guns must be used in the rear of combat zones as well as the front. Another foreign-designed gun is currently being modernized for the United States Army. The 75-milli- | meter fleld gun was developed by the French in 1897 and used with telling effect during the World War when it was adopted by the United States. Where the 1918 model had |a traverse of only 6 degrees and an effective range of 8500 yards, the modernized. version can be traversed about 85 degrees ‘and fire 13,500 i yards. It can therefore be effectively pressed into service against heavy tanks. Only about 141 are avail- | able at the moment, but the Army of 1941, Its new carriage will per- mit it to be towed at high speed behind trucks. New Howitzers Larger. Considerable controversy has been caused in the United States because the Germans armed their troops with 105-millimeter howitzers in- stead of continuing use of the 77- millimeter World War gun. The howitzer has a plunging fire from & high angle with which it smashes concrete more easily The American and French 75’s had a flat trajectory which was deadly against men and machines on the ground, but not in fortified positions. ‘The modernized 75s, however, has virtually become a howitzer with its 46 degree elevation. The United States Army also will be equipped HOUSE AND HERRMANN with 120 of the 105-millimeter howitzers from current appropria- tions. Gen. George C. Marshall recently estimated that it costs $8,000 to modernize a 75-mi r gun, while the cost of a new 105-millimeter howitzer is $25,000. Elimination of all 75's would cost $228,000,000, he said, including the cost of manu- facturing new stocks of the larger shell. He declared there are about 6,000,000 rounds now stored for the 75's, but none for the 105's. Jobs for Ex-Service Men The Tynwald court, the Isle of Man’s parliament, is providing work or maintenance for Manxmen if they are disabled ex-service men, are over 41, or being under that .age, are unfit for military service, and volunteers awaiting call. Japan Pours Millions Into Manchukuo By the Associated Press. sl o b o years of e s Japan is still pouring money into Manchukuo, which used to be called “Japan’s lifeline.” During 1940 Japan will advance yen 1,200,000,000 ($283,000,000) for continued development here, official reports said. Japan will provide further yen 100,000,000 ($24,000,000) in foreign exchange credits for pur- chases to be made abroad (outside the Japanese Empire) during the year. Shipping Dwindles Materials shipped on the Yangtze River, China, have dwindled to one- third of what they were before the outbreak of hostilities. TROPICAL WORSTED SUITS $27.50 FOR MEN & YOUNG MEN EXTRAORDINARY VALUES! LEWIS & THOS. SAL [ 1409 -G STREET N.W. NOT CONNECTED WITH SALTZ BROS. INC. Since 1885 . . . Washingtonians have placed their confidence in House and Herrmann. .. depended on us to make their homesall they could hope for. More than VALUES—More than SERVICE —these countless families have found at House and Herrmann an institution to solve their problems when it came to home- making. Pay us a visit—let us help you plan your home. “Furniture of Merit” since 1885 3-Piece Modern Bedroom $89.00 Three gorgeous pieces . . . Furniture of Merit quality ... at a price much less than you would expect to pay. 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