"WHY RUSSIA IS SO FUSSY."

Taranaki Daily News, 5 April 1917, Page 3

"WHY RUSSIA IS SO FUSSY."

INTERCHANGEABLE RIFLE PARTS. Tn an article entitled "Why Russia Is 6o Fussy," the Boston News Bureau recently told why/the rifle inspectors are bo exacting in their work. It explains much that has been known to be going on at the New Engfand Westinghouse plants where* rifles are being manufactured for the Russian Government.

"While no little feeling has been engendered over the hyprcritical attitude which Russian inspectors have assumed in accepting or rejecting rifles made by different American producers," tlia ar-

ticle states, "there is a Russian side which is not generally appreciated. "•Prior to the great war Russia had bought most of its artillery and rifles from Germany. When the war started Russia discovered too late that sf far as rifles were concerned Germany had'been very careful not to furnish rifles with interchangeable parts. This was a bitter

pill for Russia to swallow and undoubtedly was a factor in the big German offensive which swept over Poland.

"Russia determined that in American contracts the mistake should not be repeated. Complete standardisation was made a sine qua non. The story is told that 500 rifles turned., out by a" certain American manufacturer were collated by Russian inspectors. The rifles were taken to pieces and the parts put in different piles. The parts were put in different piles. The parts were thoroughly mixed and an attempt made to assemble the rifles. Out of the 500 only t9 complete rifles could be reassembled.' "Stories are also told by substantial people of the fear under which rifle inspectors have worked. One inspector who had become somewhat lax in accepting rifles and whose work came'to the notice of the chief inspector in New York received notice that be was to return to Russia for military promolion. When he reached home the military officials turned him over to a firing Fnuad, eo that his promotion proved to he that bournejrom which no traveller returns."