Machine Guns

In summer of 1916, the War Department gave authority for the establishment of several Machine Gun Schools of Instruction for troops serving in the Southern Department. The first school to begin operations under this authority was established by Lieut. -Colonel C. C. Williams, Ordnance Department, at Harlingen, Texas. Two of the present authors, Capt. J. S. Hatcher, ' Ordnance Department, who had previously been engaged in the preliminary machine gun instruction of troops at various points along the border, and 1st Lieut. H. J. Malony, 26th Infantry, who had served for several years in command of various machine gun organizations, were assigned as instructors.
These officers were later joined by 1st Lieut. Glenn P. Wilhelm, 4th Infantry, who was in command of the machine gun company of that organization, and 1st Lieut. W. W. Doe, 26th Infantry. At the present time the school has been in operation for over six months, and the experience of the authors in the operation of the guns at the school has covered an average expenditure of about 10,000 rounds of ammunition per week during this period.