The Sun.
London, England, 1864-06-23 00:00:00

The Shoeburyness Competitive Trials,

After so much trying work, though not the less
nteresting, we have at last come to one of the comic
ncidents naturally inherent to all competitions.
When the parallelograms were brought forward,
and communicated to the two competitors, the com-
parison was entirely fonoded on the methods of
points described in last week's notice, whereby the
Whitworth gun had a slight advantage over the
shunt Armstrong, while the breech-loader was dis-
tanced by both. Then, we have every reason to
believe that, in a certain quarter, the tables were
well received, it was a triumph. But it so happened
hat—led on by our sense of duty, and by a strong
doubt as to the validity of such a method, for it
must obviously disguise when it does not faithfully
convey the truth of the case—we took two quite
distinct lines for own independent investigation,
and thereby came to a very different conclusion as
to the order in which the guns stand by reason of
the parallelograms. Taking the mean ranges as
they are at present erroneously calculated, we made
ap the areas, and then their sum for each sort of
ammunition, and each separate gun determined the
order of merit in the minor categories of common
shell, solid shot, and segment shell. It followed
that, by adding for each gun its three category
areas, we were sure of obtaining a correct measure-
ment of their performances, the greatest surface
representing the least merit. Moreover, we deter-
mined on preying this method by a third plan, viz.,
that of enclosing the fractional areas of every degree.
into the largest amongst them for each kind of pro,,
jectile, thus taking the greatest surface, as the
expression of the highest degree of "re:lcity possible
for each, when firing one partic.atar ammunition.
The result confirmed that of the second method,
placing the breech-loader first, the shunt secerg,d,
and the Whitworth tf,'„,.a and consequently, apart
from the appearanr,e both these methods :tarry along
with them, as~ological soundness, there is indeed
good reason 'co abide by their conclusions. The num-
bers aria;_ fig from these modes were not given by us,
out of regard to the calculations which might be car-
ried, on by the special committee ; but the facts they
establish were, we trust, explained clearly enough
in our columns of het Wednesday. When this be-
came known, that same party who had rejoiced
at the order of merit first established, and found
nothing to say against the parallelograms, as they
were given, immediately turned round upon them,
and altogether repudiated their correctness. On the
ground of the mode pursued for fixing the mean
range, this determination is not untenable, though
the mean "proper" might bear out just the same
order of merit. Objection may even be taken against
the use of a mean range at all to determine the de-
grees of error. Be this as it may, we have, at any
rate, subject for a warm debat% which,
besides caus-
ing merriment, may event,,ally turn out very useful
with regard to the scie--,,tific points it will necessarily
bring under the r
etice of the committee. What,
however, we P.,;ncerely regret is the feeling shown
towards '24e principal originator of this change in
the r.ad!
in of the parallelograms. In the discharge
our duty we have never looked forward to the
r approbation of one rival more than of the other;
but to the gratification that springs from the ac-
knowledgment of our doing the country good ser-
vice. Nevertheless, we can only deplore the feeling
which would either smother or corrupt public
opinion, and which then requites impartiality with
a penalty of childish sulkiness.
Exception is taken to the finding of the paral-
lelograms on two grounds—viz., that, firstly, the
breech-loader was known to fire unsatisfactorily,
wherefore it cannot stand ahead of the Whitworth ;
and secondly, that the flatness of the trajectory being
more marked in the hexagonal than in either of the
other two competitive guns'
it must necessarily fol-
low that the parallelograms of the former will be
longer than those of the latter. Whence, considering
such desirable flatness on
tt
hh
ee
qinfluence
efexercisedy byo
la obvious that the method
of
er raowienlg plane,u a
is comparative error on the
et
eraasdiocfalldefective for the deter-
mination Now, in the first:place,
the steel f
‘ breech-loaderng range
found inferior in its firing
horizontal
r
e‘raaccu
was accuracy." Now,
wrought
chiefly as compared to that of the service
iron sail 12 pounder. It is in this sense that both
officers and men, who were used to the practice of
the latter, complained of that made by the former.
Oa examining into the causes of this relative
inferiority, we soon attributed it to the steel block
not expanding under pressure, in the same way as
the wrought iron coil ; and though this reason was
not accepted at the time it wasi
given, yett has
proved true, and it is pleaded in extenuation of the
first performances made with the breech-loader. In
relation to the other guns, this unforeseen defect of
non-expansion, by increasing the disadvantages due
to lower initial velocity, as well as to the greater
elevation required for target practice, naturally
tended to that of the other two guns ; in fact, with
regard to the number of times it loses, its position
of rank is the worst in all three classes of the pro-
jectiles used. But what retrieves the breech loader
is its greater regularity in point of erraticity ; thus,
the aura of the areas made with common shell by the
breech loader is about 85 times greater than the
smallest amongst them ; while for the Whitworth
the total is about 1,520 times; and for the shunt
125 times greater than their respectively least sur-
face. With solid shot, the sum of the measurements
of each gun taken separately is equal to about 81
times the least amongst them ; in the case of the
breech louder it is likewise equal to 81 times its own
minimum area for the Whitworth, and equal to 215

times for the shunt. With segment shell the total
sum for the breech loader is about 99 times its mini-
mum area in this category. For the Whitworth it
is 33G times ; while for the shunt the sum of its own
areas is no less than 700 times the smallest amongst
them. The superior tendency to regularity which
we thus find existing in the practice of the breech
loading gun fully accounts, in our mind, for the
advantage it ultimately gains, and for the anomaly
that we meet in its losing more frequently than
gaining, when its parallelograms are taken in detail,
and yet coming out foremost of all when the areas
are summed up. As a proof we are not wrong in
entertaining this opinion we need only examine the
amount of difference that passes between the smal-
lest surface of error and the largest, for each gun
and each projectile separately. We then find that
with common shell the breech loader makes a maxi-
mum surface equal to about 29 times the minimum,
the Whitworth makes the former 450 times larger
than the latter, while the greatest of the shunt !mea-
sures 50 times its smallest. With solid shot the
breech loader attains a maximum area 13 times
greater, the Whitworth 21, and the shunt 68 times
larger than their respective minumum area. With
segment shell the breech loader's maximum error is
about 21 times its least, the Whitworth's 78, while
the shunt's largest rises to not less than 200 times
the smallest area it can show with this projectile.
Here again we have numbers which speak for them-
selves, and though the method may be novel yet we
trust its operations, as well as its conclusions, may
appear clear enough to confirm our views of the
case, and explain how it is that the sums of the
parallelograms assign the least amount of error to
the breech loader, though it did certainly lose much
more frequently than either of the other two com-
petitive guns in detail. Thus, by the method of com-
paring the minimum area to the total sum for each
category of ammunition and each gun, be it well
understood that the co-efficients are, for the breech
loader, 85, 81, 99 ; for the Whitworth, 1,520, 81,
L 330 ; and for the shunt, 125, 215, 700 ; the sum of
the first being 265, of the second 1,931, and of the
third 1,040. By the second method of comparing
the largest to the smallest area for each gun and
projectile used, we find that the co efficients are for
the breech loader 29, 13, 21; for the hexagonal
450, 21, 78; and for the Armstrong muzzle
loader 50, 68, 200; the sum of the first being 63,
that of the second 549, and that of the third 318.
These details may at first sight seem elaborate and
uninteresting, but we feel sure that the question is
of itself so popular, the liability to be misled by
specious arguments so great, and the interests
involved in the choice which public opinion may
help in making so vital to the country, that we
could not hesitate entering into such explanations,
though endeavouring all the while to render them
in the best shape to convey persuasion, and captivate
the attention of our readers.

In the next instance, it is a serious mistake to
mix np flatness of trajectory with " range 6CCU-
racy," because, on reflection, one cannot fail to see
that they are, and must ever remain, entirely inde-
pendent the one of the other. In fact, if the flat-
ness of trajectory had anything to do in the crea-
tion of inaccuracy, then we should see the parallelo-
grams getting longer as the angle of elevation
diminishes, and, vice versa, shorter as the angle of
fall increases. In mortar practice we have extreme
curvature, yet we have bad parallelograms, in
smooth-bore practice, where we have flat trajecto-
ries, the parallelograms greatly improve; with rifle
guns the trajectories improve still more, while the
surfaces of error sink down into comparative insig.
nificance. A glance at the Plate E, in the
report
on ordnance, fully sets this matter at rest, On the
contrary, far from the flatness of trajectory inter-
fering with ecauracy, it diminishes inaccuracy, for
the simple reason that deviating influences have
less action as the time of flight is shortened, or the
angle of fall is lessened. That, in point of fact,
swiftness is an element favourable to tigie
probabili-
ties of hitting is well known; ied..aed round shot at
high velocities and two tray
results than when fired 9° ectories give better
.., sequently with higher low velocities, and con-
range. We earn) low
to attain a given
questioning t therefore see the wisdom of
}.e merits of low trajectories by attri-
buting to -6ttera an evil influence on the length of
parallr:iograms, when we know that they are pur-
P-dely sought not only on account of their ims
penance as a means of partly making up for the
impossibility of conactly estimating distances,
but also in ;iew o: the greater chances they give
with ree,-ard to accuracy in all respecte. If, how-
ever, independently of these considerations, ac-
curacy, as it is asserted, should be determined by
firing exclusively at vertical planes, where low
trajectories era not supposed to be harmful, then
surely it is tacitly felt that the latter cannot affect
the results attained on the hosizontal plane.
The causes which do really affect regularity of
fire in rifle guns are many, and it is to them that
reference should be made for the object of under.
standing and explaining the reasons why the Whit-
worth gun does not stand out satisfactorily in the
parallelograms. Firstly, the position of the vent,
whereby the front layers of powder aro ignited be-
fore those of the rear, giving a too immediate rise
to motion in the projectile. Secondly, the shape of
the bore, which does not surround the cartridge
with the closeness of a cylinder. It follows that,
through these causes, the density of the gases is
very liable to vary from one shot to another, to
the prejudice of a constant initial velocity. Thirdly,
the smallness of the cross section area entails the
necessity of greatly increasing the length of the
projectile for shell purposes ; this adds to the sur-
face on which the vertical component of resistance,
which is due to the air, acts ; and thereby submits
the projectile more fully than otherwise to the die-
turbing effects that spring from variations of atmose
pherical pressure. These causes, two internal and
one external, are of themselves sufficient to cause
serious fluctuations in the height of the trajectory,
and thereby to considerably modify the ranges, par-
t'cularly when firing at high elevations. In the
shunt Armstrong the density of the gases will not
be to an equal extent .iable to oscillate, and thence
the initial velocity will depart less from its normal

amount. Moreover, the projectiles having a greater
sectional area, their length is shorter, the difference
between the solid shot and the shell is reduced to
smaller proportions, and these peculiarities must
necessarily suffice to give the vertical component of
the resistance to flight less disturbing power. The
height of the trajectory will, therefore, fluctuate
within narrower limits than in the case of the
Whitworth, and thus more regularity will be
obtained for the ranges. But, in the breech-
loader, the retardation to motion due to the slugging
of the shot contributes in the most efficient way to
keep the gases from acquiring various various
degrees of density. The layers are furthermore
ignited from the rear to the front, whereby altoge-
ther the volume within which the gases expand
prior to sensible motion is reduced to a minimum,
and so guarded from variation that it may practi•
tally be considered constant. It follows that this

latter gun will naturally possess great regularity
of ranges, and in this respect—we mean that of

range accuracy—will stand ahead of its rivals. It

_
also follows that the Whitworth will be endowed
with the greatest amount of irregularity, especially
at shell practice ; while the shunt will take an in-
termediate position. This is the very order in which
the guns stand, in accordance with the total area of
the parallelograms. So far, then, practice agrees
entirely with the conclusions wo should have been
led to infer from an accurate examination of the
conditions we have just referred to.
During the first four days of the last week prac-
tica was carried on with the 70. pounders to the
extent of 90 rounds each, and 3 and 6 degrees. The
accuracy of these guns was beautiful, the shots
falling much about the same spot. The shunt seemed
ahead of the breech-loader by about 200 yards;
while the Whitworth at three degrees had the best
by about 60 to 70 yards.

On Tuesday the old 12-pounders were fired for 10
rounds each at 15 degrees elevation, the Whitworth
gun attaining nearly 5,000 yards range. The prac-
tice at 800 yards, through screens so placed as to
explode the shell at 10, 25, 50, and 100 yards dis-
tance from the line of targets, at two series of
heights from the ground, was brought to a close.

The result was, we believe, favourable to Colonel
Boxer's shrapnel; but until the committee shall

THE SUN, LONDON, THIIRSDAY EVENING, JUNE 23, 1864.

have decided on rejecting or on admitting it, we
must keep it in abeyance. The difficulty that has
arisen with regard to this practice is due te, rcme
irregularity in the burstieg ebeArge'a Made use of
for the shrapnels. Them experiments do not sup-
pose one cognieett of the distance at which the shell
bursts froth the line of troops they are fired at, in
which case it might be possible to mollify the charges
according to circumstanced. Their main object is to
ascertain what the effect of the rival shells would be
should their explosion chance to take place at the
stated distances, very properly supposing that the
range had been mistaken from 10 to 100 yards nearly.
In the course of this target practice, ever since it
began, shells have frequently burst at the muzzle of
the Armstrong gun. Naturally such rounds had to
be gone over again, for the object of getting the
same number of hits out of each field-piece; but the
fact of the shell bursting easily at the muzzle is far
off of the lead in the
emaosreeesfe rtihoeu s
htrheaene
ht
lee strippingede r,a and
d
of which we have
heard so many complaints. When firing time fuzes
we remarked and noticed the premature exploding
of shells from the shunt ; the cause of this has been
attended to, and apparently with success, in a slight
but most important rearrangement in the external
part of the fuze. Now, however, it is through the
concussion fuzes that this evil arises. It is thought
that the shells broke up occasionally in the bore,
but experiments have proved this fear to be un-
founded.. At present it is imagined that the dry
wad which Sir W. Armstrong introduced at an
advanced period of these competitive trials may, by
being forced between the surface of the bore and
that of
ofthethe shuntshell,
riflingsu a sudden jerk, as the prin-
ciple comes into play. Tlais is
cause
quite possible, and suggests an improvement in the
wad by lining its front face with ft resisting disc.
But we should not be surprised if the jerk were
caused by the grooves having been deprived of their
perfect form in consequence of the great number of
rounds they have bad to go through. Be this as it
may, no such thing shou.d happen, no more than it
does in either the Whitworth or the breech-loader.
—Telegraph.

The Royal Military Adademy, Woolwich.

His Royal Highness the Duke of Cambridge yesterday
attended at Woolwich in his capacity as President of the
Council of Education and Governor of tte Royal Military
Academy, and distributed the rfkisnmmer prizes to the
.....:ofishment. The Duke, who was
Gentlemen Cadets of the est
attended by Colonel
4-L .e Hon. R W. Penn Curzon, Grena-
dier Guards, aic.e.de-camp, entered the garrison soon after
10 a.m., and was received within the grounds of the
Academy by the Lieutenant-Governor Commandant, Major
General Sandhana,
R.E., Colonel Yorke, and Lieutenant-
Colonel Gibb, Second Commandant and Inspector, and
Assistant-Inspector of Studies, and the entire Staff, to-
gether with the company of Gentlemen Cadets, drawn out
under arms, 210 in number, and the full regimental band
of the Royal Artillery. The usual salute, hoisting the
Royal standard, and "God save the Queen," having been
gone through, the Duke was joined by a brilliant Staff of
general officers from the Horse Guards and others, among
whom were General Sir John Burgoyne, G.C.8., R.E,
Director of Works—Major-General Blomfield, Inspector-
General Royal Artillery—Colonel Gambier, Adjutant-
General Royal Attillery—Colonel Chapman, C. 8., Deputy
Adjutant-General Royal Engineers—General Sir George
Pollock, G,C.8., Commandant of the C Brigade, wearing
the "Star of India--Lieutenant-General Sir Harry Jones,
G.C.8., R.E., Governor of Sandhurst—lVlajor-General
Warde, C. 8., Commandant, and the garrison Staff of
Woolwich—Major-General Hamilton and Sir Fre lerick
Abbott, the Vice-President, and one of the members
of the Council, and many others. Dr. Eden, Bishop
of Moray and ROES, whose son is a pupil in the
Academy, and Sir Thomas Head, were also present. Soon
after his arriving on parade, the Duke commenced an
inspection of the company, in which he was accompanied by
the officers abovenamed. After marching past in slow and
quick time, in command of colonel Yorke, they changed
front by the wheel, countermarched by subdivisions round
the centre, and marched past in quarter distance columns,
formed on the original ground, and deployed on the front
company ; wheeled in open column, left in front, and formed
line on the leading company ; charged front on central com-
pany, formed square, re-formed column, and opened out to
wheeling distance from the front, left wheel into line, and
fired at 200 yards. The drills were commanded by Gentle-
men Cadets Macdonald, Georges, and Greenstreet, and, as
remarked by the Duke, without a mistake. His royal high-
ness then called upon Mr Tisdal to prove the company,
which he did by close sections, subdivisions, and forming in
fours. The company then drew up at the grand entrance to
the academy, where in consequence of the fineness of the
weather, the prizes were laid out on a table for distribution.
The Duke and staff in the meantime proceeded to an inspec •
lion of the drawings of the cadets during the pest half-year,
and on their return Major. Gen. Hamilton read the report
of the council, in which they stated they had the honour to
submit to his royal highness the result of the examination
they had recently held for awarding commis ions in the
Royal Artillery and Royal Engineers. There being 56 can-
didates on this occasion, and it having been decided that
one-third of that number should be appointed to the Royal
Engineers,the names of 19 gentlemen cadets first in order of
merit, of those who elected to be commissioned, if possible,
in that corps, are reported in the returns in the usual man-
ner. The report expressed approbation to his royal high.
ness, as to the result of the examination of the council,
which they pronounced satisfactory, both as shown by the
high marks gained, and by the fact that no gentleman cadet
has failed.
Then followed the reading, by Col. Yorke, of the follow•
ing report of the lieutenant governor :
"Royal Military Academy, Woolwich, June 22.
"Sir,—l have the honour to report to your royal highness
that the gentlemen cadets of the first class who from the •

results of the recent examination have been reported quali-
fied for commissions by the Council of Military Education
aro equally qualified in conduct, military exercises, and

discipline.
"The monthly returns of this term show that the emula-
tion and exertion in tho classes so favourably reported upon
at the end of the last term has in no way relaxed.
"The results of the examination of the junior classes on
the whole are favourable, although the examining master
has reported that among the last joinod cadets he has found
a want of correctness and exactitude in working by loga-
rithms, and in the solution of arithmetical and algebraical
questions.

"I cannot report too highly of the attention and zeal ex-
hibited by the officers, the professors, masters, and military
instructors connected with every branch of study, and of the
officers, the responsible aad subdivision under officers, on
whom the discipline so materially depends; the duties have
been carried out by them with firmness and judgment, and
their example and manner have tended much to uphold a
military and satisfactory bearing among the cadets them-
selves.

" The drills, gymnastics, and riding have been carried out
as fully as time could be devoted to those exercises,

"I have the honour to be, Sir, youi Royal Highness's
most obedient humble sFrvant,
" H. SINDHAM, Major-General, Royal Engineers,

Lieutenant- Governor,"

His ROYAL HIGHNESS then addressed the assembled com-
pany, and informed them that he was exceedingly pleased
with the result of his visit. He had no cause now, he said,
to find fault, but, on the contrary, he had manifest proof
that they had
Profited by the wholesale advice which he
gave them on a former occasion, They would novor rpgrot
their observance of good order and discipline in the outset
of their career in a military life, especially while under pro-
bation in this important institution. "You have," he added,
" been well guided, and you have acted up to your guidance
with spirit and emulation, As I have so often repeated, the
times in which we live are eminently scientific, and it be-
hoves you all to be on ycur guard. Some of you are not so
forward as I could wish. I would counsel those not to relax,
but to make up for lost time, which can be done by steady
application and perseverance. I am sorry there are no com-
missions vacant. This is one of the inconveniences you will
have to bear. You will have to wait a short time, and
believe although
that I cyaonun owti
lenterin ot intohav
have
tto explanations
w aitg
lon. You can make I have reason to
that a period of scientific research and study, and the time
may be well and profitably employed."
The return of the Gentlemen Cadets recommended by the
Lieut.-Governor of the Academy as deserving rewards and
prizes for exemplary conduct and acquirements was then
placed in his Royal Highness's hands', and the prizes were
awarded accordingly. Mr Menzies received a regulation
sword; Mr George the Pollock gold medal, which the duke
requested Sir Geo. Pollock himself to place in the recipient's
hands. Then followed the delivery of the prizes, according

to the following list of names, each of those named receiv

ing an elegantly bound book, a microscope, barometer,
telescope, or case of instruments :--Mr Macdonald (two

prizes), Mr James (two prizes), Mr Dodsworth, Mr Nichol-
son, Mr Alexander, Mr Chadwick, Mr Awdry, Mr Boyce,
MrPulford, MrWashington, Mr Hart, Mr Jacob, Mr Taub-
man (one prize each), Mr Beresford (two prizes), and Mr
Hildyard (one prize). Ills Royal Highness then expressed
_ __ .

his intention of taking a small ;lass for examination in Ger-

man, and retired to one of the class rooms for that purpose,

A squad proceeded to the echool of arms, and awaited the

duko's arrival to go through a course of athletic sports, and

he remainder of the coupany broke up and dispersed. His

Royal Highness thereupon returned to London, to be in

attendance at her Majoaty's Levee.

Persons in debt may obtain instant protection against
imprisonment or seizure of their goods, and an entire release
from all debts and liabilities without publicity, by application
to Messra. Marshall, solicitors of the Court of Bankruptcy,
Charges under £5 payable by easy instalments. Offices--
(established 1830),12, Hatton-garden. City branch (:), Moor
gate-street, Bank.—AuvT.