Dallas herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1849-1873, 1859-06-29
War Preparations at Woolwich Arsenal

Woolwioh Arsenal Is tho greatest depot and
manufactory Of warlike stores, and not only In
this country, but of its kind, In the world, and
the activity that is visible here Is fair sample
of what is going forward in all the ngyal and
military stations throughout tho Kingdom
There are now in store at Woolwich very nearly
10000 pieces Of iron ordinance, and deducting
from this number old guns and q Founders
which are no longer Issued. either to ships or
forts. there are still available for service at any
moment, upwards Of 7 900 cannon, all OF the
best modern make and the heaviest calibrc. In
this number, of course, no account is taken Of
the store guns ut the great dock yards, ut each
OF which there ar" kept from 1000 to $50 heavy
cannon OF the very newest description.x ).
The resources, Of Wooiwich Arsenal are now
equal to bringing forward, fitting and issuing
these reserve guns for active service at the rate
of 200 per week, and on an emergency this mum.
Der could he increased TO nearly 500. At pres.
ent the orders arc TO get ready and scnd of for
service 100 of these heavy ordinance weekly.
and they are accordingly being mounted and
shipped of to Malta, Corfu, Gibraltar, and 9TH
er ports in the Mediterranean, with tho utmost
rapidity. Ordinance of the heaviest description
is also being shipped for the Canadian forts, and
sent round in lighters to replace the light guns
Of the Martelo towers and coast defences, espe-
cially on the eastern shores of this island The !
guns Of all the forts and lines at Chatham and |
Sheerness which are of old construction and
light calibre are also being changed as quickly
as possible for ordinance of the newest and heav-
lest kinds, The same is being done with the
works ut Tilbury Fort, wh,re several additional
6S-pounders will also be mounted.
The old contract system of furnishing shot
and shell by private firms having been abolished,
by the establishment OF national boundaries, !
which make 1t saving of G6 per ton, this de-
partment is now unusually active, and is turning
out shot and shell at the rate Of 26,O0O rounds
per week. Working overtime and during the
night the weekly total can be raised to nearly |
10000 rounds. That this quantity il ample, !
with the many hundred thousand rounds already !
in stora, to meet all em,rgan,ias can easily be
seen by contrasting the weekly rate of produc- |
tion at Woolwich with the rate Of consumption |
during the seige of Sebastopol, as shown by Of
fetal roturns, made to the Board of Ordinance
Close ny the gun factory, at Woolwich, new
er one still is about to be erected for tho manu-
facture of Sir William Armstrong; breech-load
ers. The intended edifce will not be very large
building, Gs the large foundries erected at n =
cost of some G25O, 600 for the manufacture of ,
the worthless Lancaster guns and shot, are now to :
be given over, with all their plans, to assist in
making Armstrong; artillery. The Lancaster :,
artor" machinery ccrtG'ring l@ large furnaces ?
lnd steam helmers, vii. now ~ last be put to =
one good use, sud" before this TING tFelye y
uuHih6 u ppWlGh olGh5 - Ia Lyl9 10 fUlh Hut. ID
n the yerv least, 300 oG tIsae splendid guns pen y
,auam Two hundred yuus are 10 bo n,ede thls d
car oy 9F WI an 7t.,oN.,...aug--ail Of them Q,
IL, and IS poundcr hed guns, number quite !
sufficient 10 supply all our field artillery hattie
riey Before long however, we hope TO q9e 50c. I
which will throw 9Glb Or I0Q.l blla distance a
,f five miles +
So much e. She artillery preparations at the i
Arsenal. With regard to small arms, everything ;.
$ in an equal state of readiness There are be- h
ween so, 900 900 and 10000, COO rounds of Min f
lie ammunition in store, and the Minnie bullet a
machines turning out the conical balls at the
ate of 100000 rounds per week. number =
which can be increased to 3 3,000,C00 by keeping d
he machines going during the night as well as b
ay. Whether meant for defence or offensive op- n
rations, it is rather comfort as we'll as nov f
lty TO know that this time we well prepared
Or whatever eventualities may arise and that it, b
Unfortunately, England be compelled to take part Y
n tho war it will be with such power as will as ID