The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1859-06-19


wrought iron TO wrought iron alone He may have to
make other changes yet, Of which he knows not
The London Daily News speaks OF ninetytwo FOUNDER
tried at Shoeburyncss, capable OF thro wing projocts
five miles with Ave pounds of powder and that at dis
lance Of three thousand yards hit target Of ten feet
square every time in twenty. i've shots. Sir William
Armstrong himself, who speaks later than this article,
does not claim much. He says thirty.two FOUNDER
has been manufactured and tried, and that may
hear Of ninety and hundred FOUNDER and ha. the
thirytwo FOUNDER had hit target OF nine feet square
five times out Of ten at three thousand yards He relies
he gays the shell used with his gun than shot,
though 10 resist his shot will be necessary future to
chips in ron and at that game England beat
the world. He speaks Of his guns being able to throw
projece into fortress at distance Of Ave mles-when
that is done we will believe IL, not before. Many scien.
tnc men, too think that the delcacy and neness OF is
construction will materially impair its effectiveness in
actual warfare, and that opinion seems well founded.
Mr.. Costing, Of Wool wich, in communication u Gen.
Sir W. Codrngon, thus critoises tho Armstrong gun:
Sir William Armtropgs gun is OF wonderful coostruc
lion, but believe TO be unfit for the battle heId in
consequence Of several discrepancies which have disco
vered In It's Details and which beg submit your
tce. FIRST regarcs tho portable brescn piece; and,
secordly, the projecting level. I End that should the
enemy make hts appea, unexpectedly at the moment
the breach piece renewed, tie probability ia that il
would be left on the ground aud the would thus be-
useess. sgain, shoui the breech ew through
neglect absence OF mind Lot be turned before nrng IL
would be mediscly shattered and the gun rendered
wholly unserviceable The lever used for working the
breech screw is also very Objectionable for should well
directed rifle ball strike the lever would become de-
ranged that the gun could not be wo ked, aud
quences would be disastrous.
And here is the opinion Of British scientific authority
the Mechanics Aaga-ine:--
Viewed u combination OF various well known parts,
and Instrument for projecting shot md shell
great ranges with precision under favorable sire am
stances, TIE Armstrong gun IL both beautiful and
wonderful pro ucton Nothing like tie firing made with
this gun at Sh0ebur2ness has before been To
the Grtllerst il is most pleasant sight to w,nes Sir
Wilam peerDg through his glass at target goo yards
distant sno tie shot strikes oxcaimns with perfect
coonesa, $500 low By three inches woros equally
indicative Of nicely But this, be it remembered, is on
the practising ground wh carefully constructed sights,
and offler delicate appapces-noi Ga board ship in
q seawsy, III the field of battle. How will " work
there is the question. Now, must say, although
not without regret that have but little ground for
expecting much OF this gun rs Instrument Of actual
warfare, either on board ship or In tho field, not
withdrawing oil that we bave hesrd respecting 1t.
Nor in say this, in the least unmadfu Of wha,
Las been done, and ia t DOUG by the govern TO
int oduce its Manufacture. Tae government done
something, and TO do much in this respect
but we coubt lhe laws of naiare will permit them to
carry ut ber designs 1t is easy for the
and especially for the government acting under az
tain DceBce"io knight al engineer, To build fac
oes construct breech Leading guns of the kind they
pleased to prefer and to promise great reeuits 10 the
patton. But cat government prevent moisture rusny
metal rust choking up ter .ads, lead clngng
10 rifle grooves aGy other Of the evils TO which suns
OF this KIND are liable? IL ls only by bOuutu S1ppv of
water during the firing that the guo ia kept in go,d
condition; but bss Celia rlery be used where
water sca'cef tisor BY tao mos. careful attention.
engineer knows that threads ard other close
urg surfaces 6e kept good order when posei to
the weather. but chips ut beset gales aud
for days ,ce render sbe
10 and grease oil the guns board OF them
II bag been the habit Ia office c0usider these
mathis iupo ,sIt is fashionable now oT the moment,
to gre theui; but warm LEAD will cling to g-o0ved iron,
Whatever whp inny be- and oxygen will lose
appeute for any fashion Of We mention these thogs
rscs from the zeal merits or Sir William Armstrong; in.
venon. Unde: scMe circumstances the light long range
cannon will doubtless prove very usefu " u.s. and II is
petsbe thst the principles OF its construction mas prove
applicable to OF far greater 20 than the small
pernenal which alcne be tested
But let us not indulge in cxravnsan expectations
improves of cur artillery have any whatever to
halt in their patriotic labors.
According to these opinions, then, General Peel the
British Secretary OF War, went little too far when
said in the House OF Commons that the Armstrong gun
would slpe,scde the whole existing armament of the
country" The truth that General Peel very little
acquaintance with artillery science. 1t is worthy OF
mark that though there exists at woolwich scientific
committee of artillery officers, whose special duty is
investigate and report inventions OF artillery Gen.
Peel in bis statement to Parliament, entirely
lent rs to their opinion Of the merits the weapon
he merely stated that "a committee" reported the
best brecch loading gum which saying very much
FOR it, every other gun OF the kind has hitherto
failed, ard for this it only claimed that it has
cceded in pieces Of very small cslbre.
There really nothing in the principles the
sucicD Of the Armstrong gun both the gun and tho leaf
coated having been anticipated by other parties Bow
fer 1t is practical Improvement remains to be seen AL
the experiments made have been with very small guos
for though large gun has been made have not yet
heard Of it's being tried. The most practical Of
opinion that the material is yet to BIO discovered from
which gun Of large calibre be made this princi.
pie which will stand for any length of time The excessive
strain of projecting shot Of eight ten inches diameter
10 distance Of four Ave miles, and this point hinges
the vhoe merit Of the invention. only guns Of three
four ohee be made the invention is comparatively
useless, and Sir William Armstrong be regarded as
fortunate inventor Ia receiving the regard Of
bus invention before its value is fairly tested.
For acld guns excessive range is not required Any
large above two miles practically useless aad accuracy
OF Ore, the chief Characteristic Of the Armstrong gun will
not compensate for its of ability fire grape canis-
ter and shrapnell Shells for which purpose is mani
testify unsCIed In the next place in naval engagements
the OBJECT is 10: excessive range No stips would Hga.
at three or four miles distance but the object is to make
as large hole as possible in ships side, aud having
made it, 10 prevent the missile passing through the oppo
cite side Of tie hu instead Of exploding in the ships tim
bers or on is dccSs Naval engagements therefore
fought with reduced chs'gea OF powder 10 give short
ranges only.
Fer ships chasing guns range o. four i've miles s
also practically useless, the motion of The ship Will
prevent the possibility OF sufficiently aim. The
use of the long range sd is therefore, practice,
y reduced to its employment a swivel qua for gun
boats o- aiming forts, and for siege service Guus
theee purposes form bat small proportion of the ar ma
nen. of England and they require to be Of tsc largest
cabre, and to fce shells well snot; and Unless
the Armstrong gun Can be made Of large Galore geey
evident Chat .s use will be extremely m'ei TIA, is
csnnot accomplish the great wonders promised for i, By
the BrEb Secretary Of War For the battle delI Louis
Napolecns guus have decidedly the advantage, aud
as for sea warfare, We believe our own Dablgren
guns siill maintain the hrst rank naval orcna nce
The fact Of the Russian government arnnng ia newly
launched frigatehe General AdntA~ith two of three
gurs for the spar deekone for the bow the other for
the t,c'rshogs hat lis opinion of the D.hleren qua
On Pa ,uSfa Il .