New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1861-05-20

mctve.power Of over two hundred horses; aud yet
the wiseacrcs who have described the machine,
tell us that it can be done by FIVE or six men
turning a crank
But granting that the requisite velocity could be
obtained to make this weapon destructive at
short ranges there is another fatal objection to it,
use. No means have yet been discovered for Sc
curing al accuracy of ain ut all compatible with
the requirements OF modern warfare. In the
latest trial made with the implement OF which
we have spoken target of about twelve feet
square was set up at distance OF about hIty
PAGES; and yet, accepting their own state
ment as to the number of balls fired not one
fourth of them could have hit the target, nor
were the perforatons more numerous IN the CEN
trail part Of il than they were near its periphery.
II thousand men in compact mass should march
no before it, without resortibe to any aggressive
measures on their own part. some OF them would
probably be killed; but Kentucky rilcman
would plant himself at distance Of five hundred
yards, aud prove more than match for al the
centrifugal guns this side OF the Potomac.
We hope therefore. that no more ingenuity or
money will lie wasted on schemes like these,
which can be shown to be absurd BY any mt
chan cal engineer, but that oil our efforts shall
DO directed rather to the perfection Of those
weapons which both science aid experience point
out as the most efficient and reliable. Among
these, the rife and the rited cannon stand pre-
eminent. Wien we reflect that even in modern
WARFARE more than ten tbousaud shots are fired
for cyety man killed or disabled, we see nj once
that accurac, Of aim is st the great dcsdcra-
tum ia the art Of destruction. The number of
cartridges which can te fired by Il solder OF
supplied 10 cannon is limited, and although,
when suddenly brought into close quarters with
sn enemy, 1t may be highly desirable to possess
the means of overwhelming him by a succession
Of rapid discharges. yet that army which he
weapons Of longest range AID most accurate ANN
vill--oiher circumstances being equal-assurcGly
aiu the battle.
The rflcd cannon has, within few years past,
received a large amount of the attention Of mi-
tary men in both this country and Europe so
important wa. this weapon dceuied that Arm
strong. the inventor cf AN Eog,h gun, which
at one time was supposed to be highly efficient, was
knigLted by the Queen. IL would naturally be
supposed that when the advantages Oi the ordl-
nary rife had been discovered, IL would only bc
necessary 20 apply the means which had been
successful ia tins case, wrought an n larger
ale 10 the cannon, IN order TO meet with Ike
success But there Is tins important difference:
The ball used with sma-arms u made OF lead,
which Is soft enough to be expanded by the force
If the powder 5, as to fill the grooves of the r.
ne as IN the MiDe ball; but the hnuor ball Is Of cast
iron, md cannot be- thus expanded; neither IN conse-
quebce of It's greater momentum, can II be made to
rotate with the grooves by means OF patch, as
IN the common rife. Various expedienls have
been tried 10 overcome tins difficulty. The Arm
strong gun, which was a breech-loadrr. used balls
which had n ring OF lead cast around the middle,
which was made little larger toan the bare Of
the guu. When, therefore, the ball vas driven
forward by the explosion OF the powder. the
lraden ring Vas swcdged ia the grooves Of tue
gun, causing the ball 10 take on rotary motion.
But, when these guns were tried IN the field Of
battle, IT was foubd that the loaden rings were
thrown of by the centrifugal motion Of the balls,
killiog more of the British soldiers over whosr
beads they were firing, than If the enemy at
whom they were aimed. 1t was, therefore, found
Necessary to withdraw them in the heat OF
battle.
The same difficulty seems likely to result from
the u.e of some OF the balls how attracting pub
lie attention. We hope that any OF our >vclun-
ter regiments proposing 10 provide themselves
with batteries Of rlnei cannon, Il, We learn some
Of them are intending WILL be that adequate
provision is made, in the proJectl!os adapted By
them, for overcoming this difficulty. Aud We
Will here mention that a mlscoDcepi"n seems 10
prevail largely upon this questi'n Of r1ed can
non. 1t is in tue prcjectilo used, and not in the
gun Itself tina the most popular of these 5, stems
differ from each other. Any smoottbOrcd can
non which has never been injured by service,
can be readily converted into riiled cannon by
simply cutting the requisite grooves, bud such
gun can be- used with any prcjecile adapted TO
muzzle loading cannon. There is, therefore, no
necessity for pay ing these parties $1,000 for
gun no better than any Of our shops would be
glad 10 iurnish for halt the money.
s=z-zz=rzzr-rzzzz-z=-zz