Daily national Republican., 1863-03-20
NEW YORK. Ill O'Clock
THE ARMSTRONG GUN A FAILURE,
RssIgnAtion OF Sir w. Armstrong Rs SUI
perintcndent Of the Royal Gun Factory.

Sir W. Armstrong, inventor Of the famous
gun bearing his name, has resigned his post
Of Ofsuperintendent Of the Royal Gun Factory.
In letter to the London Times, he states his
reasons for doing so to be his desire to assist his
friends in making the factory at Elswick pro-
duCtye under it's altered circumstances. He
says the attention requisite for this purpose
would interfere with his official duties; but he
will still be glad to give the benefit of his ad-
vice and assistance TO the Government grdtUi-
tOuay. II will be remembered that Sir William
commenced his public career by presenting his
invention to the Government Of Great Britain.
The Armstrong gun was pronouAced a com
plete failure by the leading ordnance officers in
the United Stated army several years ago. The
article which we copy below from the best
British authority confirms tho opinion of our
officers.
The London Morning Star comments, at con-
siderable length, upon the resignation Of Sir
William and the merits of his "prcsent" " (the
gum and its cost to the Government! Tho Star
says:
"Let us see what this present has cost the
nation. In the first place, Mr.. Armstrong was
knighted, aud on the esd Of February, 1859 was
appointed engineer 10 the War Department for
Rihed Ordnance, at a salary Of 5000 per an
mum, to commence from list April, 1886. Sec
Ondly, the Government entered into an agree
ment with the Elswick company, to whom they
have paid sums of money from time TO time,
amounting, from March, 1883, up to the 30th
June, 1862, to S5S 2S1L. lis. Id, and have fur
thermore had to pay a sum Of S6,000l. on ter
mlnating the contract with them. Sir William
Armstrong WuB not member of this COMPANY
1,rtfp NnA 1n iFh 10 no
at any time, and remained partner in the com
pany which carries on the business Of mechRn-
ical engineers in n building adjoining the Ord
nance Works. One noticeable fact connected
with this payment aforementioned Is, that
the company have recently offered TO sup
ply guns and munition at prices which
wOuld have saved the nation a sum Of 16s 175l.
2s. 3D., had they been able or willing TO charge
these rates from the first Even at this reduced
scale, the cost Of their manufacture is fully 80
per cent. above that at which articles can be
produced in the Royal factory at Woolwich."
''We have expended at Woolwich, for Arm
strong guns, 325, 1861 6s. ID, and for projec-
tiles, s9 506l. l6s. ID, making together 4l4 993.
S. 3D.; while the sums paid to the Elswick com
pany amount to S5S, ,2S1l. lis. Id Add to this
the amount TO be paid on Withdrawing the con-
tract, SO ,000l, and we have total Of ,350 274.
lis. Id. expended on this invention, without
taking into account large sums paid for exper-
iments, charges for inspection, the expense OF
training our artillerymen, and other matters,
which we doubt not will amount TO as much
more.
''On the appointment Of Sir W. Armstrong,
the Times and other journals sang loud 10 P8ans.
We had the right man in the right place; we
could now laugh at the French; we should carry
all before us by means of our superior artillery.
1t now appears that we have been trying a stu
pendous experiment; that Sir William was not
employed to manufacture the weapon he had
invented, but to make experiments, and bring
10 perfection weapon which he had designed.
Thus, we find that numerous changes have been
from time 10 time introducedj and now, after
ClabOratey training our soldiers to handle a
gun which is most troublesome to manage and
difficult TO keep In seryiceable condition, we
begin 10 find out that II Is too scientific and re-
fined a weapon 10 be used with advantage in
active operations In the field, and too trouble
come to be useful gun between the decks Of a
thip-of-war. We quote the words of the Times
correspondent from China, in 1860, describing
the attempt to silence u battery Two of Par
ing's Armstrong; we're detailed for the purpose,
aud at twenty minutes past six they opened on
the Chinese at $50 yards. The enemy were not
slow In replying, and for about ten minutes a
very pretty duel was carried on. The range
seemed too closei so three Of Disborough's "a
FOUNDER hOwitzers wGrU ordered to the front,
and In hye minutes the Chinese fire was com
pletely silencod.' This shows that the Arm
sHOhs guns are not CmClent at short distance,
whatever they may be at longer ranges. Wheth-
er they were Withdrawn In consequence Of the
busting Of the yont-plGCCs, or some other mis-,
hap, we are not Informed. The destruction OF
treech-peces Is not an unusual occurrence and
such mishap must have serious effect upon
the issue Of a conflict. We have no desire tc
urge the employment Of Whitworths, Lancas
tors, or any other gun. All we wish to show il
that our Government has been engaged for tn,
past eight years In trying an experiment of uu
eTampled magnitude, Thich has prOvtd 4 hit
urs."
'Wo have probably gained from Sir W. Arm
strong the knowledge Of the most indestructi
bic material for gun, and we have now tn
advantage Of knowing the result Of a grea
number Of experiments. II this Information
be brought TO bear upon the resources OF GU
national establishment, we may succeed II
producing what Is really requlred-an accurate
scryiceable gun, which can be readily manage
in active operations against an enemy"