Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1868-11-10
Another Revolution in the Art and Instru-
ments Of War-Cannoniers Protected by
an Ingenious Parapst.

Another kevolutlOu IN tue hrt duu Ansti"-
ments Of War-Cannoniers Protected by
an Ingenious Parapst.
From the Saturday Review, October II.
Captain Moncrieffs invention, which
has Just come to light, is in many re-
spects the most wonderful that has been
announced for many years. 1t is won
derful for the immediate and complete
success which has attended the first
experimental trial-a trial made as Sc
we're as the ingenuity of experienced
officers could make it. 1t is wonderfully
important, too, for the enormous saving
which it will efeet-a saving measured
by many millions-in the protection OF
our coasts. 1t is not less wonderful for
having, at one stroke, reversed the condi-
tiens of war, and given the advantage
unequivocally to the defense-a benefit
of immeasurable value to country like
this, which arms only for the sake OF
peace and security. 1t is very wonder
ful. again, for its extreme simplicity-a
simplicity SO beautiful that every one
who hears of it, and has grain OF COM
prehension for the subject, can only ex-
claim, as one is tempted TO do with every
really great and genuine invention !:
"Why was not this thought of long ago "
But the crowning wonder of the whole is
that the invention was actually made
during the Crimean war, some ten years
ago, and that nearly the whole inter.
vening time has been spent in efforts, TIL
lately unavailing, 10 get the professional
and official mind to see that there was
any invention at all. For all these ten
years the high officials who have to de-
eide on matters connected with the arma-
ment of our troops and our forts, have
steadily refused to perceive that Captain
Moncrieffs system was worthy trial /;
and during this same interval these wise
engineering and artillery authorities
have actually been spending about
| E5, 100000 in the construction OF forts
which Captain Moncriefs discovery has
already rendered useless, and worse than
useless. Five millions gone from official
obtuseness and neglect since the inven.
tion was made; this is the measure of
the money value which the invention
would have had in ten years only. Uo,-
fortunately, this has been lost through
that system of soldier-economy which has
been SO much in favor of late with the
admirers of Storks' Balfour finance.
What the ultimate saving due to
the invention will be is something
which bs files calculation. Not only does
II render unnecessary all the costly ap-
paratus of built up forts with shields at
El00O per gun, but it makes US abso-
lutely safer without them; and the strue-
lures which have been absorbing so much
money on Portsdown Hill and score OF
other places are not only not required,
but are absolutely mischievous, and must
Of course be pulled down with all possible
| dispatch. What might not the country
save if there we're but grain of intelli-
gence and insight in those who are
allowed TO control its expenditurel lti
q pleasanter task to contemplate the tri-
umph of Captain Moncrieffs genius than
TO dwell further on the dullness of those
who have so long thwaried It; so We will
pass at once to the consideration Of what
Il is that the inventor proposed to him
self and what be has actually accom-
plished The sole object OF all fcr;isea-
lions is 10 enable great guns to be used
for the destruction Of an enemy, while
the guns themselves, and those who serve
them. are protected from attack. Two
methods have long been in use-one the
barbette system, the other the embrasure
system. On the former the gun was
mounted so as just % peer over tne top
Of an impenetrable parapei; bat the de.
feet Of il was, that there the guns STOOD
permanently exposed 10 the hre Of the
enemy, and that the gunners we're equally
exposed during the whole progress OF
loading and laying the piece. The aeeu-
racy attained With modern arms bad be-
come so great that en6lading and rico-.
chet Gre for Q comparatively short tine