The Ouachita telegraph. [volume] (Monroe, La.) 1865-1889, 1879-09-05


perceive the Importance of the discov-
cry, and Immediately opened negotia-
tions. 1t was then that the German
government took alarm, and fastened
to close bargain with the cannon
manufacturer at any price. But for
this incident how different might not
have been the history Of the late
Franco-Prusstan war,-a war decided
to great extent by the immense su-
periority of the German artillery.
At present Krupp's stoel-works can
turn out 24O steel cannon In the course
of q single month; and within but Q
few weeks he has revolutionized the
whole system of European ordinance.
We have already called attention to
the fact that at the recent trials Of the
possess the same penetrating power as
English guns of double their weight.
The new 72-ton cannon Is not only
superior to the famous 1OO-ton ARM
strong guns, but to anything ever yet
hoped for in the way of artillery.
Moreover the ordinary 1S-ton Krupp
gun has proven to be q far more pow
erful weapon than the English S5-tOn
gun. The following description of the
great cannon recently experimented
with may interest our readers:
"The new Krupp gun Is the largest
piece of steel ordnance ever made. 1t
weighs 72 tons aud has a 'calibre of 40
centimetres (l53 inches), a bore of q
feet inches and length of 80 feet 8
inches. The English sO-ton gun Is u
feet long, with "a feet bore and 16
inches calibre, SO that the Krupp gun
is superior In length of bore by nearly
% calibres to Is. The material through
out Is of steel. The core of tho gun Is
a tube running its entire length, as In
the Woolwich gun, but open at the
rear, the loading being at the breech.
The tube has been made In two pOr-
tions with a peculiar joint; rs no sec.
tional drawings are given the method
of building Is not discoverable except
by cutting the gun to pieces. Over the
tube are four jackets of various length,
supplemented by a ring over the breech
portion. The gun Is chambered and
the form given to the powder prisms
and the adjustment of the carriage al.
lows 40 per cent of air to tho powder
actually composing the charge. The
gun Is rifled on the polygroove system,
with a uniform twist, and the shot Is
rotated by means of a copper ring lie,
into its circumference near the base
this ring also acts as a gas check. The
closing of the breech is effected by
means of a sliding wedge, rounded a
the back into the form of the letter ID,
which passes across the bore, and II
there fixed; the gun can not be fired
till the brecch is efTectually closed. The
charge of the gun is 1856 pounds O
prismatic powder, and tho projectile q
chilled iron shell of 1862 pounds, with
bursting charge Of % pounds OF
powder. The velocity of tho projectile
was estimated at 1910 feet per second
as it leaves the muzzle (or an energy OF
very nearly 81 900 foot tons), at 1866
feet nt 547 yards, at 1902 feet at twice
that distance, 1443 at thrice, 1891 al
four times, 1916 at 2734 yards (25Ot
metres). If the g,0s acre tired s0ith IT.
uris raised to ON angle Of 43 degree'
aoith the horizon ii 1Oouid Mro,0 q shell
.GfIeen mites. It is worth mentioning
that at the Meppen trials the target
was too far off to be seen. At the re-
cent trial of the 1OO-ton gun In Eng
land the velocity attained was 1880
feet. That weapon is of 17i inch call
bre and 33 feet bore, its total length
being 36 feet, and it throws 2O1O
pound projectile with 44O pounds OF
powder. The italian iron-clads Duilio
and Daniolo will each carry two OF
the Armstrong 1OO-ton muzzle-loaders.
Next to Krupp's 72-ton gun the largest
steel cannon are those Of 5G-tons at
Cronstadt and Constantinople.
THE FORTUNES OF THE PRESIDENTS.
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