The Londonderry sifter. (South Londonderry, Vt.) 1883-19??, 1884-11-06
THE WEEK
IN the United States ana the
Old World.
HEAVY ORDNANCE,
The Annual Report Of BrIgadier Gen-
eral Benet.

Ihe Annual Report 81 Brigadtor dem
eral Benet.
Brigadier General B net, Chief of Ordnance,
has submitted his annual report. The expen-
aturcs Of the department during the year
Aggregated S2,Ol5,255 At the Nationa'
Armoly 80, 1873 rifles, enrbines and shot guns
aave been proluced, The action of tho War
Departmental Offering medals has proved q
powerful stimulus to The steady Improvement
Of the army IN markmanskio. The conclusions
Of tho Ordnance Board alter further trials are
favorable TO the improved Gardner gun. The
appointment OF agun foundry committee by
Congress IN cts with General Benets approval,
The scope Of their work including all that is re-
luired flr q complete understanding of tho
subject
Gen. Benst renowS his Recommendation of
liberal appropriations tor the improvements Of
soast detences. Tho dep rtment was greatly
embarrassed in its work OF const' ucIing expert
mental guns Tor the armament of iort,tioations
BY the backwardness OF foreign manufactures
meeting their engagements for furnishing steel
lorgings, and by the inferior quality olsome OF
the material received. The difficult - thus
encountered, the general continues make
manifest the necessity for home production
The steel makers oil this country will not
undertake the prodlctlnn Of steel on scale
adequateto our wants without the inlucement
OIL oeins fairly romano ntod for their OUTLAWS
nd the importance Tor immediate action on
me part Of Congress for holding out such in
aaeemens by liberal appropriations cannot be
Dver-estimated.
INe steel forgings for the guns now under
construction, which the department has been
able to procure from American manufacturers,
are OF the very highest quality and are an earn
est OF what excel gnce it may be expected will
DO attained here under larger facilities for man.
afacture. The lO-inch smooth bore gun which
was converted into an S-inch rifle gun at the
South Boston foundry, has been fircl 500
rounds and still remains il good condition, and
the board has pronounced tavorabiy upon this
mode oil conversion. Bids have therefore been
invited for furnishing the materials for and
doing the work OF converting fifty lO-inch
mooih bore guns into S-inch rifles BY lining
elthcr with coiled wrought IRON or forged
steel tube, Qnd that plans of c inversion will be
adopted which present the greater economy.
The Mann breech-loading device has proved
unsatisfactory. Experiments thus far with the
Haskell multicharge gun have fallen short of
the expectations with re,pect TO experiments
with high explosives. The report says that the
department has given all proper assistance and
encouragement 10 private parties having de-
signs or inventions that promised success. but
that the tri Is thus far have been tentative
merely, and nothing has been developed cail.
ing for detailed mention. The steel 3 inch
oreech- LOADING gun designed by the Ordnance
Board Is now under trial and the results are
deemed extre nelv favorable as compared with
The firngs of similar guns in European service.
An appropriation is asked for to enable the de.
partment to continue their fabrication to arm
The light batteries Of onr army with modern
oreech-loadng field gun.
In conclusion the passage of the Senate bill
now pending in the House relating to the for.
nation OF volunteer militia organizations is
recommended in the strongest terms.