Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1886-03-12
ARMoRED TuRRErs on TRIAL.
Points for American steel Plate Found
ers Developed by the ROumanian GOV
ernment
Fro,n fle London TINS.

ers Developed by the ROumAnian Gov
ernment
From. the LOndoa Times.
| Gen. Brialmout, the author of numer-
GUS works on fertilization, was asked TO
submit a project Of defense. Several
forts have been already commenced in &C
cordance with his designs, forming the
first link in the chain with which il is
proposed to surround Bucharest. The
important question OF armament remains
IN abeyanee, but Gen. Brialmont, having
a p collection in favor of armored tur-
refs, IT was determined 10 carry out eX-
massive experiments with two structures
I supplied by Messrs. Gruson, Of Buchan
/ and the ST. diamond Iron Works, respec-
I lively. Having decided on an expert
| mental expenditure Of some 900 ,OOOi., the
koumanian government brew open their
practice ground to the representatives of
the powers, and the luotely crowd OF
straple uniforms excited interest in
Bucharest.
These two turrets are quite dissimllar
IN principle and design. The French Is
cylindrical in form, exactly like those
carried on numerous ships OF war. The
armOred ring protecting the guns is OF
wrought iron IL inches thick, with nat
ROOF inches thick. The special features
urng, which is electric ana automatic.
There are no sights either on the guns or
on Inc turret, and the firing is carried on
by contact points, which can be moved
along graduated are inside. The turret
makes whole turn after each salvO, the
loading being effected in the meantime,
SO that as soon as the position at which
the contacts have been adjustt is
reached, the guns are automatically
fired
Toe German cupola is Of a new form. It.
resembles rather fiat umbrella, and the
whole OF the supporting structure IS con-
talned IN single chamber and occupies
little height. The leading principle con-
/ stltutes something of new point of de-
parture. The umbrella shaped armOr
plates are supported on a central pivot
and steadied in position by four legs car
| rylng trucks provided with spiral springs.
The guns have no recoil proper. and on
| nrlng, therefore, the shock eXpends itself
| IN mparting Yl0ratOry motion to the
whole structure, which shakes much as
mushroom may be supposed to do in a
gale. The armOT plates have a thickness
OF inches, and for the purposes OF the
experiment were partly wrought iron.
Not only does it offer a target which at
moderate ranges could be- rendered nearly
| invisible, but wherever struck it pre-
seuts a very Oblique surface, capable of
DETECTING shells coming at any reasona-
BILE angle.
The guns IN the French turret were of
the DE Bauge" type; those in the German
turret were krupp's, bOtn being practi-
callY the same calIbre-6 inches.
The attack was commenced at 1000
metres range, and bOlk turrets received
an amount of pounding probably repre-
senting siege of several years dura-
ton. The French turret had the advan-
tage OF being turned backward
and forward during part of the
time, which insured a greater dispersion
of the blows, while in the case Of the Ger
man turret the greater part of the pro-
Jectiles struck on single plate. At the
end both were so nearly preached that
a single she'll striking either at the weak
est point would have entered with ease.