The Evening post., 1888-12-29
WASHINGTON. DECEMBER go, 1888.
IMPROVED RAp1D.FIRE CANNON.

IMPROVED RAPID-FIRE CANNON.
While we are lamcnting the failure of
the beautiful 6.inch cast-steel gun that
was recently exploded under an ordinary
charge at the Annapolis trying grounds,
the British are rejoicing over the success
full trial of a G-inch rapid-fre Armstrong
gun that surpasses anything of the kind
yet invented.
There has been in use for some time
in the English navy what is known as
the Armstrong 4.72-inch rapid.firing
gun, which throw 10 projectiles, weigh
ing 45 pounds each, in minute and 40 sec
onds, with a force sufficient to penetrate
0 inches of iron, backed by 2 feet of oak
and teak.
The new 6-inch rapid-fring Armstrong
can be fired at almost the same rate and
will throw a proiectile weighing ITO
pounds with penetration Of 10l inches
of iron and feet of oak and teak. Such
a gun, firing such proiectiles with such
tremendous force almost every minute
and a-half at distance Of miles with
great accuracy, would be such an engine
of destruction in naval warfare as we
have not before dreamed of. 1t could
rain down a sheet of iron on an appi oach-
ing torpedo boat or other craft that would
inevitably sink it or disable it so it would
be of no use.
The best we have done in the way of
rapid-fire guns of heavy calibre is the
Hotchlliss revolving cannon, which
throw 10 shots per minute from a
33-pounder, with penetration of 6
inches of iron. This, of course, is for
midabe gun, but it does not throw shot
of as much weight or with as much ac-
curacy as the G-inch Armstrong, and its
penetration is q inches less, Still, we
nre making constant progress in the way
of machine guns, and we shall not be
long behind the British. We shall
know in short time something of what
the little Vesuvius can do with her dyna-
mite guns. Great expectations are placed
on the Vesuvius.
THERE SEEMS to be a large amount of
cautious reserve among many distin-
guished Republicans when they come to
speak of Mr.. Blaine's going into the
Cabinet. Listen, for instance, at this
from Senator Teller, when he was asked
at indianapolis last Friday if he thought
Mr.. Blaine should be taken iuto the
Cabinet: There is division of opinion.
Mr.. Blaine's friends think he will be the
Secretary of State, but there are others
who think his appointment mightnot be
advisable" While this is beautifully
non-committal in the letter, it is en-
phatically anti-Blaine in spirit"
Is IT NOT ABOUT TINE that the Rev.
Frederick Bell was suppressed? The
latest information concerning him is that
he had knock-down fight with one of
the officers of the church of which he
has been pastor. at Columbus, Ohio, at
church meeting last Wednesday evening.
Mr.. Bell had quite an exciting time of il
in Brooklyn year or two ago. Elder
Finn of the Christian Church in Colum.
bus had some letters bearing on the
conduct of Mr.. Bell which he proposed
TO read for the information of his breth.
rem, when the aforesaid Bell jumped on
Elder Finn and choked him till he
was black in the face. 1t would APP
pear that the business of preaching the
gospel is not exactly in the Rev. Mr..
Bells line, but if he keeps on in this way
he might get an engagement to spar with
Charley Mitchell or Jack Dempsey