St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1889-12-21
THE TERKORS OF WAR.
Velocity of Cannon Balls-The Ex-
celIent Results of the Use of
SmOkeless Powder With Quick.
Firing Guns of Large Caliber.

Velocity OF Cannon BallS-The Tx
celIent Results of the Use of
SmOkeless Powder With Quick
Firing Guns of Large Caliber.
New York Press.
Alta recent meeting Of the share
holders of Sir w. G. Armstrong, Nit
chell IL Co., held at London, Lord Arm-
strong made an address, in the course
of which he said:
when last addressed you referred
to the success which had attended the
introduction of our quick-firing guns of
large pattern, and | am happy to say
that continued trials with those guns
and progressive Improvements in their
manufacture have firmly established
will be still further enhanced by
the employment of the new
smokeless powder. which, it may
be said, is now certain to be
brought into use. With ordinary
powder it would be impossible to fire
those large guns at their maximum rate
of some ten rounds per minute, on ac-
count of the hanging smoke from the
discharge. which renders aiming i'm
possible; with the sO-called SmokelesS
powder lin which nitrate of ammonia is
used as base) the same hindrance is
not experienced, the smoke produced by
the discharge being very much less in
volume, and also diSSipating very
readily. Excellent results have been
obtained with it, velocitieS of about
about 1890 feet per second in the
twelve-centimeter gun -four and three
quarters-inch) being reached, and in the
fifteen-centimeter gun (siX-inch) the eX-
traordinary velocity of $500 feet per
second has been realized, In both in
stances with very permissible pressures.
But even with these powders, though
much reduced in volume, the smoke is
still present as a partial hindrance,
and extended experiments are now be-
ing carried out to endeavor, if possible,
to obtain powder with total absence
of smoke.
1--WE have lately been experimenting
with new powder recommended by
Sir Fredericd Abel's committee Qlnown
from its string-like form as 'cOrditeo
with much success. With siX-inch
obtained with cordite at pressures some
what over twelve tons. As yet it would
be premature to say up to what size of
gun this powder might be used, and its
adaptaDility for the service has of course
still to be proved by climatic and other
tests; but at present the results are
very promising. 1t is imperviouS to
damp, and above all it is absolutely
smokeleSs, and should the results men.
toned above be maintained, its en-
pIuyment will in all probability work
revolution in modern ornaments, and
render the use of quick-fire guns not
only an advantage. but a necessity. So
much for guns and powder.
"When last addressing you referred
to our continued success in the produc-
ton of war ships. and especially of pro-
tected cruisers; and alluded particularly
to a vessel of this class we were build
ing to our own designs for the Italian
government. This vessel, the Pie
monte, was then just launched; but she
has since then passed through both her
speed and gunnery trials, and has, am
happy to say. more than realized the
predictions which l then ventured to
make, both as to her speed and power
armament. l said last year that she
was expected to obtain speed OF
twenty-one knots: in reality she has
accomplished twenty-five and three
tenths knots equal to twenty-SiX miles
an hour, which is the highest speed
ever attained by any sea-going ship.
She carries on either broadside four six
inch guns, three twelve centimeter
guns, and five six-pounders, excluding
mitrailleuses; and with the broadSide
fired at the maximum rate she could
discharge some 5000 pounds weight of
proiectles in minute. 1 have long
contended that vessels of this class
would prove more Seryiceable in rela-
ton to their cost than armored battle