The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1891-08-26


ment, but note what it signifies: The ex
| penditure of more than a million dollars a
one fell swoop; the construction of hun
dred of the most powerful guns known t.
modern warfare; the protection of our sea
! board cities against the fleets of any posi-
BILE enemy, and ultimately, as other anC
perhaps larger contracts are let in future
the uplifting of our country from fourth
or fifth rate as fighting power to a proud
| place among the stanchest and most puts
SAINT of nations. We have long had thu
men and the money, and now, by lingo
we are getting the ships and the guns too
Reading in the papers that such great
gun building contract had been let by the
government, called on distinguished of
fcer of the ordn Ince bureau of the war de-
partment and said to him:
Captain, this seems to be the era of biz
guns. If there is any one thing in the
world l know less about than another it is
big guns. Now tell me all about them
please"
The captain did tell me all about them
and | am going to tell you, or as much as
can remember, for the captain told me a
great deal, and it was all very interesting.
ITO begin at the beginning" said the
captain, five or six years ago congress-
stirred up by public opinion, came to the
conclusion that something must be done to
protect our seaboards and to arm our new
naval ships 1t decided that instead of
buying our guns in Europe we were smart
enough to make them ourselves. A gun
factory board, composed of officers of both
army and navy, was appointed to inquire
into the subject. They visited Europe and
made very thorough investigation. The
substance of their report was that we
would do well TO separate the army and
navy in our operations, and establish a gun
factory for the army and another for the
navy. 1t was feared if we we're to try to
get along with one factory alousies and
troubles would arise. If an army officer
were placed in charge the navy people
would complain that hey were not getting
a fair show, and vice versa. So two gun
factories were established, one at Washing
ton navy yard for the navy, and another
at Watervliet arsenal, West Troy, n. Y,
for the army.
Then various questions arose, such as
how extensively the COVER ent should go
into gun making on its own account, and
how much dependence it should place on
individual enterprise. In Germany we had
an example of nation buying all its guns,
and of a single maker Krupp; in England
we saw government making all its guns
on it's own hook. There were difficulties
In either plan, and SO another board of in
quiry was appointed, and congressional
committees took hand in the investiga-
ton. We finally settled down to the policy
of France, which was a compromise be-
tween the other two plans, in that the
French bought some of their materials of
private manufacturers and then put the
guns together and finished them in their
own shops. Right here another ques-
ton arose for US to decide: Should
the government go to the expense of
putting in complete plants, or should it
subsidize private individuals to do this?
More boards and committees were set in
vestig atlng-you see we have taken no step
without inquiry and deliberation-and it
was finally determined that in view of the
great expense, the uncertainty of profit,
and for more thorough, systematic, scien-
tltic and uniform creation of guns, govern
ment should equip itself with two com
plete plants and in them manufacture the
first or type guns. This has been done,
and the type guns have been made; and
now we have reached that important stage
of our development as a gun making ma
ton In which we let q contract for the
building of 100 high power guns to one
firm. We have passed the experimental
stages and are now in the process of
achievement"
But how was it sscertained what sort
Of guns we waptedf"
Il will tell you about that While the
gun factories were being built and equipped
e fertilization board was at work 1t made
a thorough and critical examination of all
the harbors and navies Of the world. 1t
examined all our own harbors, and de-
what vessels OF foreign and pos
sibly hostile nsvies could enter our har-
bors. IL ascertained that some vessels
could menace Boston that could not men
ace New York on account of their draft,
and so On with other ports. By taking into
the armament and the srmor
Of these vessels in each case it was able 10
determine what sort Of guns were needed
for the defense Of each of our harbors The
board did more than this. From its criti-
BAL analysis OF the navies and navy build
ing operations of foreign powers it en-
1sSvored TO lock ahead ten, twenty OF even
thirty years, and foTesee as clearly as
possible what tne nayies would be then
and what we sheuld have 70 guard
against You see that we know what we
are about, and that wAile we are expend-
Ing large sums of money we sretryfng not
TO waste aRy of IT,
ITO illustrate the findings OF tie fortif.-
cation board, take an exposed seaboard,
for example There l6-irch guns, the
heaviest now contemplated. viii be re-
luired In a b.y or Tosdstead i2inch
oreech loading rifles will suffice, Still far
Their up. where only the vessels OF lighter
.rmor could go, s-inch guns are large
enough In sIl this we bear in mind that
me qua ashore is equal to five guns Of the
.AIne power afoas On shore we have the
world 70 stand our guns upon, while on
board ship effectiveness IS lessened by the
Of ths vssseL TIE pQard found