The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1891-07-30
ARMY AND NAVY.

The Naval Ordnance Bureau has had another
test Of the Harvey treated armOr plates and,
rs in former tosts, the plates used were Of steel
three inches in thickness aud containing %
per cent. Of carbon. The plates used in the
former trials were Of n higher carbon. and were
found to have been cracked during the test.
The present test showed no such weakness.
Fourteen rounds were red at each Of the three
plates, 6-pounder rapid fire gun OF 1,S00 feet
velocity being used, the projectiles being Of
superior quality, capable of penetrating, under
similar circumstances, four inches OF ordinary
steel. The plates We're uninjured, the point OF
impact being indicated by slight fluctuations
or surface scars left by the projeetiles, which,
in every instance, were broken into fragments.
There were no cracks, and the experts who
witnessed the trial say the results were as good
as those shown by the nickel plates.
The Naval Ordnance Bureau has given an
order on a French firm for balloon similar TO
that used i'm the French service for observation
purposes. This balloon will be tested at the
Torpedo Station the coming Fall. In this re-
spect- the Navy is a long way ahead Of the
Army where, as yet, no steps have been taken
10 secure this latest feature Of military equip
ment
The Squadron OF Evolution. consisting Of the
waTships Chicago, Ycsuvius, Newark, Concord,
Atlanta, Yorktown. and Boston, left Boston
liarbOr last week and is now at anchor in the
Hudson River at New York, where it will
remain for n week or two.
War Department officials find that IL Is much
easier to induce countrymen to enlist in the
Regular Army than to procure soldiers from
the respectable classes Of large cities One
officer thinks that a glass Of beer would be
much more attractive 10 city denizens than a
fatteTing picture OF Army life presented on a
poster. The authorities have therefore con-
cluded TO permit recruiting parties from the
regiments stationed near cities TO 90 out into the
rural districts, where vigorous young men can
/ be obtained as recruits, who have not been
subjected to the baneiul influences OF city life.
Lieut.. John +. Meigs u. 5. Navy, has been
/ ordered before Retiring Board for examina-
\ ton for retirement from active duty. This is
/ the beginning of the end Of a case that has
I lately interested officers OF the Navy TO an I'M
usual degree. Lieut. heigs is the son OF MAJ
/ Gen. Montgomery G. Meigs, U. S. Army, re-
\ tired, who WAS Quartermnster- General during
/ the war He has been in service % years, and
4 is regarded rs an expert in ordnance matters.
/ lie was examined for promotion about six
weeks ago, and was found TO be cOlOr-b,ind.
1 His work heretofore had not necessitated the
use Of col0rs TO any extent. and his defect was
! unknown even TO himself The law is very
/ explicit regarding a single defect in the pbysi-
! cal condition Of a candidate for promotion. and
is sufficient TO cause his retirement. Innuen-
tial friends Of tho Lieutenant have made
4 btIbuuOua cuOILs 70 nave ctGiet1Iy Tracy BUS
pend the operation Of the law IN his case
without success. and be will be retired at once.
The great breechloading steel rifle, tho first
high-pOwer gun ever built in this country. was
fired for the FIRST time at the Sandy Hook
proving grounds on Friday, July 81. A board
OF expert Army officers witnessed the test from
! the paTApet Of the fort aud were enthusiastic
| over this new piece Of modern ordnance, which
is destined to play an important part in the
future defense Of the coast Of the United States.
With a reduced charge OF $50 pounds OF Ger
man prismatie powder and prOjectile weigh
ing 1000 pounds, an initial velocity Of ] ,47a
feet per second was attained, with pressure oil
10000 pounds TO the square inch. The range
Of the new gun under these conditions was five
miles, 50 that IL is fair 10 presume that with
the ordinary service charge of 40 pounds OF
powder range OF ~ miles or more will be
reached. All the officers were satisfied with
the test aud pronounce the big gun 4 success